ASSESSMENT OF WAR GRATUITY APPLICATIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1946, Page 2

ASSESSMENT OF WAR GRATUITY APPLICATIONS

Tlie assessment of applications for war service gratuities would not be conipleted before tlie middle of September, stated the Director of Base . Hecords, Mr. R. !4. Wogan, in an interview. His departiiient had dcalt with 135,000 applications up to Saturday out of a total of 205,750 from foruier Army, Navy and Air Force persoimel througli- ' out New Zealaud. " Considering tlie paucitv of staff and tlie magnitude of the tusk, I am satisfie'd We have done a good job," contiuued Mr. Wogan. With few exc'eplions, applications lodged in January . uu,' the lirst three weeks of February had now been assessed. Some 7000 accounts had been authorised last week. Working Four Nights a Week Mr.. Wogan said lte had been expericnciiig acute staif problems. Mari-y had left to go to otlier av.enues of einployuient and replacenients were coming in very slowlyl Teams of writers were working four- nights a week for periods oi three liours preparing ledger cards I'or tlie posl . otlices. ' •• • - - DeJay in d ealing with aji. application oftey arose out of tlie fact that the applicaut had served with two or more of the services. In oue case, a man 's records had to be checked by six of the seven paving autliorities throilghout tlie country before an assessment couldbe uiade. A large numb'er of applications had to be dealt with by at leasl three of the authorities.