WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2609, 3 November 1915, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

HOW THEY ARE AWARDED CASES CITED STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER.

There is a strong feeling, almost amounting to an agitation, in Wellington against the present method of awarding pensions to the dependents of soldiers killed in the war. Now that tho time is, or appears to be, approaching when married men or single men with dependents may be called upon to serve, it is being urged that pensions should be fixed at a definite amount, irrespective of tho means of the applicant, so that a man might know with certainty before enlisting how his family would faro in the event of his death. At present the amount of tho pension paid in every case is determined by tho War Pensions Board, which examines tho circumstances of every ease, and makes deductions from the maximum amount of pension if the applicant lias resources. The Prime Minister was asked for a statement on the subject yesterday. He declined to discuss the possibility of granting the demand that in every case the maximum pension should be paid. "1 have been looking into this question," said Mr. Massey, "and I have asked the Department to supply me with a list of the pensions that have been granted, without giving me any names. With a view of meeting the criticism that has been advanced I will quote some instances. "The wife of a sergeant, entitled by law to a maximum pension of £70, was granted the full amount,' with £39 in respect of three children, a total pension of £109.

"Tho wife of a corporal, entitled to a maximum of £67, was granted the full amount, with £52 additional for four children.

"The wife of a private Was granted the full pension of £65, with £20 for two children.

The wife of a lieutenant whose estate was sworn for probate as being less than £2000 was granted £52, and £13 for one child.

The wife of a major, whose estate was sworn, at being less than £2000 was granted £130, the maximum being £135, with' £52 additional for four children.

The wife of a private entitled to £65 drew £52. She had £300 insurance to collect, and she was earning £2 6s. per week.

The wife of another private with sonio means was granted £52, plus £13 for ouc child. She had £150 insurance ; an interest of £220 in a firm, and £163 in the Post Office Savings Bank.

A captain's widow,. for whom the maximum pension is £117, was granted £52, and £26 for her two children. Her husband's estate was sworn at less than £3000.

' "There seems to be nil impression ill the public mind," Mr. Massey continued,' "that tlie board is not acting fairly with tho dependents. It seems to mc that the instances I have quoted, selected almost at random, go to show that tho board, while it has to keep within the letter of the law, is doing tho best it possibly can for the widows and ohildren of those who have fallen. I don't suggest that the Act is perfect. That would be too much to expect. When it was passed into law it was very much in tho nature of an experiment, and where it is shown to be dofcctivo I am sure that Parliament will put it right when opportunity offers."