OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 128, 8 September 1910, Page 5

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. Our Parliamentary correspondent telegraphed last night that Mr. H. Okey, •M.P., received the following answer to ihis question about the old soldiers' claims:—"The instructions issued to Stipendiary Magistrates in connection with the investigation of naval and military land claims specifically laid down that "no claim shall be admitted that does not come within the limits defined in any previous Act or regulation dealing with the granting of awards to naval and military settlers and volunteers. Militiamen as such are not entitled to grants of land, but by the Volunteer Land Act, 1865, it was provided that remission certificates might be granted to every officer, volunteer or militiaman after six .month®' service, in which he shall have been actually engaged against the Queen's enemies." AH claims that come within'the provisions of the abovequoted Act will be investigated, but it should be distinctly understood that service in the militia, except Under the conditions laid down in the Act, is not and never has been a qualification for a land grant. "War Medals.—lnstructions as to the investigation of claims to war medals are in course of preparation, and will be issued Very shortly. I will lay a cor>v of the instructions on the table of tne House for the information of hon. members."