SOLDIERS' PENSIONS GRANTED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS GRANTED

VALUE 400,000. The total number of soldiers in New Zealand who are pensioners on account of war disabilities is 22,608, this representing an annual value of ,£1,'400,000. For the ■ financial year from April 1, | 1318, to January 31, 1919, there have been granted 11,259 new pensions, representing an annual value of .6770,850, and during the month of February of this year the total value of the pensions granted exceeds .£200,000. These figures were .supplied to the "Lyttelton Times" by Mr. G. C, Faclie, Commissioner of Pensions, who is in Cliristchurch as a member of the Pensions Board which is dealing with the cases of renewals of pensions to those soldiers whose grant would in the ordinary way expire. Mr. Facho pointed out that his department was not handicapped by having a limited amount of funds to be allocated to soldiers, but that whatever amount the Pensions .j Board decided to grant would bo given to the soldier, the country footing tho bill. With Mr. Facho on the Pensions Board i are Mr. D. G. A. Cooper (chairman), Dr. H. W. M. Kendall, and Mr. J. D. Harper. Prior to their arrival in Chrislehurch the board dealt with 580 cases in the South Island, sittings being held at Clinton, Gore, Invercargill, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, and Ashburton. All these cakes had been dealt with in three weeks. Of this number 440 pensions were renewed, 82 made permanent, 3G adjourned, and in 17 cases' the existing pension was adhered to. Five pensions ceased.