WAR PENSIONS ACT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 114, 16 May 1916, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS ACT.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. The most important feature of the Pensions Amendment Bill is that section 15 of the original Act, which directed the Board to take into consideration any property on income of the pension claimant, is repealed. The Board is not to consider income or property in assessing a wife or a child’s pension. In determining the rate of pension payable to a dependent, it must, consider the property and income of the applicant, but not of any other, person the pension to commence from date of death, or from the date of discharge in the case of disablement.

Extension of pension is permitted to a person not a dependent within the meaning of the Act if the Board is satislied he hag suffered material loss of income cjr property by reason of the death or disablement of a member of the forces, and -be has inadequate means of support. Imperial or other pensions granted in respect of the present war, except the pension attached to the award of any decoration for distinguished service, will be the subject of deduction from the amount of the local pnsion otherwise payable.

Important alterations in pension schedules ane the abolition of maximum

aggregate of weekly pensions for either death or disablement. The pension scales are unaltered, but no maximum will prejudice men having large families or many dependents. Members of the expeditionary force will be entitled to pension benefits if disablmnt or death ccurs before leaving Now Zealand.

The bill also applies to persons engaged in New Zealand on military service connected with the war, and naval men paid by Now Zealand, though not in our forces.

Any pension payable to a female dependent ceases on remarriage. Special consideration will be given to parents, the Board being authorised to pay them a pension if other means of suppejr are inadequate notwithstandingthat they may not be dependents within the moaning of the principal Act. The former age limitation is omitted where application is made by t-hc widowed mother of a disabled or dead soldier who was hen sole support. The pension shall not be less than that payable to a wife. Payment of pensions outside Now Zealand is authorised in respect of father, mother, wife or children of a solid i or.