CRIPPLED ESTATE

Evening Star, Issue 21966, 28 February 1935, Page 2

CRIPPLED ESTATE

POSITION OF SIR J. WARD’S DAUGHTER COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCE RECOMMENDED [From Gun Paeliamentaut Repoetee.] WELLINGTON, February 27. The Select Committee’s report on a petition from the daughter of the late Sir Joseph Ward, Mrs Eileen J. Wood, which was adopted by tbe House this afternoon, revealed how an estate valued by the Public Trustee at oyer £300,000 could become involved in difficulties during the depression, when death duties had to be paid in cash-to tho extent of £75,000. Mrs Wood, as one of the beneficaries, petitioned the House asking that, in consideration of her late father’s services to the country, and the disastrous effect of tho depression upon his estate, some portion of what she termed the “ exorbitant death duties’ (approximately £75,000) should be repaid. The proportion attributable to her share is £12,150, and in consequence her income had so diminished that she found it impossible, stated the petition, to meet the expenses incurred by hei* during the two years her father was Prime Minister, and during which she took her late mother’s place as hostess. The Public Petitions Committee (M to Z) reported that after hearing the evidence, and recognising that Mrs Wood has no statutory remedy by way of remission of death duties, it recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration to the extent that, until the petitioner’s shave of the estate becomes available, the Government shall grant an adequate compassionate allowance to meet the liabilities incurred during her close association with the late Prime Minister. The Rev, Clyde Carr, a member of the committee, stated that the petition as drawn up gave no opportunity for providing a remedy, as there was no legal means of granting any rebate of death duties. The whole necessity for the recommendation of the committee arose out of the fact that the primary claim against the estate was for death duties, which had to be paid promptly in cash. The result was that it was impossible for the estate to pay current and accruing interest to the bank, and payments fell behind. “ It is interesting to note,” continued the member, ” that the bank has not manifested That consideration and generosity which we hope will come from the Government in response to the recommendation" of the committee. The bank throughout has insisted upon the payment of every penny of current and overdue interest, and while the bank is making that insistent and exhaustive claim, it means that the beneficiaries in the estate are receiving practically nothing, and are confronted with a financial position which is humiliating and almost unsupportable.” Mr Carr added that he realised that there might be some public misunderstanding with regard to the recommendation, but lie hoped, in view ol the long and valuable services rendered to the country by Sir Joseph Ward, and the very valuable service rendered to him. and indirectly to tbe, country, by the»pctitioiier. that the Government would favourably regard the recommendation. In the later years of his life, and particularly in the last lew months, it was necessary that Sir Joseph’s family should devote themselves very closely ■to his welfare. This involved a great deal of self-sacrifice in order that Sir Joseph could continue to render some of the great measure of service to the community which had been associated with his long career as a public man. Ho considered, under the circumstances, that it had become necessary for the State, for tho sake of its own good name, as well as to meet the deserved interests of tbe ptitioner, to make an allowance as suggested until benefits would accrue from the estate. If the Government- took this view it would reflect credit xipon the Government and on Parliament.