PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1920, Page 1

PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS

SCALE OF INCREASES

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 1

The Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes gave some information relative to the increases in disabled soldiers’ pensions. Sir Heaton referred to the request made by the Returned Soldiers.’ Association for increases equivalent to 75 per cent, and said that the Minister of Finance

bad found it impossible to provide such a huge sum of money. Section 3 of the Finance Act, 1920, provided for increases not exceeding £50,000 in any jinanciail year. The Pensions Board had decided upon the scale of increases which were as follows: 1. To totally blinded soldiers, 10s per week.

2. To double amputees, 10s a wssk 3. TV) all isioklprs in hospital receiving full pension, 10s per week. 4. To all! -soldiers totally incapacitated in receipt of temporary full pensions, 10s per week (concurrent with present grant). 5. To soldiers in receipt of permanent pensions of full amount, an amount according to the merits of each case.

6. To soldiers in receipt of full pensions with three or more children on pensions os per week, for each child in lieu of 10s per week as above. No'e In cases under this head, 10s to he paid to soldier and additional amount to wife or other guardian of children EXAMPLES. Following are examples of increases in cases where the pensioner is married :—A soldier and wife receiving a statutory pension of £3 and a supplementary pension of £1 will now receive an additional 10s under the 1920 Act. making',£4 10s altogether; a soldier and wife with one child, receiving a statutory pension of £3 10s and a supplementary pension of £l, will receive an additional 10s, making £5 in all; a soldier and wife with two children will receive an additional 10s, making £5 10s; a soldier and wife with three children wfll receive an additional los, making £5 15s in all; a soldier an.l wife with four children will get an extra £l, bringing the total up to £6, and a soldier and wife with five children will receive an extra £1 ss, bringing the total pension tip to P 6 15s per week.