INCREASES IN PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 September 1917, Page 5

INCREASES IN PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES.

THE GOVERMENT PROPOSALS

The Government proposals for incerases in pensions and allowances were placed before members. The Bill dealing with pensions will be introduced without any delay. The proposed increased allowances to wives, children, and other dependents of soldiers were explained to the honourable members. The present liability of pensions is £443,000. The proposed increases on the present liability amount to £130,000 The estimated increased liability is £573,000. If no alteration were made in the pensions the estimated liability 12 morphs from now would be £823,000 Under the proposals, the estimated liability 12 months from now would be £1,003,000, and the estimated increased liability £240,000. Allowances to wives children, guardians and widowed mothers, at present rates, £322,788; at the new rates, at £714,641; the increase if brought into operation at once, will be £388,676. The estimated liability at the 30th September, 1918, for wives, children, guardians, and widowed mothers, at present rates, £939,577; at the now rates, £2.037,691, an increase of £1,098,114. At the present rates the liability is £322,788; at the new rates, at September 30, 1918, it will be £2,037,691, of which £939,577 is accounted for by the increased number of wives and children, From the increase of £1,714,903. deduct £939,577, leaving £775,326, for which the new raics alone are responsible. In 12 months the new rates involve an increased liability of pension's of £240.000, and allowances £775,326, a total of £1,015,326.