WAR PENSIONS BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 4 December 1916, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS BOARD.

BOARD MEET IN STRATFORD. A meeting of the War Pensions Board was held at the Courthouse on Saturday last, when there were present—Mr 1). G. A. Cooper, S.M. (Chairman of the .Military Service Hoard) who presided, Colonel It. .1. C. Collins, .Mr (J. C. Facile (Commissioner of Pensions, who acted as Secretary to the Board), and Dr. Pollen. The Hoard deals with the various claims for pensions, and decides en the merits of the Medical reports from the time the men leave the trenches until they become claimants in New Zealand. A great many soldiers are granted pensions for six months, and the Board finds it necessary to see these men personally.

Out of 10 cases dealt with, seven permanent pensions were granted, tour were continued for a further period and live were notified that their allowances would.cease at the termination of the present period. The pensions vary from 20s to ss, many of the men having only slight physical delects. In one case where a man got 20s for six months, this pension will' probably develope into a permanent one, he haying received a severe injury to his knee. In another case a man was declined on thi' medical report, but when interviewed was granted 10s a week, dating back from the time of his discharge last March. As an illustration of the annual amount granted for pensions locally the following figures may be of interest—Wanganui (21 cases) £012; Hawera (10 cases) £188; Stratford (16 "eases) '£46B.' Mr Fache mention-ed-that in one district a widow of a private who was killed in action received a pension in her own right of £65 a year, and £l9 10s for each of her seven children, making a total ot £2Ol 10s per annum. Claims are increasing rapidly, the number lodged up to last week being 3,621 soldiers, with 1,941 dependents. Of these,'ss4 were pensions grained to soldiers, 2392 allowances, 331 claims declined; 13' adjourned, and 2S on hand. Of the dependents, 1521 pensions were granted, 156 allowances, 149 declined, 17 adjourned, and 95 on hand. The annual value of pensions to So I soldiers was £45,548 (average £53 pension) 319 wives and widows £34,212 (average £9B). 1,175 other dependents £33,879 (average £2B). Total pensions 4,926, representing £215,000 (average pension £l9). Of .the 4,926 pensions, 737, ceased, u~ presenting annual value of £36,000. The nett actual pensions under the Pensions Act represented an annual value of £209,000.