NEW PENSION SCHEME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13697, 29 May 1915, Page 7

NEW PENSION SCHEME.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Minister for- Defence stated this evenissg that Cabinet had approved of an arrangement for bridging the interval that might elapse between the death of a soldier who had dependents m New Zealand smd the payment of tbe pension that would be provided by Patliameist.- In the ordinary course of events, the pay of an officer or private would cease at death. If a portion of the pay had been allocated for** the support of dependents, the Defence Department would no longer have legal authority to pay the amounts so allocated, but it was obvious that, these payments could isot be allowed to stop, since, if they did, dependents might suffer privation during the interval that necessarily would elapse before the Pension "Board could deal with claims for pensions. The Government, therefore, had adopted a* scheme that protected the interests of dependents. Tlie Government would continue the payment of allotments for 26 weeks after the official notification that the man who had made them was dead or missing, provided that the allotmentwwas payable to or on behalf of the deceased's widow, sons under 18 years of age, unmarried daughtei. under 21 years of age, widowed mother, or sister or sisters having no parents or surviving brother. It liad been provided also that as regards officers' maximum, the daily amount of allotment payable shall itot exceed m case of a colonel, lieutenantcolonel, or major 50 per cent, of such officer's daily pay, m the case of a captain 60 per cent of such officer's daily pay, and m the case of a lieutenant or second lieuteant 75 per cent, of such officer's daily pay. Tlie first monthly payment after notification of officer's death would be at the full rate of allotment. If the pension or allowance finally granted was at a higher rate than the allotment paid to dependent, then, an adjustment would be .made,, but if at a lower rate, no portion of the allotment already issued, need be recovered. Tliese payments would be continued for a maximum period of six months, added tlie Minister/ m order to allow of time for the arrangement of the pensions. The scheme would ensure that no dependents would be left stranded evsm for a few weeks, owing to the death at the front of the man who had allocated to them a portion, of his pay.