H.—l9d

PENSIONS. It is proposed : — (a.) To remove by legislation the restriction which now debars the payment of a disablement pension to the wife of a disabled soldier who marries outside New Zealand after disablement, provided that the marriage takes place during the period of his military service. (6.) To give power by legislation to the War Pensions Board to consider for pension special cases where marriage with a disabled soldier takes place more than two years after discharge, if special circumstances warrant the grant of a disablement pension. 'LIFE-INSURANCE PREMIUMS. If a returned soldier not in receipt of a pension'wishes to insure his life, any loading of premium on account of impaired health occasioned by service will be paid by the Government, provided that— (a.) The insurance is effected through the Government Life Insurance Department. (b.) The sum assured does not exceed £500. (c.) The soldier makes application on or before 31st Deoember, 1921. (d.) The soldier has paid the ordinary premium. Application should be made to the Secretary, Financial Assistance Board, Panama Street, Wellington.

CONDITIONS

Overseas War Service Gratuity. 1. The scale in' accordance with which the amount of bonus payable as an overseas war-service gratuity to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force having been fixed at Is. 6d. per day by Order in Council, the said gratuity will be determined subject to the following conditions. 2. The gratuity cannot be claimed or recovered by any person as a matter of right, but shall be deemed to be a free gift by the State in recognition of the honourable service of members of the Expeditionary Forces in the present war, and may in any case be withheld or deferred at the discretion of the Minister of Defence. 3. Service for the gratuity will be active service within periods beginning on the 4th August, 1914, and ending on the date of the signing of peace —viz., 28th June, 1919, inclusive. 4. The gratuity will commence to run for each member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from and including the date of embarkation or re-embarkation from New Zealand on active service, or date of enlistment abroad in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, up to and including the date of decease or discharge abroad, or the date of disembarkation on return to New Zealand, or the 28th June, 1919, whichever comes first. 5. In the case of members who died while on active service beyond the seas the period for which the gratuity will be payable shall not be less than two years, 6. In the case of members evacuated sick or wounded from an actual theatre of war and returned to New Zealand as unfit for further overseas service, the period for which the gratuity will be payable shall not be less than eighteen calendar months. The term " theatre of war " shall be as defined in regulations approved from time to time for the issue of war-medals. 7. Except in the case of members who died on active service abroad, the following periods of service will not reckon as qualifying service for the purpose of gratuity : — (a.) Any period for which gross pay was forfeited by Royal Warrant. (b.) Any period of service exceeding twenty-eight days for which gross pay was ordered to be forfeited. (c.) Any period of service during which hospital stoppages have been charged for illness, the result of misconduct, or for illness caused by a soldier rendering himself unfit for service.

The above [subparagraphs (a) and (b) will not apply !to any period of service for which forfeitures have been remitted. 8. The gratuity or balance of gratu ty in the case of a member not already discharged or deceased will not be, ssuable earlier thin twenty-eight days after his return to : New Z aland. 9. Any to any member o' to his dependants, or any public claim chargeable against him by a Government Department, will be deducted from the gratuity. 10. Where it appears that any member has, while in the service, omitted to make proper provision for his wife and children, whether legitimate or illegitimate, or in I any case in which the circumstances seem to him to so require, the Minister of Defence may direct that the gratuity be applied in or towards the making of provision so far-as possible for the said wife or children or as the circumstances may demand. The Defence Department may pay to a person or society considered to be able to distribute the money in the best interests of the family. 11. In the case of any member who, after service in the Expeditionary Force beyond the seas, has died whilst still a member of that Force, or who, after such service beyond the seas, has died after being honourably discharged from that Force, but without receiving such gratuity, the gratuity may be paid to or divided between his widow, children, father, or mother, as provided by section 7,- subsection (3), of the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Act, 1918. 12. The gratuity will not be paid in the case of an officer whose services are dispensed with or who has resigned or has been s'ruck off the strength from any cause which, in the opinion of the General Officer Commanding, disqualifies him for the gratuity. 13. The gratuity will not be paid in the case of a soldier— (a.) Discharged with ignominy, or on account of misconduct ; (6.) Undergoing a sentence of penal servitude, imprisonment, or detention at the expiration of which he is discharged, under (a) above. 14. Application forms (E.F. Pay Form 192) for gratuity will be distributed to all post-offices throughout New Zealand. These forms must be completed where necessary and forwarded to the Officer in Charge War Expenses, Wellington. In the case of deceased members the applications should be made by their legal representatives.

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