WIDOW'S ANNUITY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19610, 4 May 1929, Page 16

WIDOW'S ANNUITY.

JUDGE ORDERS INCREASE. (PHE33 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAit.) AUCKLAND, May 3. Considered by Mr Justice Blair to have been allowed an insufficient sum under the will of her husband, Annie Skene had her annuity under the will raised from £lB2 to £3OO in the Supreme Court to-day. The Judge further ordered that Mrs Skene should he paid a lump sum of £250 for her present requirements. The allowance for Mrs Skene was described by Mr Richmond, who conducted the claim against the Public Trustee, as "unjust and showing want of recognition of moral duty." The assets of the estate at the death of Allan Skene on January 28th were £'J3SS 1.9s Bd, and the liabilities £54 10s. '•The manner in which testator has dealt with his wife is highly unjust," Mr Richmond said. ''One can only call it that Mrs Skene has been left practically penniless. In asking that the annuity should be increased to £3OO, a large amount is not being asked for. A lump sum of £250 is also claimed for Mrs Skene's immediate needs.''

"1 am bound to say there is a good deal of justice in my friend's contentions,'' said Mr Johnstone, representing the Public Trustee and other beneficiaries under the will. "It is conceded that the deceased had a moral duty to perform and we do not think it unreasonable that a sufficient sum should be allowed to Mrs Skene. The charities represented in the United Kingdom—some of them are As far away as Aberdeen—to which the money has been left would probably not put forward any strenuous opposition to some amount being paid to the widow." The Judge agreed that it appeared that deceased had not fulfilled hi« moral duty to the person most entitled to consideration. In making the new annuity payable from the date of death he said the will would stand in all other respect?.