MILITARY WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1916, Page 6

MILITARY WAR PENSIONS.

I BOARD IN TARANAKI The Military Pensions Board dealt with 10 claims preferred by returned soldiers and soldiers' dependents in New Plymouth and Monday. (Jf these six had their allowances continued, four at the same amount, and two at a reduced amount. It was decided that in two of these cases the extension will b» a final payment. Two allowances were increased, one from 30s a week to 35s (the maximum, and the other from 20s to 255. Three men had their allowances contorted into permanent pensions. One of these men, who is suffering from the effect of a gunshot wound in the right '■and, was granted 15s a week, and another who was wounded in the knee, was granted 10s. In two cases the permanent pensions were increased, one from iis to 35s and the other from 10s to 20s. Of the remaining three cases the board wil 1 reconsider two at the expiry of the present term, and in the other it was resolved to obtain a further medical report. In the afternoon the members of the board conferred with the representatives of the Patriotic Committee. Yesterday morning the visitors left for Wanganui. At Stratford on Saturday out of ffi cases dealt with, seven permanent pensions were granted, four were continued for a further period and five were notified that their, allowances would cease at I the termination of the present period. ;The pensions vary from 20s to ss, many of the men having only slight physical defetts. In one case where a man got 20s for six months, this pension will probably develop into a permanent one, he having received a severe injury to his knee. In another ease a man was declined on tin medical report, but when intervewed was granted 10s a week, dating back from the time of his discharge last March.

The total number of claims lodged since the passing of the Act in August, 1015, is 7502 and the grand total of pensions is 4926 and the gross liability £245,023 per annum.