Untitled

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 26, 19 October 1848, Page 3

The following are additional conditions and regulations communicated to the Pensioner Force before embarkation; but not included with the printed terms supplied to them:On arrival of the Pensioners in New Zealand, the Governor is to have the option ot empleyiug them in public works in preference to their being permitted to hire their labour to private individuals, but if their services are thus required for public purposes, they will receive the current rate of wages in the Colony. If, after bein* permitted to labour for private \a% dividuals, they do not find employment, and claim the condition ot being provided with work by the Government during the first year of their service ia the Colony, they will be paid at the rate of Is 6d. per day. The object of this arrangement ia to secure to the Pensioner the latter amount, at least, in addition to his pension, hut to leave him at liberty to earn more, if the current r>te of wages in the colony will admit of it. Considerable anxiety having been manifested by the Pensioners for gome provision to their wives and families in the event of their death before the expiration of the seven years of their engagement, I am directed to inform you that Her Majesty's Government will, in that case, grant the following option : A free passage home, with the ra'ions during the voyage, and previous to embarkation, as are granted to the widow and orphan children of soldiers dying ~ with their regiments under similar circumstance*; or, if they prefer reuiKuiug in the colony <tud wiah to seuU

on land, they will receive a grant not exceeding three acres for the widow, and one for each child, in such p*rt of the colony as the Governor may direct, together with the sum of ,£ls to be applied under the direction of the Staff Officer in building a hut, and settling them on their land ; —or, if they resolve on finding other employment for themselves in the colony, they may receive free rations for one year in the proportions above referred to, and which may, on the recommendation of the Staff Officer, be converted into an equivalent in money, not exceeding £2s in the whole, provided he gees any mode of applying that sum judiciously for their benefit. It having been represented that several intending candidates are members of Benefit Societies to which they have subscribed* to provide for their sick bed and fureral expenses, and for the support of their widows aiid families in the event of their decease, and which benefits would be forfeited if their payments were discontinued, I am directed to state, that, with the view of removing any difficulty in the way of Pensioners who ba\> been thus provident, arrangements will be made between the Staff Officer who takes charge in New Zealand and the Staff Officer of the District which they have le*", for the stoppage and regular remittance of their usual subscriptions, and for the remittance to their families in New Zealand of the usual benefit in case of decease, in addition to any advantages secured to them from the Government iu the preceding paragraph. Every Pensioner who becomes a candidate must be made aware, that as the settlement of himself and his family in the Colony is the ultimate object of these arrangements, he cannot be provided with a free passage home, at the public expense, either on the expiration of the seven years, or at any subsequent period. If he returns, it must be at his own cost. Doubt having been expressed on the subject, you may assure the Pensioners that there exists no intention, under any circumstances, of commuting the pensions, but that during their lives they will remain iu possession thereof, if not forfeited by misconduct. The only deductions to which they will be subject are for repayment of the advances made for the ou fit of themselves and their families for the voyage, and for furniture and stock on entering to their cottage. In order to provide for a more ample supply of military necessaries than is usually required for the Enrolled Pensioners iu this country, the enrolment money referred to in page 4 of the printed conditions of service will be doubled, but the £2 thus granted is to he entirely expended under the direction of the Staff Officer, in equipping the pensioner, who will thereafter be obliged to keep up these necessaries at his own cost.