TO ASSIST SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 130, 19 February 1918, Page 6

TO ASSIST SOLDIERS

——« THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME ' MOW TO OBTAIN THE BENEFITS The Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board-has issued, the following official statcriient setting forth the provisions of tne. scheme of financial assistance under the regulations of January 16. 1917, and the procedure to be adopted to obtain'its benefits:— Financial Assistance. Ic addition to the direct payments receivable from the Defence Depart..nieut, viz., pay, separation allowance, :'and children's allowance, provision'is niadp undor the regulations, January -16 "1917, and amendments thereto, whereby financial assistance may be granted, to members, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in respect to the recurring obligations:— (a) Rent. i, ib) luterest payable in respect of loans or mortgages, or in respect of agreements for the purchase of a dwellinghouse or business pre- » mises. ■ : (c) Interest and instalments payable in respect of agreements for the purchase of furniture, or other v;/; ; chattels. (d) Rates'and taxes. ■ '■ , (o) Insurance premiums. •"' (f) Other .necessary or reasonable h . expenses, not being ordinary main- :: tc-nance expenses or expenses inV ■ curred in ' the purchase of pro- ; P«ty.. .'■'Each'case..will. be.considered on its

ni'eritsj'and the nature and ttie amount of the grant, if'any, will be determined so as to ensure that the soldier can serve in tho New, Zealand Expeditionary Jforcti without any undue hardship to Himself or to persons dependent on . 'him. ■•'■ • When to Apply. If a roservist, after being passed by ' the medical board as A, B, or CI, has reaspu to-believe thatJiis military pay ancT allowances will be insufficient to enable him to meet his financial obligations, and that his military service will • be a cause of. undue hardship to himself', or to persons dependent, on him, and that such hardship canbe avoided by,a grant of financial assistance un-i der one or more of the above headings, 1 he should immediately forward an ap-] plication for financial assistance diiect to the secretary, Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, Panama Street, Wellington.

No Appeal Necessary. It is not necessary to appeal for exemption'in order to get financial assistance. The application for financial assistance should be' made direct to the Soldiers' Financial.. Assistance Board, and an appeal is therefore not necessary unless exemption from military service on other grounds than that of financial assistance is. desiredv' The Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board meets daily, and applications, if

■hi order, are dealt with promptly. Any delay in submitting a case to the board -is directly attributable to neglect on the part of the applicants in filling in the application forms. Applicants should exercise every care when tilling in the application form, and should supply correct information regarding their affairs.' If special explanation is necessary the application form should be accompanied by a letter .stating clearly position. The boarci's grants are 5 n the nature of a straight-out gift to the soldiar, who will not be called upon .to refund anv portion of llie grant. .VT" ,'■ Date of commencement, . Reservists not yet in camp should note that the Soldiers' Financial Asfiistance Board's grants, commence as from tlie date at which the recruit first becomes entitled to receive continuous pay as a member of the New Zealand ■■Expeditionary Forces, and obligations falling-due prior to the date of entering camp cannot be recognised by the board. ."". "".'. '. The regulations do not provide for cash payments to the sojdier or his dependants, ,and the-board's grants are made direct to the landlord, mortgagee, insurance company, etc.,; as the case 'may be. Financial assistance, may be granted in connection with the.management of businesses, hut the income from the business during the soldier's _ absence must be taken into consideration as a set-off against additional labour., etc., incurred; e.g., the returns from a grocery business should, under ordinary:'. Circumstances, more than pay thV wages of an extra band or ; manager-'-appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the absence of the soldier, and no'grant will be made for wages in such cases; similarly with farms, etc. If the soldier is unable to make satisfactory private arrangemeuts for management of his business, he should avail himself of the supervision and advice offered by the National Efficiency Board, and in the event of financial assistance being required in--addition-foe.the proper liian- | itgoment of the business a recommendation will be" made accordingly to the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board by the District Commissioner of the N'ational Efficiency Board. "Explanatory Notos as to Obligation Covered. (a) Rent includes furnished _ or un...furnished houses, and furnished or ' unfurnished rooms. (b) Interest: The' board considers interest (only), and the applicant is instructed,., whether a grant is made, or not, to arrange for postponement' of "principal" during his military service. Under existing legislation the soldier's property is fully protected wliilst interest is paid. (c) Instalments on furniture, or other chattels: ■. Under this heading the board has power to continue payments of instalments duo under a hire-purchase agreement, but does not include outstanding .-■'■ "' debts owing on' goods purchased in the ordinary way. Clothing, groceries, etc., are not included. New liabilities incurred under this heading will not under any circumstances bo entertained by the . , board. (d) Rates and taxes: Where of a fluctuating .amount, provision is made for payment according to the amount of demand from time to fcima. (e) Insurance: (1) Fire insurance includes policies on house, furniture, business premises, etc. (2) Life insurance—Owing to the misapprehension that seems to exist in connection with life insurance, the >. position is fully stated as follows: The board will consider insurance -premiums and war loading (if any) ".'■ on the full sum assured under ; .policies taken out some time prior to the date of enlistment of the .'.! soldier, or to his being called up . • \ in the ballot, subject, of course, to ' • the circumstances warranting a ".grant of financial assistance. In the case of new policies up bo £200 only the board is prepared to consider payment of the ordinary piemiums and the ( war loading where there.is no existing policy, and where the circumstances warrant a grant of financial assistance. Oiily one application is necessary, . and considerable confusion and delay are likely to arise by independent applications being lodged by the reservist, -' his wife, or other dependants, who should, if possible, be included under the one application made by the soldier or his wife. If the reservist has reison. to believe

that his circumstances were incorrectly stated in the application form, or if l'is circumstances have changed to any appreciable extent since the application was made, his case will be resubmitted to the board on receipt of fresh evidence which would warrant reconsideration. Application for reconsideration should ho made by letter in the first place, setting forth clearly the grounds upon which the request is based. Forms of application can be obtained from: The local Defence Office, National Efficiency Board, local Patriotic Society, Second Division League, or the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board.

General inquiries should, if possible, be made direct to the secretary, Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, Panama Street, Wellington.