OVERSEAS PENSIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1932, Page 12

OVERSEAS PENSIONS

PAYMENT OF EXCHANGE. RECIPIENTS TO BENEFIT. Although no official pronouncement has been made, it is now apparent that the New Zealand Government, through the Pensions Department, intends to pay to pensioners the amount of the exchange which accrues in the .transfer of Imperial pensions from Great Britain to the Dominion. Advice to this effect has been received by Imperial pensioners in Auckland from the Commissioner of Pensions. For many months exchange benefits have accrued to payments due to British pensioners residing in New Zealand, but these amounts have not so far been passed on to them. The New Zealand Government, by a reciprocal arrangement with Great Britain, receives and pays Navy, Army and civil pensions to recipients resident in the Dominion, but in spite of repeated representations the pensioners have been unable to obtain the exchange benefit. The only reply to these representations has been that “the matter is under negotiation.” Advice has now been received that the Government has decided that payment of exchange on Imperial service pensions will be made as from January 1, 1932. The question of paying exchange on Imperial pensions prior to January 1 is still under consideration. According to vouchers already received the addition on account of exchange on January 1, 1932, is 8$ per cent. This amount is to be payable half-yearly.