MILITARY PENSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1597, 14 November 1912, Page 5

MILITARY PENSIONS.

■ ~ ; . ■■■ -, 0 . . - ■■ APPLICATIONS TO BE RECEIVED ;. SHOETLY. : : ir The Minister, for Pensions (the Bon. F. M.'B. Fisher) has approved of the regulations iindef the Military Pensions Act ■ and of the. fb.rius of. application. These are f being put through the. printing office .with as much expedition as':possible. For the .purpose of receivine claims ail area-sergeant-majors under the Defence Act will bo gazetted as. examining, officers, and it is footed that before Christmas practically t>o -whole of those who are entitled to pensions will be-in receipt thereof. ■ Nuraerous- claima are coming in now from: men who {ire entitled to Maori Wai-medals-, but havo never taken any steps in the past b> procure' their medal's. -.. . ■ Many letters arc:being received from veterans- .desirous of oUtaimiip; the pen* sion, and sonjo .of these epistles contain expressions which the. Minister n,nds very gratifyinsi A typipal example ig"the,letter of an eifiergeant; a holder of ffle :NewZe:ateßd.Waf Medal and of the New Zealand Criss. This veteran speaks of tho great service dons in providing such a handsome, pension for the- veteran's. The letter concludes: "Such a.kind action as the veterans' pension makes us all feel proud that our services have been recognised." . : ■ ; '■-. The Military Pensions Act as finally passed provides that any person who served under tho Crown in any of the Maori Wars and has. been .awarded a medal for active "■■ service in 'any such war. shall, whilst in New .Zealand, be entitled'to a ponsion of iC3G j»r annum. Conditions . prooedent to obtaining; a pension are that an.applicant has resi(l«d continuously in Nei? ZeiiUnd for ten years preceding his application,; that he has not been imprisoned for an offence punishable by imprisonment for two years or upwards, .that during the ten years he has not deserted or failed to provide for !his wffe or childr&n, that he is? of good • moral character, and sober, habits, and that his ■income for the year immediately preceding the date of his application did not amount to .£7O or upwards. Eir-ninss which the applicant has ceased toboin receipt-of ot tho (late of his application may be deducted froni "income" for tjha purposes of the Act. The pension is to be reduced by for. every complete pound of incpnje ia exceas of £M, by for erery M 0 of the value of property Hised by'the applicant as a homo (including'furniture ajid personal effecte) in excess of -£SiO, and by M for every complete £Vi of. the vfthje of any other pro* perty in'excess of JfSQ.. .- Applicants for ttensions may obtain further particulars from the area sergeantmajors who are to oet to examtninff officers under tie Military Pensions Act.