WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2650, 22 December 1915, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS

PRESENT ANNUAL PAYMENT ■ £20,448. At the last meeting of the War Pensions Board prior to the holiday vacation tho order paper, was somewhat lighter than has been the rule at previous sittings. • ' Eleven claims on behalf of soldiers were dealt with. Three pensions were granted, totalling £104 per annum; four allowances for stated periods were granted, representing £110; one application was declined, as the board did not consider that tho disability w r as on account of the applicant's military service; and three applications were adjourned for further medical reports. Seventeen applications were made on behalf of dependents, and; of these 14 were granted one was declined, and two were adjourned. The 14 applications granted totalled £461 per annum, including 11 pensions to parents of £26 per annum each, one widowed mother a pension of 15s. a week, and another widowed mother a pension of £45 per annum. One wife was granted a maximum pension of £65 and £26 for two children.

Up to the last meeting of the Pensions Board 508 claims have been dealt with, comprising 164 from soldiers and 404 from dependents. Of these only 23 have not been finally dealt with— eight from soldiers and 15 on behalf of dependents. Of the 164 soldiers' claims, 53 have been granted pensions totalling £2975, giving an average pension of £56 per annum; 64 have been granted allowances; 26 have been declined; 13 have been adjourned; and there are eight cases on hand. Pensions have been granted to '352 dependents, and an allowance tb rtne, whilst 31 applications have been- declined, five adjourned, and there are 15 on .hand. Of the 352 applications granted, 89 are on behalf of wives, who draw between them.£7B77, or an average of £88 each. Tho remaining 263, consisting of parents, sisters, etc., 'draw between them £7865, or an average of £29 each. At the present time tho war 1 pensioners total 405, involving an annual payment of £18,720, and in addition there are temporary allowances,, outside of pensions, being paid, amounting to £1725, bringing tho total payment from the Dominion Exchequer" on account of war pensions up to £20,443 per annum, as at the last meeting of the War Pensions Board for this year.