PENSIONS TO WIDOWS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1922, Page 2

PENSIONS TO WIDOWS

10 THE EPIIOa.

■'Siiy-Withv regard to the pensions to widows scheme, is it not surprising that; there are widows receiving pensions whbee sons, have not attended ' drill— being absolved, I believe, on ■ religious grounds—although they, have been better provided for vthan many mothers- of Cadets and Territorials who are not entitled to a pension unless their children are nndei a certain age? It is very satisv factory to the'religious objectors to find that their sons can utilise time in pleasure, or 3t«dy for worldly .advancement that others have to devote to military training. "Justice" is ' depicted /,as a figure with the eyes bandaecd, and is supposed to dispense' the, "Jaws of the country impartially.. A new representation is needed: a figure without & bandage over 'the eyes, able'to see and to decide on the merits of this and other problems.—l' V.m, etc., ' / . „. •■•■ ■„ ; NIB.. 6th. February. : . [The above letter wa3 referred ■ )so" the I Pensions Department, and it was pointed out that In the granting' of. a fiansior. io a. widow, with children" under 14- years of n;;s dependent upon her, f ;> magistrate in the sole 'deciding/ .authority. The magistrate,^ libwevev,. does' not,' have' to conside: the fact that. the widow1 may. have'•other diiidrcn oi'er th« a?e of W' jvho' I'.i'u not, rendering porsonal service" under the'DeJencs' Act.-, All he has to do is to be satisfied -that the widow is of sober liabits1 and good moral • charncter, and that the pension 'will bs properly, used for ths support of the children.]