THE FINANCE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1919, Page 6

THE FINANCE BILL.

BETTER PENSIONS FOR WIDOWS,

BENEFITS FOR SOLDIERS. .(By Wire.—Own Correspondent) Wellington, Nov. 3. The Finance Bill passed by the House provides for the increase of the amount that the Government may invest in reserve fund securities from £BOO,OOO to £2,000,000. The amount to be borrowed for public works is increased by £250,000.

The Widows' Pension is increased to 7/C a week in respect of every child, with 7/® a week additional. If a woman has one child that payment will be 15/- a week, if two children 22/6 per week, if three children 30/- a week. A miner suffering from pneumoniosis is to receive 30/- a week if married and 15/- a week if unmarried. The widows of a miner is to receive the pension at present fixed during widowhood. The benefits of the War Pensions Act are extended to apply to those persons permanently resident in New Zealand at the time the Bill shall pass into law who are in receipt of pensions in respect of services in the South African War. The war pensions scale of pensions is made applicable to the cases of all members of the police force* injured or killed in the execution of their duty. The powers of local bodies are extended to include the provision and maintenance of approved war memorials. As the law stands at present goods coming into the country from Germany are liable to a surtax of 50 per cent. It is now proposed that the surtax shall be "not exceeding fifty per centum." Local authorities are forbidden to borrow money without the consent of the Gov-ernor-General in Council. The term of office of the Public Service Commissioners is extended until December 31, 1920, or until the earlier appointment of their successors in office Power is taken to make new appointments to the office. The appointments are to be made by the Governor-General, and the appointees are to hold office during the pleasure Of the Governor-Gen-eral. Another important clause has reference to the payment of gratuities to the dependants of deceased soldiers in respect of those soldiers' War service. At present the Government is obliged to make the payments to certain relatives specified. The proposal is to make it possible for the payments to be made to any relative in receipt of a pension under the War Pensions Act.