WAR VETERAN

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1929, Page 3

WAR VETERAN

PENSION REDUCED. ;By Telegraph—Per Press Association., DUNEDIN, Aug. 5, Janies \yhitebuv Ramsay, appealed an remand in. the City Police Coui;t to-day, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. oft, A charge of making a false statement the. Pensions.. Act, incUsc- : ha. did not disclpsp all moneys that iyere coming to him. Chief D,etective Cameron said that the o%?P 1 ' in charge of the local Pensions Branch had, been advised by the Head Office tq witk-hold £1 a week, which had hitherto been paid to Mrs Ramsay. There was no mention of restitution. Defendant would now receive £3 per week as a pension. Mjr Calvert, for defendant, suggested fhat the, Department, Knowing Ramsay was a railway servant, might have, piaffe mope searching inquiries. As it was Ramsay contended that the money lying, with the Railway Depart-, meat was his own, and, thought lie. was npt bound tp ffisclose, it. The Pensions Department apparently- thought he was only a casual railway servant, and the question of superannuation did not into it. Defendant's status, was 75, cent, disabled, so, that it was almost impossible for hjm to work. He was‘a South African. War. veteran and had also served during the last war. The Department's desire was to have circulated that. All sources of income must be disclosed and had been well served by this case. The Magistrate ,said that it was due tp, pensioners to, disclose fully in their, the receipt and source of all moneys which are received. It was not done in this case, with the result that a farge sum, of £64.0 was Taking into, consideration the physical infirmities o.f defendant, it was impossible for the. Court to make any order f°r restitution, which' would bp satisfactory in all respects. Defendant lyould b, e convicted and ordered to eorpe, up, for sentence, if called- upon within five years; 20s a week to be deducted off either his or his wife’s pension; leave to be reserved to the Pensions Department to make an application for a further reduction at any time within five years.