THE PENSIONS ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144857, 8 December 1915, Page 2

THE PENSIONS ACT.

STATEMENT BY 818,. MASSEY. PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON. Deo. 7. Mr. Massey, spousing to a reportar to-day in reroronce to war pensions, said that wiien the Tensions Act, was being passed Taniament had In mind the ease of the weuitny wmow and it made provision that m consideration of a claim tor a pension by a dependent the property ana income of applicant should be taken into consideration. The Government and Parliament did not have in mind the case of the widow with a little, insurance money or some personal earnings, .if it la necessary to make this point clear the Government will be prepared to ask Parliament to make mandatory the exemption of insurance and personal earnings up to a reasonable amount in the case cl dependents. This Will ensure that a widow shall not be penalised because her bushand left an insurance policy, or because she is able to earn a tew pounds. , Mr. Massey added that he thought insurance money should be exempted up to, say, ‘ £SOO. MEETING OP THE BOARD. WELLINGTON, Deo. 7. A meeting of the War Pensions Board to-day dealt with 45 applications by wounded soldiers and deceased soldiers’ dependents. The board sat till late to-night and nearly all the applications were granted. One case was that of a dead soldier’s father resident in Australia who was receiving the Australian old age pension and was granted £2O a year war pension. Thera were, also two cases of widows of soldiers who had previously been refused pensions because they had been living apart from thoir husbands. These cases were reconsidered and each granted £1 a week and one with two children was granted fis for each.