SEPARATION ALLOWANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1918, Page 5

SEPARATION ALLOWANCES.

CHILDREN'S INCREASED BY; fld -PES DAY.

NO INCREASE IN WIFE'S ALLOW . ANCE.

OTHER CONCESSIONS MADE,

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington April 29. The Minister of Defence, on behalf of the Government, has issued the following:—

The Government had under consideration to-day the question of separation allowances, and it has been decided iljat allowances to children of aoldieta Of the Expeditionary Force be increased by 6d daily, or from 7s to 10s Cd, as froM l May 1. The present position as tegards allowances to a wile and children, assuming that a soldier allots his deferred pay of 3s a day to a wife, is:—Allotment from soldier's pay, 21s a week; wife's allowance, 21s; one child, 7s; total, 48s a week —the soldier retaining 14s a week, with food, clothing, etc., provided- „

On tlie same basis the present allowances provide for a wife and children 56s per week; wife and three children, four, 70s; five, 775. * The increase agreed to, on a. baßis of 3s a day allotment from a soldier's pay, will provide for a wife and one child 52s Cd a week, two children 03s, three 73s 6d, four 84s, five 94s 6d.

It also has been decided to increase the amount of income which a widowed mother may receive without affecting a widowed mother's allowance, from 10s a week to los a week. This will permit those in receipt of the old age pension, including a war bonus, to benefit by the widowed mother's allowance, and permit of others not in receipt of old-age pensions but of income otherwise derived up Ito 15s a week, also benefiting Inr the widowed mother's allowance. [ Cabinet also decided that the present limitation of capital which debars the receipt of allowance shall be increased to £SOO. With respect to widoWed mothers in receipt of full old-age pension and war bonus, the increase now agreed to will allow 15s per week, old-age pension 10s Bd, widowed mother's allowance 25s od. To this must be added allotment which the soldier leaves his widowed mother. The increase, of income allowed to 15s a week mil also meet the case of widowed mothers in receipt of widow's pension. Cabinet also decided with respect to others than a wife, child, orkvidowed mother, being relatives and who have been, in fact, dependent on a soldier for 12 months prior to his that an allowance will be paid to slich equivalent to the amount paid by the soldier without a maximum limitation of 10s 6d.

It was also decided to increase' the insurance policy allowed in oases where .a .soldier is not already insured from £2OO to £3OO, and the Financial Assistanoe Board ia to be go advised. The question of increase in - a wife's allowances from 21s a week was fully considered.

It was decided that further consideration should be given to the provision tor a soldier on return should he not be able to secure employment. This question is beset with many difficulties, but an endeavor will be made to solve them. Many of the men of the Expeditionary ore o having their positions assured will on return to New Zealand be able to secure employment without delav as for instance, all State and local authority employees. It is also clear that many others can be provided with employment on public works, but will be some for whom the Government may not be able to offer employment suitable for them. The latter are cases that, as indicated, require consideration.

TJUNEDIN INDIGNATION.. ' Dunedin, Last Night. ■ J l'e following motion has been estrried' by the local branch of the Second Division League to-night:-"This meet in views with alarm the Gvernment'tf failure to stand by the pledge to meet' the demands of the league as to allow* ances to dependents of soldiers, and decides to use every endeavor to brine pressure on the powers that be in the direction of compelling them to keep aith with the fcecond Division members and also justice by soldiers as of rigfrfc."