HELP FOR SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12245, 18 February 1918, Page 4

HELP FOR SOLDIERS.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME,

BENEFITS EXPLAINED. The following official statement has been issued by the Soldiers’’ Financial Assistance. Board, setTing forth the provisions of the scheme of financial assistance under the regulations of January 16, 1917, and the procedure in obtaining its benefits:— FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. In addition to the direct payments receivable from the Delence Department, ■'ir... pay, separation allowance and children s allowance, provision is made under the regulations, January 16, 1917j and amendments thereto, wherebj financial assistance may be granted to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in respect to the following recurring obligations : ° (a) Rent. (b) Interest payable in respect of , loans or mortgages or in respect of agi cements for the purchase of a da ellmg-house or business premises. (c) Interest and instalments payable m -respect of agreements for the pm chase of furniture or other chattels. (d) Rates and taxes. (e) Insurance premiums. (f) Other necessary or reasonable expenses, not b-'ing ordinary maintenance exn-nses or expenses incurred m (he purchase of property. Each case will be considered on its meiits, and the nature and the amount of tlie grant, if any, will be determined so as_ to ensure that tlm soldier can serve in the New Zealand Expeditionary I oiop without any undue hardship to inmsclt or to persons dependent on him. WHEN TO APPLY. t > a^tci ’ being passed by the Medical Board as A, Ji or Cl has reason to believe that his military pay and allowances will bo insufficient to enable him to meet his financial obligations, and that his military service will bo a cause of undue hardship to liimsolt or to persons dependent on him and that such hardship can bo avoided by a grant of financial assistance under one or more of *ho above headings, he should immediately forward an application for financial assistance direct to the Secretary, Soldiers’ £j" an ““l *Jssist.mco Board, Panama otieet, Wellington. NO APPEAL NECESSARY.

It is not necessary to, appeal for exemption m order to get financial assistance.

Ihc application for financial assistance should be made direct to the Soldiers financial Assistance Board and an appeal is, therefore, not necessary unless exemption from -military service on other grounds than that of fimncial assistance is desired. The Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board meets daily, and applications if m order, are dealt with promptly. Any delay m submitting a case to the board is diiectly attributable to neglect on tbo part of the applicants in filling j n the application forms. Applicants should exercise every care when filling in the application form, and should sum pfy correct information regarding their affairs. If special explanation j s 11C . CPK . sary, the application form should'fie accompanied by a letter stating clearly tho exact position. ,} The board’s grants are in'the nature of a straight-out gift to the soldier, who will not be called upon to refund any portion of the grant. DATE OF COMMENCEMENT. Reservists not yet in camp should note that the .Soldiers’ Financial Assist ance Board’s grants commence as from the date at which the recruit first becomes entitled to receive continuous Pay as a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and obligations falling due prior to the data of enter mg camp cannot be recognised by tho board. PAYMENTS—HOW MADE. The regulations do not -provide for cash payments to the soldier or his de pendents, and tho hoard’s grants are made direct to the landlord, mortgagee insurance company, etc., as tho case may he. MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESSES, Financial assistance may he,granted in this connection, but the income from the business during the soldier’s absence must he taken into consideration as a set-off against additional labour etc., incurrod ; e.g., the returns from a grocery business, should, under ordinary circumstances, more than pay the wages of an extra hand, or maim ger appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the absence of the soldier, and no grant will be made for wages' in EAuJijeasa&A similarly ivith, forms, etc.

If the soldier is unable to make sat* 1 isfactory private arrangements for th«' management of his business, he should’ avail himself of the supervision and ad- : vice offered by the National Efficiency Board, and in the event of financial assistance being required in addition for the prover management of the business a recommendation will be made accordingly to the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board by_ the District Commissioner of the National Efficiency Board. OBLIGATION COVERED. (Explanatory Notes.) (a) Rent includes furnished or unfurnished houses, and furnished or unfurnished rooms. (hj) Interest—The hoard considers interest (only), and the applicant is instructed, whether a grant is made or not, to arrange for postponement of “principal” during his military service. Under existing legislation the soldier’s property is fully protected whilst interest is paid. (c) Instalments on furniture or other chattels —Under this heading the board has power to continue payments of instalments due under a hire-purchase, agreement, but does not include outstanding debts owing on goods purchased in the ordinary way. Clothing, groceries, etc., are not included. New Labilities incurred under this heading will not under any circumstances be entertained by the board. (d) Rates and Taxes—Where of a fluctuating amount, provision is nuido for payment according to the amount of demand from time to time. (e) Insurance—(l) Fire insurance includes policies on house, furniture, business premises, etc. (2) Life insurance. Owing to the misapprehension that seems to exist in connection with life insurance, the position is fully stated as follows: — “ The hoard will consider insurance premiums and war loading (if any) on the full sum assured under policies taken out some time prior to the date of enlistment of the soldier, or to his Using called up in the ballot, subject, of course, to the circumstances warranting a grant of financial assistance. In the case of new policies Up to £2OO only the hoard is prepared to consider payment of the; ordinary premiums ami the Avar loading where there is no existing policy, and where the circumstances warrant a grant of ' financial assistance.” Duplication.—Only one application is necessary, and considerable confusion and delay are likely to arise by independent applications being lodged by the reservist, his wife or other dependents, who should, if possible, be included under the one application made by the soldier or his wife. Reconsideration.—lf the reservist has reason to believe that his’circumstances were incorrectly stated in the application form, or if his circumstances have changed to any appreciable extent since: the application was made, his case will ho resubmitted to the board on receipt of fresh evidence which would warrant reconsideration. Application for reconsideration should he made by letter in the first place setting forth clearly the grounds upou which the request. is based-

Application Forms.—Forms of application can be obtained from the local Defence Office, tbe National Efficiency Board, tbe local Patriotic Society, the Second Division League or the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board.

General inquiries should', if possible, be made direct to the Secretary, Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board, Panama Street, Wellington.