PENSION ARREARS PAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20244, 2 May 1929, Page 14

PENSION ARREARS PAID.

LARGE SUM FOR SOLDIER.

PERIOD IN MENTAL HOSPITAL.

PAYMENT STOPPAGE CHALLENGED [BX TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Wednesday. At tho .last meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. E. J. Anderson reported that a satisfactory settlement had been secured of an interesting case under the War Pensions Act of 1915, the outcome of which has been tho payment by the War Pensions Board of a lump sum of over £7OO as back ponsion due to a returned soldier who had been confined for seven and ahalf years in a mental institution. Tho case was brought under the notice of the local association by tho pensioner, who was compelled to go into the institution as a result of war disability. On his discharge at the end of seven and a-half years he made application to the War Pensions Board for payment of the sum which he considered was his due, according to the provisions of the Act, namely, a lump sum equal to a total pension at the rate of £2 a week which had accrued to him during his term in the institution. None of the pension, which was a total disability payment of £2 a week, was paid during tho seven and a-half years. The application made after his discharge from the institution was refused by the War Pensions Board, but he was advised that if ho submitted proposals for the investment or other use of the money, the board would favourably consider the application. This was done, but no payment was made, and the board finally agreed to pay "arrears in pension" at the rate of £2 a week. The pensioner, however, had no definite information as to what exactly was meant by the term "arrears in pension," and since he was convinced that the board had no right to withhold any of the lump sum for which he had mado application he acted on the advice of the local executive and took the necessary steps to obtain a writ of mandamus directing the board formally to assess the amount due and pay it to him. Mr. Andersen stated that in a final endeavour to have the matter settled representatives of the association met the Minister of Pensions, the Hon. T. M Wilford, who at once secured the opinion of the Crown Law Office on the matter. The opinion of the Attorney-General was apparently in agreement with that of the association. The result was that the pensioner concerned had now received from the board the payment of a lump sum exceeding £7OO.