WAR GRATUITIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 265, 9 November 1945, Page 4

WAR GRATUITIES

NO PAYMENTS TILL MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR MINISTER OF FINANCE EXPLAINS. (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 8. Although draft regulations had been prepared governing the ssytem of payment for gratuities, it appeared at present that it would be impracticable to make any payments before the middle of next eyar, said the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in the House oi Representatives this afternoon. He was answering an urgent question by Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Op., Hauraki), who asked the Minister to indicate when the promised statement on the method and date payment of gratuities would be made to enable the recipients to plan their future financial commitments.

Mr. Nash said the draft regulations had been completed but a number of points required clarification after discussions with the services and others interested. Payment of gratuities involved an examination ot the files of every serviceman and servicewoman and the opening of a separate account for each one of them. The work had been held up for some time because Base Records had been engaged in demobilisation work, which had to take precedence. On present indications it appeared that it would be impracticable to make any payment before the middle of next year.

Mr. Sutherland: That's stretching it out a bit. Mr. Nash said there would be 250,000 separate accounts and the work involved was immense. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, would make a statement later, giving details of how payments would be made. Asked by Mr. G. 11. Mackley (Opp., Masterton) if payments would be spread over a term of years, Mr. Nash replied that that was the original proposal. This was among the problems to be discussed. However, the full amount would be available if an ex-serviceman wanted it for some capital purpose which would not put the money into circulation in the ordinary way.

Mr. S.’W. Smith (Opp., Bay of stands): Who decides that? Mr. Nash: Generally it would be the Minister of Defence, but I suppose he will appoint officers to whom power will be delegated. Mr. Nash added that if the money

were required for furn’ture, mortgage payments, etc., the full amount would be available in one sum. Perhaps there would be something better still for those who did not use their money in that way. Mr. Sutherland: A bit tough, I think.