WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2627, 24 November 1915, Page 7

WAR PENSIONS

PBTONE COUNCIL'S CIRCULAR. The following is the copy of a circular wKc!i fias- been forwardetl to the municipal bodies throughout the Dominion by tho l'etone Borougli Council:— Dear Sir,—l am diiected by my council' to forward a copy of a resolution passed by it on the loth instant relative to tho pensions allowed to dependants of soldiers who havo lost their lives in the service of their country, and to ask you to be good enough to submit Mime to your council at tho earliest opportunity, and if the council approves, roy council desires it to pass a similar,resolution and forward a copy of.-same to the Ministers concerned, and the member, for your di&r trict. The particular portion of the 'Act referred to is Section 15 (2), which reads as follows: — "In determining the rate of pension payable to any dependant of a member, the board sliould take into consideration the property or income from all sources of the dependant and of persons liable at law for the maintenance of- the dependant." My council submits that pension's should be granted to soldiers' dependants as of right, and strongly objects to the Pensions Board having tho power to-take advantage of the Destitute Persons Act.—Yours faithfully, \V. J. Gardner, Town Clerk. : RESOLUTipN. ; "That as an aid to recruiting the Government bo .urged to amend tho War Pensions Act, 1915, setting forth therein clearly- and definitely the amounts payable to the soldiers' dependants in the event of death on active service, such amounts not to be subject to reduction or variation by the Pensions Board set up under that Act, and in view of the dissatisfaction which generally prevails regarding this matter, . urges that Parliament be at once summoned'to amend the Act, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, the Hon; Minister of Pensions, the member, for tho district, and to all borough councils, county councilSj and town .boards throughout the Dominion, asking their co-operation .horein."-