Soldiers' Financial Assistance Is Reviewed

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1943, Page 2

Soldiers' Financial Assistance Is Reviewed

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Since its inception in December, 1939, the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board has considered 25,000 cases either as original applications or by way of review when circumstances had changed. The War Expenses Account met over £303,000, and has a contingent liability of a further £200,000 to meet as further periodical payments fall due.

The Board’s Method

These facts were mentioned by Mr. Fraser in reviewing the work of the board. Mr. Fraser said that as applications reached it the board endeavoured to ascertain, firstly, the actual civil life income (less taxes); secondly, the civil life commitments against that income. It then proceeded to gauge how far service income and pay (and allowances) would cover those outgoings, keeping in mind the relevant circumstances that a serviceman ’ was fed and clothed, and must nave pocket money. When the general upward review of service pay and allowances was made by the War Cabinet, it had the effect of levelling up service income to, and in quite a number of cases above, civil life incomes. This result obviously reduced the degree of hardship existing in cases the board had dealt with, or was proceeding to consider. Adjustments Made

Adjustments followed on a proportionate basis, care being taken to exercise bias in favour of the serviceman.

The board had followed these lines since its inception. Increases in pay following promotion, reduction of rent following changes in tenancies, final payment of hire purchase commitments had all changed the relative degree of hardship, and the board had reconsidered its decisions in the light of such circumstances. Mr. Fraser said the board had never regarded any decision as a “closed book,” and had without exception reopened every case requested. “The duty of determining rates of pay or granting increases is the sole prerogative of the Government,” concluded Mr. Fraser. “Charter of the board is to meet hardship as disclosed to it, and according to my information, it has done so fairly and generously.”