THE SOLDIERS' BAIRNS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 243, 2 July 1918, Page 6

THE SOLDIERS' BAIRNS

ADVANCE IN. BRITISH ALLOWANCES.

A.' new Royal Warrant which came into force recently makes important alterations in the warrant of March 29, 1917, in respect to allowances for soldiers' children and the alternative penions of witows. The old and new weekly scales for children compare as follow: — Old. New. First child ....... ss. Od. Gs. Sd. •. Second child ... 4s, 2d. ss. Od. Third child ...... 3s. id. 4s. 2d. Others 2s. 6d. Is. 2d. Pensions to motherless, children have hitherto been awarded at the rate of 7s. a week, and, where two or more children have beeu maintained by one person, at the rate of (is. lor eaoli of the children after the iirst. Under tho new warrant the pensions will be at tho rates not exceeding Ids. and 9s. 2d. The pension to an illegitimate child will be 6s. Bd. per week. The present rate is ss. Alternative pensions to widows will be calculated on ihe basis of two-thirds (instead of one-half) of the alternative pension that might have been payable to the husband had he survived and remained incapable of earning. AVit.li regard to parents, the warrant embodies a concession granted some time ago. Formerly a pension was awarded to a parent or parents only if there had been pre-war dependence, or if tho eon had been a scholar or apprentice, now the parent or parents may receive a pension if they aye incapable of self-support from ago or infirmity and are in pecuniary need. Medical treatment during the present war may bo granted to non-at.tributa.ble eases—i.e., men whose disability is not attributable to service—and during such, treatment allowances may be granted to their families. A soldier discharged as medically unfit for further service, or while suffering impairment, may bo granted a temporary allowance of 275. 6cl. per week during the period between the date of his discharge and the date of the a.ward of a. pension or gratuity, with full children's allowance. •