WIDOWS' PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 36, 13 February 1919, Page 8

WIDOWS' PENSIONS

TO THE 'EDITOR/ "

Sir,—ln last night's Post Mr.1 A. W. Croskery expresses his opinion very freely concerning the Widows' Pension Act. I am not objecting to much that he says, but I do strongly object to the misleading methods he has adopted. He would lead the reader to believe that all a widow receives is 4s 7£d for the first child and 2s 3£d per week for the second child. This is quite • inaccurate. A widow with one child actually receives 6s lid per week, with, an additional 4s 7d per week for the second and all additional children. Instead, therefore, of the total pension being 6s lid for two children, it is lis 6d per week (inclusive of the war bonus). Further, Mr. Croskery.omits entirely all reference to what is being done for widows whose husbands were victims of the influenza epidemic. " ■' ■'

Here the Department is .supplementing the widows' pension, where it is needed, so that in cases which have come under my notice the widow is receiving a total of £1 pier week) for herself and 10s 6d for each child. As a good cause may be injured by misrepresentation, I have endeavoured to make the position clear to your readers.—-I am, etc., WORKER.

13th February.