SOLDIERS' FAMILIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 189, 30 April 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS' FAMILIES

4 CABINET CONSIDERS SEPARATION ALLOWANCES INCREASE GRANTED FOR CHILDREN STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN The following statement litis 1)6611 issued by the Minister of Defence, on behalf of the Government:— Tho Government has had under consideration the question of separation allowances, and it lias been decided: That tho allowances to children of soldiers of tho Expeditionary Force bo increased by Gd. per (lay, or from 7s. to 10s, (id. per week, as from May 1. Tho present position with regard to allowances to wife and children, assuming that the soldior allots his deferred pay of 3s. per day to his wife, is— Per week. Allotment 21s. Wife's allowance 21s. One child 7s. Total 'IDs. the soldier retaining lis. per week, with food, clothing, etc., provided. On the same basis the present allowances provide for— Per week. Wife and two children 5Gs. Wifo and three children G3s. Wife and four children ids. Wife and five children 775. The increase agreed to. on the basis of 3s. a day allotment, will providePer week. For wife and one child 525. (id. Vol - wife and two children... fi3s. Od. For wife and three children 735. Gd. For wife and four children 84s. fid. For wife and five children... 91s. (id. Widowed Mothers. It has also been decided to increase tho amount of income which the widowed mother may receive without atfecting tho widowed mother's allowance from J0 ? . per week to 15s. per week. This will permit those in receipt of old-ago pension, including tho war bonus to benefit by tlie .vidowed mother's allowance, and will i:"vmit ol others not in receipt of old-age pension, but of income otherwise derived up to ;ss. a week, also benefiting by the widowed mother's allowance. Capital Limitation. Cabinet has also iicciikii mat the present limitation of capital which debars receipt of au allowance shall be increased to iluOO. Willi respfect to the widowed mother in receipt of full old-ago pension and the war bonus, tho increase now agreed to will allow:— Per week. Old-ago pension 15s. (Id. Widowed mother's allownico 255.6 d. Total 25 s - To tiiia mut:i andcd ilk- allotment which tiio oOhlier leaves to Ms widowed mother. Tnu increase of income allowed to 15s. per week will ulso meet Die cast? ol widowed uiot.aers in receipt of widow s pension. Other Dependants. Cabinet iiua a.ou maucu with respect to otiurs tliiUi wilt:, . nnu, or wiumveu niotiier, ueilig relatives, "inl wiio liave peon in laet aepeiiuent on cue Soulier lor tweiva uontlis piior to ins i luisiiucnt, uiat an allow am o will be yaw u> sucn vquivaioiit to tne amount paid by tnc ioiuier wall a maximum limitation of ills. lid. per weeii. Financial Assistance. It has luno been ueciueu to increase tho insurance poiicy miuwea in cases tvuuro tne soldier is not uueady insured lroiu JIiUU to jM, ana mo i 1 manual Assistance .board will be so advised. General.

TJib question ui jucroase ia (lie wife's allowance nom lils. per week was lully considered, and u was decided tnat turliler co'isiiienition sliouUl to given to provision for the soldier ..on return snould lit not be able to secure employment. This question is beset wuu many difficulties, but nil earnest endeavour will be mailt) to solve them It is evident Hint very many of the men of Ike Expeditionary having their positions assured, will, on return to New Zealand, 1» able to secure employment without delay, as, for illstance, all State and local authority employees. It is also el.ar that many others can be provided' with employment on public works, but there will be some for whom Hit Government may not bo able to offer employment suita.ble to them. The latter tire the cases that, as indicated, require consideration.