WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2645, 16 December 1915, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

JLVNUAL CHARGE NEARLY £20,000. - The total 'annual liability under the War Pensions Act has risen to a little under £20,000. ' Pensions amounting to £18,185 per .year/.and, allowances aggiegating £1617 have now been granted. : The pensions are, distributed aj follow:— , . - Fifty soldiers receive £2874, an average -of £57 • per' year. : • Eighty-eight-Wives of soldiers killed or disabled receive £7786, an average of £88,.'per' : year.", ' .',.' Two hundred and fifty other dependents receive £7495, an average of. £29 per year. : Of members of tlie forces who have applied for aid, SO have been granted pensions, 60 have been granted allowances, 25 have been declined, 11 cases adjourned, and 3 are on hand, making a total of 149. ' . Of dependents 338 have been granted pensions, one granted an allowance. 30 applications declined, 4 adjourned, and 19 are on hand. Only 22 applications are on hand and 'the board hopes to have these dealt with before'Ch'ristmas. , At the sitting of the board , this week 15 applications from soldiers were ■considered. Six applicants were granted pensions, _ six "were granted allowances, one application was declined on the ground 'that the board held that the man was. not in fact disabled or incapacitated, and two cases were adjourned. Of 23 dependents applying 20 were granted pensions; two applications -were declined/, and- 'ono was adjourned for further information. . One of tlie 'applicatiohs.'/was,that of.the wife of an officer, and tlie reason was that the board considered that, she had ample means. The other was that of. the wife of a soldier who is receiving £1 per week in consideration of his having lost aJi eye. The'evidence was; that the husband and vife wore working as a married couple, and in receipt of good wages. Six soldiers received pensions amounting to £325 ger year, and six received allowances aggregating £188. Four wives of soldiers were granted pensions amounting to £361 for themselves and, their children, and 16 other dependents 1 . -received', pensions totalling £455''per : year.-.' In addition the cases of 17. wives '-were reviewed, with the lesult that their pensions were increased by £347 "per year.