THE SERVICE GRATUITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 68, 14 December 1918, Page 6

THE SERVICE GRATUITY

NO PAYMENTS YET. The Minister of .Defence said lust night Hint it was probable Unit the Department would not be able to deal with Hip mallei; of Iho payment (if Hie graiuily (o> officers ami men who hud overseas service until demobilisation hail been advanced some way. Tho details of the scheme would have to be. worked out before payments could bo made, lie mentioned also the. power taken under Hid Act to give the. gratuity in cases otherwise than as u eash payment. This, he said, would be difficult to arranue, but lie hoped that in the interests of the men some scheme would bo devised. The married soldier who has been on.' service as a volunteer since the early., days of the war will receive considerable! benefit under the gratuity scheme. If the soldier is still with the forces his 1 wife will be entitled to receive separation, allowance at the increased rate of. three shillings a day for the whole period' of his'service, and if Iho soldier lias been killed at the. front his widow will be entitled to tho increased .separation allowance for the period .of the soldier'e service, ft has been suggested that there will be some sort of an extra payment, to the men who have, been wounded. This is not. so. To the soldier .who has sutler- \ .yd. hurl of a snrious nature the pension is paid, and there, will bo no. extra , gratuity'.. . Theninouut of. (he gratuity to a married soldier way .be subject to a, pro rata. reduction in casn.it is found that the total, sum required for tho payment of the full allowance is more than. ,, the total sum voted, <frJM,OOO.