WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 21 July 1915, Page 9

WAR PENSIONS

PROPOSED INCREASES FOR LOWER RANKS.

The amendments proposed in the War Pensions Bill by the Secret Defence Committee were reported to the House of Representatives yesterday. The effect of the amendments is to increase the amounts payable to disabled soldiers in the lower ranks.

The maximum rate for a private is increased from £1 ss. 6d. to £1 15s. per week, but the same maximum is fixed for . all non-commissioned ranks. The maximum rate for lieutenants' is increased from £I'lss. to £1 17s. 6d. The maximum aggregate rates of pension have also been increased. Following are the hew rates (the former rates being in parentheses):—Private (£3), £3 12s. 6d.; corporal (£3 35.), £3 135.; sergeant, (£3 65.), £3 13s. 6d.; company sergeant-major (£3 Bs'.), £3 14s. 6d.; regimental sergeant-major (£3 95.), £3 155.; lieutenant (£3 165.), £4; captain (£4 35.), £4 55.; major (£4 12a.), £4 15s. 6d.; lieutenant-colonel (£5 35.), £5 95.; colonel (£5 55.), £5 125.; bri-gadier-general or major-general (£5 95.), £5 15s.

The-following new clause has been added to tho Bill

(1.) Pensions under-this Act shall be payable to the dependents of a member of tho Forces who is officially reported to the Minister as missing, in the_ same manner as if tlio member had died of wounds or injuries received in his employment as such member on the date on which he was so reported. (2.) In tho event of the member being subsequently reported as dead, pensions granted under this section shall be confirmed by the hoard. (3.) In the event of. the member being subsequently reported as living and disabled, pensions granted under this section shall be withdrawn and pensions in respect of disablement granted m lieu thereof. (4.) In the event of the member being subsequently reported as living and not disabled, all pensions granted under this section shalf be withdrawn and tho amounts theretofore paid by way of pensions to the dependents may, in the discretion of the board, be deducted from the accumulated pay of the member. . (5.) The provisions of section 18 hereof (authorising the payment by the Minister of allotments of pay after the .date of the death of a member of the Forces) shall, mutatis mutandis, extend so as to authorise the payment of allotments after tho date on whion a member is reported missing, and all payments heretofore made by the_ Minister by way of allotment of pay in respect of such members are hereby validated. ...

Tho clauses of the Bill relating to the allowance of an amount not exceeding one-third of the amount of the pension payable for total disablement might bo paid to pensioners requiring tho services of an attendant.