EX-SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19106, 29 August 1936, Page 5

EX-SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

ECONOMIC GRANT OF 25/. OTHER RATES RESTORED INCREASE RETROSPECTIVE Increases in economic pensions are made retrospective to July 1 in the War Pensions Amendment Bill. It provides that the board may, at its discretion, grant to any member of the forces who is in receipt of a pension under the principal Act of 1915 in respect of his total or partial disablement, an economic pension not exceeding 25s a week. This represents an increase of 4s on the 21s to which the pension was reduced by tire National Expenditure Ad justment Act, 1932, and of 2s 5d on the increased amount granted last year. The original rates of all other economic pensions are restored to the rates in force prior to the cuts imposed in 1932. The maximum rate of economic pen sion granted' to the widow of a member of the forces, with one child shall be 10s a week, and for every additional child 2s 6d a week. The maximum rate payable to a widowed mother of a member of the forces is 20s a week, and the maximum income allowed to an applicant is £2 10s a week in the case of a total dependant and 35s a week in the case of a partial dependant. The maximum rate of any additional pension payable to a widow is restored to 15s a week. A provision is also inserted extending the period during which a member of the forces might marry, so that his wife can be eligible for pension in the event of his death. The marriage, instead of seven years after discharge, will be recognised for pension purposes if it takes place prior to August 1, 1936. A special provision is inserted in relation to the computation of war veterans’ allowances, and the board is empowered to apportion a war veteran’s allowance between the veteran, his wife, and children if necessary. MAORI WAR VETERANS RESTRICTIONS REMOVED The provision which precluded the granting of a Maori war pension if the applicant had been imprisoned for two years in a period of 10 years has been repealed. Such pensions have been increased from £49 per annum to £52 till November 30. and to £SB 10s afterwards. The limitation of income for 6i?uth African pensioners has been increased from £97 lCs to £lO4 till the end of November and to £llO afterwards.