THE WAR PENSIONS BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3988, 22 July 1915, Page 3

THE WAR PENSIONS BILL.

DEFENCE COMMITTEE’S I{EPORT

INCREASE IN RATF.S

MEN IN LOWER RANKS.

By Teiegrapii Sjiecuii Correspondent

WELLINGTON, July 21. The amendments proposed in the "VVar Pensions Bill by the Secret Defence Committee- were reported to the j House of Representatives yesterday by the Premier, as Chairman of the committee.

I . The effect of the amendments is to | increase the amounts in the second ; schedule payable to disabled soldiers j in the lower ranks. ! The maximum rate for a private is increased from Cl os to JCi ids per week, but the same maximum is also fixed for all non-commissioned ranks The maximum rate for lieutenants is increased from ,QI Ids to .ft] 17s (Js. 'The maximum aggregate- rates of pensions lmve also been increased. The following are tin* new maximum rates, the former rates being in parenthesis: Private (£3) £3 12s Gd, corporal (£3 3s) £3 13s, sergeant (£3) £3 3s Gd. company sergeant-major (£3 6s) £3 1-1 s Gd, regiment .sergt-major (£3 9s) £3 Ids, lieutenant (£3 16s) £4, captain (£4 3s) £4 ds, major (£4 12s) £4 Ids Gd, lieut.-colonel (£6 3s) £6 9s, colonel (£G ds) £d 12s, brigadiergeneral or major-general (Co 9s) Cd Ids. No alterations have boon made in the first schedule, which provides the rates of pensions to the widows and children of de eased soldiers.

The provision in the original hill for an increase in the rates payable to disabled soldiers when the service's of an attendant are necessary Inis been dealt with by the committee. PROVISION FOR "MISSING.”

The eonunitte oroposes that the Oillowing ne.w clause shall be added to the bill in order to make special provision for the case of members of the forces of finally reported as "missing.” "(1) Pensions under this Act shall be payable to the dependents of a member of the forces who is officially reported to the Minister ns missing in the same manner as if the member had died of wounds or injuries received in his employment, as such member on the date on which lu* was so reported.

"(2) In the event of the member living subsequently reported as living and disabled the pensions granted under this section shall he withdrawn and pensions in respect- of disablement granted in lieu thereof. "(3) Iu the event of the member being' subsequently reported as living and not disabled, all pensions granted under this section shall be withdrawn and the amounts theretofore naid ov way of pensions to the dependents may, in the discretion of the board, he deducted from the accumulated pay of the member. "(4) The provisions of section IS (authorising the payment of allotments of pa.v after the date of the death of a member of the forces) shall mutatis mutandis extend so as to authorise the payment of allotments after the date on' which a member is reported missing and all payments heretofore made by way of allotment of iiav in resoect of such members are hereby validated.”