SOLDIERS' DEPENDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS' DEPENDENTS.

ALLOWANCE APPLICATIONS RE-OPENED.

Wellington, Oct. 13.

The great public interest taken'in the amount of the war gratuities has somewhat obscured important proposals whicli were made at the' same time by the Minister of Defence in regard to allowances to widowed mothers and other dependants of warrant officers, non-com-missioned officers and men (except wives and children) who have not previously applied for or received an allowance. Many cases have come to the notice of the Defence Department where dependants, either through ignorance of their privileges, or through changed circumstances, have suffered hardship through the absence of an allowance. The classes of dependants named above are now being given the opportunity of applying for an allowance to the Officer in Charge of War Expenses, Wellington. Another important provision recently made by the Minister of Defence is set out officially in the following terms:— Applicants who have already received an allowance which has not been . sufficient to remove hardship during military service, either by reason of an inadequate amount or Kty «>ewg paid for a portion only, of the period of military service under limitations imposed by previous orders, may ap. ply for their cases to be reconsidered. Applications under this head should also be made to the Officer in Charge of War Expenses, Wellington (not to the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, as has been erroneously suggested by some correspondents to the newspapers). The Pay Branch will investigate the case, and decide whether the allowance should be increased if one has been given in the past, whether its currency should be extended, or (in the case of new applications) whether hardship has been suffered which should be relieved by the payment of an allowance.

Payments will be made by the Officer in Charge War .Expenses within periods of service from the beginning of the war The rate available for issue will be governed by the extent of the pre-enlistment support of the soldier less any allotment of pay made by him to or the dependant, with a maximum of 3s per day for each dependant, and less any payments already made under previous authorities. Pre-enlistment support will not be insisted upon in cases where circumstances have changed since the soldier's enlistment by reason of which the soldier became responsible for the full or partial maintenance of a widowed mother or other dependants.

Each case will be considered on its merits and in the great majority 01 instances it is not anticipated that there will be any great difficulty in deciding, the claim for retrospective allowance. Where the circumstances necessitate, the Pay Branch will be able to secure the advice of the members of the Soldiers' Financial Board, which has had so much experience in the task of deciding the question of whether the Soldier's pay and allowances have been sufficient or otherwise to enable him to carry his civil obligations" without financial hardship. So much confusion seems to e.vist in the minds of soldiers and their dependants regarding the authority .to which they should apply to obtain the benefit of the recently announced concessions that it is advisable to indicate- specifically where the different classes of applications should be sent.

Application for gratuities must be made on the special form obtainable nt any post office, and sent to the Officer in Charge of War Expenses, Wellington. Applications for retrospective allowances (whether for wife's, children, widowed mothers, or other dependants, and difference between Territorial and Expeditionary Force pay must be made by letter to the Officer in Charge of War Expenses, Wellington. Applications for the-payment of tlie difference between the Imperial and the New Zealand gratuities, pay and allow. ances 1 must be made by letter, addressed; "Paymaster General, Treasury, Wellington." All persons domiciled in New Zealand (including nurses) who have served is the Imperial, Naval, Military, and Air Forces, are included in this scheme. (Pension applications must be marie on the form obtainable at any Registrar of Pensions, and sent to that Department. ,

Applications for payment of extra loading on life insurance premiums, due to war service, must lie made by letter addressed "The Secretary, Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, Wellington'."

In the case of New Zealand soldiers now resident in Australia, remittances will be sent through the New Zealand resident Agent in either Sydney or Melbourne.