WAR GRATUITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 4

WAR GRATUITIES

PAYMENT OF DEBTS FIVE PER CENT. DISCOUNT The method Dy which ex-service-men could use their war gratuity bank accounts to pay outstanding debts and meet other commitments, and at the same time gain the benefit of payment of 5 per cent, of the sum from the War Expenses Account, was explained to a Daily Times reporter yesterday by the Dunedin rehabilitation officer. He said that many ex-servicemen in the Otago area had taken the opportunity of obtaining the discount. The rehabilitation officer said that the discount was available in cases in which the gratuity was spent on the purchase of a home, furniture, real estate or other personal property; on the establishment of the ex-service-man in any business or occupation; and on any other purpose approved by the Minister of Defence. Mr F. Jones. The Rehabilitation Department had been given the authority to approve payments made in the first two classes When an ex-serviceman owes money to a Government department, he is required to complete a special form appointing the head of that department his agent. He gives the agent his war gratuity bank account pass book, and the department completes the transaction and returns the book. In the case of a debt owed to a private firm or an individual, the Rehabilitation Department will provide a form to be completed by the ex-serviceman authorising the local postmaster to act as agent. The department enters the amount of the debt, and sends the form and the pass book to the postmaster, who arranges tlffe payment of the debt and the collection of the 5 per cent, discount from the War Expenses Account.

He added that the ex-serviceman would be required to provide proof of the debt or the commitment. The department would assist ex-servicemen who desired to obtain the consent of the Minister to a payment for any other purpose affecting his rehabilitation.