HELPING THE WIDOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 8

HELPING THE WIDOWS.

PENSIONS FROM THE STATE.

MAORI AND EUROPEAN. ./ [BT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.J Wellington, Tuesday. The scheme of State aid to widows with young children has been embodied in a, Bill» introduced-in" the House of Representatives this afternoon. In' explaining its provisions this ; evening, Sir * Joseph Ward stated that the Bill provided for a pension being paid to widows : with children. Where there was one child ■■■ the annual pension was £12, where there were two £18, and where there were ; three £24. A widow with more than three children was to receive £30 a year. These sums would be paid irrespective of any sums that the widow might be earning in obtaining a liv-_ ing for herself ; and her family. : - The pensions, would be subject < to diminution by £1 for every £1 by which the widow's estimated ■, annual income exceeded £30. Under the Bill the estimated annual income meant : an aggregate income ' from all sources, other than ■ personal earnings, or • pension under the Bill. The Act did not apply to any child over 14 years old,l nor to any illegitimate child, , unless '■ it were legitimated by the subsequent marriage of its parents. ?b The Act did not apply to any adopted' child, or any child born out *of : New Zealand, unless v its mother had been resident in New Zealand within not less than six nionths of its birth. Some of the ; clauses were taken I from the Old Age Pensions Act. - * Mr. Herries(Tauranga) : Does it apply to Maoris? • , "*? :

Sir Joseph -Ward : Yes, it; applies to any widows in the country. No distinction is drawn between Europeans ># and natives. The Prime Minister I added : that the estimated cost of this provision for widows was £35,000 per annum. Mr. Herdman (Wellington North) asked whether if an order V benefiting a < widow were made against a near relative under the Destitute Persona Act she would be entitled to benefit under the Bill. = y The Prime Minister stated that a magistrate- would have to decide the point, but a widow benefiting under the Destitute Persons Act could not benefit under this Bill and vice versa. \ '