WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 66, 11 December 1917, Page 4

WAR PENSIONS

POSITION OF WOMEN MARRIED' IN ENGLAND.

"It has been generally understood,"' says a southern newspaper, "that when members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force married in England, ana wero subsequently killed in action, their widows wero entitled to participate in the Now Zealand pension scheme. It now transpires that this is not so; that the War Pensions Acts do not includo those women, who will not receive one penny of money from the New Zealand Government; and, further, are not entitled to any pension from the British authorities. This statement appears, to. have been made in disregard of the provisions or the War Pensions Amendment • Act, 1916, which contains the following pro-, visions "Wife" of a member of the Forced includes the widow of a> deceased member of the Forces. • Pensions under the prinoipal Act may be granted and paid to a member of the Forces or to the father, mother, wife, or children of such member, but not to any. any other dependant, notwithstanding that tho pensioner may not be, or may cease to be, resident in New Zealand. These provisions seem to cover fully the oase of the woman who marries a New Zealand soldier in England, and subsequently loses her husband. it there is a weakness in the law the Government will take steps to remedy it. The Legislature clearly intended to provide for the case of » widow who was not resident in Zealand.