WIDOWS' PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 67, 19 March 1919, Page 11

WIDOWS' PENSIONS.

StJFFERERS BY EPIDEMIC.. CASES TO HK KKYIEWKD. "" HOSPITAL BOARD'S ASSURANCE.

While a communication from the Otago Hospital hoard in respect to an »xisting anomaly in the pensions paid jo widows of the recent epidemic was -jnder consideration at the meeting of the Hospit.il Board last night, Mr. Rowe raked the question of the payments that are being made by the local Board. The chairman (Mr. Wallace.) hud intimated that representations on the matter had already been made to the Minister for Public Health, when Mr. Bowi , opined up the question of payments by thi> locAl Roard. He ex-pres.-ed himself as not altogether satisfied with the pensions granted, nnd asked whether the low pensions granted in the first place by the Hoard could not be reviewed in view of the fact that at present the sum for widows was fixed at 25/. He referred to the increasing cost of living, and suggested that the l'.oard had evidently lost sight of this important factor when fixing the. amounts.

Mr. Wallace said that every case could be reviewed, and that no person need fear in coming to the Board to have their ea-ses rpviewed.

Mr. Mackay expressed the view that a mother who had lost her only son (supporting son) as a result of the influenza should be classed as a widow. He knew of one such case where the mother ■was forced to seek charitable aid. Tiii* phase, he suggested, should be brought before the Minister.

Mr. NVrheny said that quite a number of the cases would have to b L > reviewed a> the circumstances of the people affected were altering all the time. He cited the rase of a widow who was only receiving 12/G for herself and 10/ for her child. She was in a delicate stale ot Health. He considered it a cpse fer immediate review. Parliament, he said would have to give more attention to these phases of the question. Mr. Wallace gave an assurance that every case would be reviewed, that none ot the sufferers would be allowed to