AMENDMENTS TO THE WAR PENSIONS BILL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 9

AMENDMENTS TO THE WAR PENSIONS BILL

. — -■» The amendments to the War Pensions Hill, introduced ; last night by Governor's Message, added a sub-clause to Clause H (interpretation) as' follows '-'For tlio purposes of this Act officers shall be deemed to become members of the Forces on the date of their, first appointment thereto, and non-commis-sioned officers arid .men on the date of taking the oat-h. of allegiance Or of leaving Netv Zealand as members of the Forces, whichever first 3iappens." - . > Clause 10 (limitations as to grant of pensions) was amended', to allow the board, artd not the Minister, to.decide 0.4 the limit of timV in wliicSi a claihi could be considered. ' ■' Clause 11 (pensions not payable except .to persons resident :in New Zealand)', was arnfended % ' the : insertion after "except" of tho words 1 'in the case of a father or mother of a member or tho Forces or." , ' Clause 18; Sub-Clause 1,. providing that the Minister may make certain, payments te dependents pending grant of pension was . amended by .. omitting paragraphs (a), (b) and' (c), and inserting in lieu thereof: (a) In the oase o. a major, or of a naval lieutenant of eight years' seniority, or of any officer of equivalent rank or of higher rank than a major or such, lieutenant, fifty per centum of his rate of pay; or ■(b)In t®e case of a military captain, or of a naval,lieutenant df.less than eight years seniority; or, other officer ofeciuivalent rank, sixty per centum of Bis pay; or (c) Li tho case of a military lieutenant or second lieutenant, or of a naval commissioned warrant officer. o£ naval sub-lientenant, or of any officer, of equivalent rank, seventy-five per centum of his rateof. pay.. Tlie following new clause was insert®d; 'For .tlie purpose ~of assisting- in the investigation of claims for jiensions made m different parts of New Zealand, aiid generally for the purposes of the administration of this Act, the Minister may set up such local advisory committees as he thinks fit." Clauso 10, Sub-Clause 1 (a pension shall not ,be payable under the Act unless A, claim therefor is, made) was further amended by emitting paragraph (o) and inserting the following:—© In the oase of the death of a member of the Forces before tho passing of this • ft*. dopdndoiit of tli& DiGtnber withm six nionths after the passing of this Act or within six months after the date of tho notification of the death, whichever is the later; and (d) In the case of the. disablement of a member of tlie Forces before the passing of this Act,, by_ the .member or a dependent | within,■ six months after the termination of tho appointment or the disehatgo of the member, or within six months after the passing this Act, which ever is the later. : • 1 ■'-.■