The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1915 MILITARY PENSIONS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 February 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1915 MILITARY PENSIONS.

lhe general public are much gratified that the Minister of Defence will, when the House meets in June, see that the old Act under which pensions are paid to soldiers who may bo wounded, as well as for the widows and families. Men who are giving up good billets to

servo their country—indeed, every man who goes forth to fight for the Empire—should be well provided for if any harm comes to him. Wo should like to seei better provision made at once for those whose lives are sacrificed. We, who stay at home, must give willingly and generously. It is no time to begrudge a fair pension to those who may meet with misfortune; and what is to be done should be done at once. Under the existing conditions, where the deceased has been killed in action, died of wounds or from illness, the pension provided for the widow of a lieutenant or an assistant surgeon ranges from £60 to £50 a year, of a second lieutenant from £46 to £40. and of a non-commissioned officer or private from £36 to £30. The annual allowances for the children of men who have given up their lives for their country vary from $U to £6 for those of lieutenants, assistant surgeons, or second lieutenants, from £6 to £4 for those of non-commissioned officers jr privates. The private soldier who 's totally incapacitated and requiring the ■assistance and care of some other person is paid from Is 6d to 3s day according to the amount of attention required; second degree men. who are incapacitated, hut do not need assistance are allotted Is to 2s 2d; third degree men receive from 8d to Is 2d. And no provision whatever is made for the dependents of incapacitated soldiers. whether they he officers, noncommissioned officers or privates. All this should lie altered as soon as possible. Onr hearts and pockets have responded so liberally to the suffering Belgians, tve must not forget our own kith and kin