WAR PENSIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17100, 24 February 1916, Page 8

WAR PENSIONS.

WORK OF THE BOARD. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 23. The business of the War Pensions Board 'is still increasing in volume. During the last two weeks 126 applications for pensions have been received from soldiers and fifty-one from dependents. t The figures show a big increase in the number of soldiers'" applications, due partly to the discharge of many men from hospitals and convalescent camps and partly to the rule now enforced by the Defence Department that the question of making application for pension shall be brought under the notice of each man when lie is recommended for discharge by the Medical Board. Last week the Pensions Board dealt with 100 applications. (57 from soldiers and 33 from dependents. The decisions of the board may be summarised as follows:

Pon- Allow- Pe- Ad-s-ions. anccs. clinod. jourr.od. Soldiers . 12 06 10 0 Dependents .20 1 2 1 An allowance was made in the case of a wife whose husband is"also receiving an allowance.

The gross totals of cases dealt with, up to February 10 are as follows: — , Soldiors. Dependents.

The annual value of pensions granted up to the present time is £26.025.. The 401 dependents who have received pensions include 112 wives.

INTERESTING DETAILS. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. February 23. Some interesting details; have been obtained' illustrating the War Pensions Board's treatment now of applicants.' Of twelve soldiers who were granted pensions last week, two received £7B per vear, four £52. one £3O, and live £26.* ' . , . The board's treatment of the wives of men who .have fallen is illustrated by the following cases:— The wife of a lieutenant was allowed a pension of £1 per week, a reduction from the full amount of £2 being made on the ground that she. was earning £l3O per year as a school teacher. This case Ims been reconsidered and the full pension granted. The wife of a rifleman killed' oil Christinas Day has been granted the full pension or 23s weekly. She has a home valued at £BOO.

The wife of a captain witli some property and £3OO insurance money lias been granted the full pension of £2 os weekly, with os per week each for three children, a total of £143 per year..

The wife of a lieutenant receives from her husband's estate an income of £260 l>er year, and she has received insurance money amounting to £IOOO. She receives the full pension of £lO4 per year, with £26 per year in respect of children.

The full pension has.been granted to dvery widow who lias applied recently, and the great majority of reduced pensions granted' early in the board’s administration have since been made up to the maximum.

In very few eases have widows of privates received loss than the full pensions, and in those eases there have boon special circumstances, such as the fact that the wife had not been living with her husband and had not been supported by him. , Among the soldiers who were refused pensions last week one had an injury to Ids'back contracted while oh leave. He had never been on active service. One man claimed’ on account of deafness. The evidence showed that he had suffered from deafness before tlic war, and that it did not interfere with his occupation. A mail who had .been discharged on account of general debility was reported bv the Medical Board to be quite fit again. A case of ear trouble was shown to he of four years’ standing, and the man had not contracted it on service. A man - who had hernia, was shown not to have contracted the trouble on service. A soldier who had been wounded was shown to have taken part in swimming races recently and to be apparently perfectly fit.

Pensions . Ill 491 Allowances • . 161 4 Declined • . 44 in Adjourned . 19 a In hand . U 23 Totals . 379 566