PENSIONS CLAIMS
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION.
A CHRISTCHURCH PROSECUTION
Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day the' Pensions Department proceeded against a woman for - the non-disclosure of certain particulars when making a claim under the War Pensions- Act in respect to the death of her soldier son., Mr Gilfedde”, Registrar of Pensions, said that defendant, in making a declaration, had not disclosed that her husband was earning £3 per week. Mr Gilfodder added that proceedings were not instituted from any motive of vindictiveness, but rather as a warning to the public that breaches of the Act could not be tolerated by the department. There seemed to be an impression that the giving of wrong information was the, only offence. That was not the case. The non-disclosure of material facts constituted an offence, and it would bo impossible for the department to administer the -various Acts if particulars required 'were withheld or suppressed. This referred to all pensions of war widows, and old age, military, and miners’ pensions. Ha also mentioned that the department on occasion had been subjected to adverse criticism on account of apparent delays, but in every case the delay was ,caused on account of particulars and information required not being forthcoming.
For the defence it was stated that the woman was under mental distress at the time, and did not intend to deceive the department. The magistrate said he was-satisfied that thore had been no intention to mislead the department, and dismissed the case. At the same time he thought the prosecution was quite justified. There was no doubt that a certain section of the public had an idea that all sorts of wild statements could bo made with impunity", and ho hoped that the present prosecution would show such was not the case.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19190515.2.102
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10280, 15 May 1919, Page 7
Word count
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300PENSIONS CLAIMS New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10280, 15 May 1919, Page 7
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