THE PENSIONS ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1915, Page 6

THE PENSIONS ACT.

1 >IFFICULTIES EXPLAINED. A LIBERAL MEASURE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. "I am afraid that even now there is a certain amount of confusion in the public mind with regard to the provisions of the War Pensions Act," said the Prime Minister this evening. "This, I think, is owing to the fact that the pensions tq incapacitated soldiers are irrespective of whether the recipients are possessed of wealth or incomes. A totally incapacitated soldier is entitled to a pension of £1 15s per week, while his wife may receive 12s 6d per week, and his children, if any, £l3 per annum, or taking them together a maximum aggregate of £3 12s Od per week, and other ranks in proportion. A captain, for instance, is entitled to £2 per week, the aggregate for himself and family being £4 5s per week, a colonel to £2 18s per week, or an aggregate for his family of £5 12s.

"It must be understod that the Pensions Board are the judges of partial Incapacity, or, ratherj the earning capacity of a pensioner, and fix the amount of the pension. Every case of partial incapacity is considered on its merits and dealt with accordingly, always remembering that neither the property nor income of the pensioner under this heading has anything to do with the amount of the pension. "Then, in the case of dependents, the Act, while providing the maximum of the aggregate pension per week, directs the Pensions Board to take into consideration the property or income from all sources of the dependent, and remembering that dependents jnclude wife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, step-father, step-mother, grandson, grand-daughter, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, mother-in-law, and, of course, children. How many dependents in all there are I am not able to say. No other arrangements seems feasible, and no Act can provide definite pensions for each and every one of the foregoing. A suggestion was made publicly the other day that pensions should only be provided for these people when they are dependents", but that brings us back to the board, or some similar body, who must decide the latter question and the degree of dependency. "The Canadian Act makes provision only for the widow and children, and the mother if a widow. This has the merit of being much simpler than ours, but it is not nearly so liberal. I know lam right in saying that in no case has the board failed to make all provision allowed by law where a widow and children were not otherwise adequately provided for." The following figures show the maximum pensions payable per annum, (a) in case of disablement to disabled soldiers and wives, and, (b) in case of death, to wives and other dependents:— (A) DISABLEMENT. Private Soldier. Wife. £ £ New Zealand 91 32 Canada 84 27 Australia 52 26 (B) DEATH. , £ New .Zealand (wife or other dependent) fi'i Canada (wife or widowed mother only) 54 Australia (wife or other dependent) 52