THE WAR GRATUITY.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 October 1919, Page 4

THE WAR GRATUITY.

HINTS To‘ APPLICANTS.

WE'LL;NGToN, This Day

About ten pelrecnt; of the applications made for the war gratuity have been ilifornléi; and have had to be refmfecl back to. tide applicants. Consequently it is necessary to gi-ve a few hints regiazfding_the_method of filling in the siniplc‘fol*m' required by the Pay Ofii::e_ A brief description of the methods adopted by the Defence Departmcnt in dealing withvthe applications will enabie soldiers to rea.-lise the necessity for accuracy in their "share of the task of allocating the millions a\a_ilab'le for distribution. -

Between September 23rd and October Ist twenty thousand applications came to the Pay Oflice in ‘Wellington. The mere task of eheclcing and recording is giving a large staff ample work, but it is going on ‘smoothly, and the paynients are now being made on the flrst series~ot' correct claims. The fllled—in forms have fii-st to undergo seruting to make sure that the applicant has provided the infoiination .rr-quii-ed. Many of the men fail to give two speimens ‘eignatures above the top line of the form, While others give the sigllatu_l'es' but write them in the b_lanl<_. space be_low.the proper line, and’ thus’ interfere with the portion of the form which has to be used as .a deposit slip in connection with the deposit of thenioney to the applicant's credit in a Post Office Savings Bank. The mid_dle of the form only has to -be filled in by the applicant, though many have mistakenly endeavoured to assist the Defence authorities by giving coinplete detailsof their service and deductions in the lower portions. This information has to be taken from the ledgers, and not from the appli'c:lnts notes_

‘Explanations are often added to the form, covering up space which is needed for office use_ If explanations are considered necessary, a note can b; attavhed to the application form. Any imgularity means loss of time in payment, for the applications are given a serial number as they are received,

_ and if one has to be referred back, it may not return until several thousand forms have been passed ahead of it, taking precedence for payment_ Hundreds of letters have been sent applying for the difierence between ‘territorial pay and Expeditionary Force pay while in camp, and also for the restrospective allowance concessions which were announced at the same time as the gratuity. The first task of the Pay Branch is to deal with the war gratuity, but it is rapidly getting ready for the other distributions. Applications for these allowances e.*.c.,. should not be included on the War gratuity form, but can be made by 73tter, and if the information supplied ‘S sufiicient, clear and complete, the D33‘ ment-will be made in due 00“1'Se~ I If more information is required 3 Suitable application form will be sent in response to the letter. This will probably have to be""‘done in most 08505 where children's allowance has to be paid retrospectively, as it is imPol”“ms to ensure that the money 3008 130 the person. who has been or is DOW 179' sponsible for. the maintenance. or the children. _ i '