OFFICIAL ASSIGNEE HAS NO CLAIM ON PENSION MONEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18190, 24 June 1927, Page 1

OFFICIAL ASSIGNEE HAS NO CLAIM ON PENSION MONEY.

MR JUSTICE ADAMS GIVES HIS OPINION. Whether accrued pension money, amounting to £250 at the time of the pensioner's death, might be drawn on to pay debts then owing by him, was a question which came before Mr Justice Adams at the Supreme Court today. Application was made by the Official Assignee at Timaru for the Court's ruling in the matter. Mr Gresson, who appeared for the relatives of dec-eased, said that the man was a soldier in hospital at the time, of his death. He had £250 of accrued pension clue to him. lie owed a number of debts, however, and the question was whether this pension money might be applied to the liquidation of these debts. He had no dependents. It was submitted that as the money was protected against bankruptcy during the man's lifetime, so it was protected when he was dead. Mr Donnelly, for the Official Assignee, said that no decision bad been given on the point in New Zealand. Mr Gresson said that no formal order was asked for, merely His Honor's opir.His Honor said that the OfiiciaV Assignee, in his opinion, had no claim on the money.