VPRS 2159 Court of Petty Sessions Register of Pension Claims for Commonwealth Pensions

Clerks of Courts could be appointed under the Commonwealth Invalid and Old Age Pensions Act to act as a Registrar of Pensions with the duties of receiving pension claims, investigating these claims and keeping appropriate records (S 11). Claims, once investigated, were then to be referred to a Magistrate able to investigate further and eventually make a recommendation regarding the acceptability of the claim (S 30 31). The Registrar then had the duty of transmitting that recommendation with the Magistrates endorsement, to the Deputy Commissioner of Pensions.Details were entered under the headings of: Date of Receipt of Claim; Surname; Christian Name; Occupation; Date when finally dealt with by Magistrate; Nature of Magistrates Recommendation; Date when Claim and Magistrates Recommendation sent to Deputy Commissioner (of Pensions for each State); Short Particulars of Income and Property as Accepted by the Magistrate and Remarks.