PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 11

PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES

Sir,—As the hardworking wife of a Second Division reservist, I have but little time to wade through the many pages of debates, opinions, and various statements made by different people, or bodies of people, re the financial position of the wife of a man who goes, to the front. I see by the paper this morn, jug that a wife is to receive a separation allowance of three shillings per day. I .•Jiave nothing to say about that, for it seems to me that we cannot expect the Government to keep us in luxury whilo pur men are away. There ore "one or two little points, however, that aro of great importance to us women—points that I have made many inquiries about but never got the same answer twice. I shall be glad if you will enlighten me nn them. , .

1. Is a woman debarred from, trying to augnjeut that allowance, either by •keeping her husband's" business going nr by taking some domestic oosition, etc.? 2. Will a soldier's widow be unable to

obtain a, ponsion for tho same- reason? 3. Will privatq weans bo a bar to allowance or pension? I understand that in England tho soldier's wifo gets her pension regardless of position or means. "Will it lie tho same- hore, or will slip have to lay lwro all her littlo doineetio affairs boi'oro a stony-hearted bonrd bent on granting as littlo as possiblo, in order to gain a reluctantly-given pension? Sir, -these questions interest ;i large number of women, particularly those who aro preparing, in fear and btm> Ming, to tako up their husbands' work in order to keep tho homes together till tlio men (please God) conio back. I have not eeen any statement; made in regard to these i>oints, but I have made many inquiries and. always got a different answer. Will you enlighten rue?— I am, etc., SECOND DIVISION WIFE/ |'A woman is not debarred from supplementing the allowance or pension by her own efforts. Sho can claim the allowance and tho ponsion as a, right. The policy of the Government is to , encourage those in receipt of. pensions to supplement them by work of eonie kind.]