War Pensions Increased

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 July 1950, Page 6

War Pensions Increased

Payment To Be Retrospective PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—An increase of 2s 6d a week for single persons and 5s a week for married couples and widows with children, for certain classes of war pensions, was announced by the Minister in Charge of War Pensions, Mr. MacDonald, tonight. Mr. MacDonald explained that since the withdrawal of subsidies the position of war pensioners had been receiving earnest consideration, and war veterans’ allowances had already been increased by 2s 6d a week for single persons and 5s for married couples. The Minister said it would’ be appreciated that many disabled exservicemen had already benefited from the decisions of the Arbitration Court increasing wages, but those unable to work and dependent on war pensions had until now received no compensation for increased living costs. It was proposed to assist those pensioners by increasing all economic pensions by 2s 6d a week, and also the wife’s pension by a similar amount. This would give ex-servicemen in receipt of a disablement pension and the economic supplent an increase of 2s 6d if single, and. 5s if married. Widows would receive an additional 2s 6d in the economic pension and a further 2s 6d a week in the mother’s allowance where there are dependent children. Orphans would also receive 2s 6d a week increase. The Government had decided to make these increases retrospective to May 8. and payment would be made with the August instalment. “The Government is at present also giving serious consideration to requests that a public inquiry should be held into all matters relating to war pensions,” the Minister added. “It is hoped a decision on this will be announced in the near future”