THE PENSIONS ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144859, 10 December 1915, Page 2

THE PENSIONS ACT.

SOME DIFFICULTIES) EXPLAINED. DOMINION ACT VERY LIBERAL. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Deo. 9. “I am afraid that even now there is a certain amount of confusion in the public mind with regard to the provisions of the War Pensions, Act,” said the Prime Minister this evening. “This, I think, is owing to the fact that the pensions to incapacitated soldiers are irrespective of whether the recipients are possessed of wealth or; incomes. A totally incapacitated soldier is entitled to a pension of £1 15s per week, while his wife may receive 12s 6d per weak, and his children, if any, £l3 per annum, or taking them together a maximum aggregate of £3 12s 6d per week, and other ranks in proportion. A captain, for instance, is entitled to £2 per week, the aggregate!' for himself and family being £4 5s peg week, a colonel to £2 18s per week, or; an aggregate for his family of £5 12s. “It must be understood that the Pensions Board are the judges of partial incapacity, or, rather, tho earning capacity of a pensioner, and fix the amount of the pension. Every case o£ partial incapacity is considered on its merits and dealt with accordingly, ala ways remembering that neither the property nor income of the pensipner nndeo this heading has anything to do with th* amount of the pension. “Then, in the case of dependents, thd Act, while providing the maximum of the aggregate pension per week, direct* the Beusions Board to take into consideration tho property or income from all sources of the dependent, and remembering that dependents include wife, father, mother, grandmother, step-father, step-mother, grandson, granddaughter, brother, sister, halfrbrother, half-sister, .mother-in-law, and, of course, children. How; many dependents in all there are I am not able to say. No other arrangement seems feasible, and no Act can provide definite pensions for each and every one of the foregoing. A suggestion was made publicly the other day that pensions should only be provided for these people when they are dependents, but that brings us back to the board, or some-similar body, who must decide tho latter question, and the degree of dependency. . ' “Tlie Canadian Act makes provision! only for the widow and children, andj the mother if a widow. . This has thq merit of being much simpler than ours, but it is not nearly so liberal. I know, I am right in saying that in no casdf has the board failed to make all pro! vision allowed by law where a widow and children were not otherwise adequately provided for.” ‘ , The following figures show,’ the maximum pensions payable per. annum, (a)i in case of disablement to disabled sow diers and wives, and, (b) in case of death, to wives and other dependents:-^ (A) DISABLEMENT. Private Soldier. Wife. £ £ New Zealand 91 .. 32 Canada 54 4 27 Australia 52 26 ' (B) DEATH. £ New Zealand (wife or other dependent) 65 Canada (wife or widower! mother only) 54 Australia (wife or oilier dependent) 52