RE GRATUITY PAYABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE A. I. F.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 8

RE GRATUITY PAYABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE A. I. F.

The Commonw?ealth Government has decided to pay a War Gratuity of ls 6d par deim as from the date of embarkation to the Official Signing of Peace, 21st June, 1919. The payment of this rate will be to all members of the Fighting Forces (Naval and Military) of the A.I.F. , and dependants of deceased soldiers who left Australia. Members of the A.I.F., who did not leave Australia will be paid at the rate of ls a day, from the date of enlistmeixt to the date of discharge. The gratuity will he paid in the form of non-negotiable bonds, which will bear interest at the rate of 5-£ per cent. per annum. The boixds will be received as equivalent to cash for all purposes under Repatriation, Laixd Settlement, War Service Homes, e^tc. In cases of hardship, special urgency, marriage of a soldier, or th I re-marriage of a soldier's widow, the bondsXwill be cashed by the Treasury at their full face value. Australia's share of the indemnity to be paid by Germany in May, 1921, will be specially ear-marked by the Government for the redemption of these bonds. It is estimated that this amount will be anything from seven to fifteen millions, but should Australia's share he less than tei. million the Government will make good the deficiency up to ten million. Fornxs of application when available wi'l be ohtainable from all Branches of the Comnxonwealth Bank throughout the world, and you may advise any Australiaix soldier in New Zealand to regularly keep in touch with such inetitutions. The scale of pensions granted to the members of the A.I.F., and their dependants is at present being varied a little, but I hope to be in a position to forward you within the course of a week or so a copy of the revised scheme.