WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1916, Page 2

WAR PENSIONS.

GRAND TOTAL, 4213. YEARLY VALUE NOW £200,050. The War Pensions, Board, sitting at Wellington, dealt last week with 143 separate cases—s!) new claims, including 33 from soldiers and 28 from dependents; sfi applications for • the renewal of pensions granted last year for

a period of twelve months; and 3 special applications for increases of pensions. Of the 33 soldiers' new claims, pensions wore granted in 10 cases and temporary allowances in 17, five applications were refused, and one was adjourned. Of the 2(1 dependents, 15 were granted pensions and four temporary allowances, six applications were declined, and one was adjourned. An increasing number of wives of disabled soldiers are now applying for pensions. Of the six applications declined, four were those of men

who had married soldiers since they were disabled, and cwnnot comply with the requirement that they were engaged before the soldier left New Zealand for the front. Of the SB temporary pensions, renewal of which was applied for, 3(5 were continued for a further period (eight to be final), thirteen were determined forthwith, and seven were converted, into permanent pensions. Of the 25 pensions which automatically came up for review, 21 were continued at the old rate, one cis> was adjourned, and in the cases of three vidows the pensions were incrais'.'d to t!-e full amount. tho old Act they had been receiving less than the maximum. In each of the three special eases of applications for an increase, the boaid decided to adhere to its previous decision. Up to October 14th the soldiers' claims total 3325. The pensions granted number 780, and the temporary allowances 2204; 301 claims were refused, fifteen were adjourned, and twenty-two are on hand. Dependents' claims total 1385; 1097 were granted pensions and 120 temporary alowances; 118 claims were refused, 12 were adjourned, and 32 are on hand. The grand total of claims lodged to date is 4713. The annual value of the pensions and allowances is as follows: — Soldiers—7Bo pensions; annual »W £42,473; average, £54 a year. ' Wives and widows (with 340 children) —234 pensions; annual value, £22,585; average, pension, £97 a year. Other dependents—o3 pensions; annual value, £25,548; average, £29 a year. Temporary allowances—237o; annual value, £115,744; average value, £49 a year.Grand total of pensions and allowances—42l3; annual value, ,£200,050; average, £49 a year. i