DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1918, Page 5

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

PENSIONS AND ALLOTMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, May 1. Before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day Chas. F. Rodda, officer in charge of the War Expenses Branch and also a Treasury olticial, stated the payment to a wife or dependent did not necessarily close on the death of the soldier. Pensions were paid to soldiers from the date of discharge, but he was not aware that there was any hiatus between discharge and the first payment. The pension commenced after the last payment of the allotment. He was not awave of any reimbursements to patriotic societies for maintaining, soldiers or their dependents during the period between the stoppage of pay and the fixing of the pension. Up to February 2S last the following amounts had been paid to the Post and Telegraph Department for services: Sending out war news, £112,143; casualty lists, £254,482; haspital reports, £9843; total, £370,808. Up to the end of February the amount paid for allotments and allowances was £6,1)66,925, of which £3,355,1171 had been paid for the year ended February 28 last.