PENSIONS TO WIDOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 8

PENSIONS TO WIDOWS.

ANOMALY IN PAYMENTS. BEREAVED THROUGH EPIDEMIC. An anomaly in regard to the pensions paid to widows who lost their husbands through the epidemic was discussed by the Auckland Hospital Board last evening, when a letter from the Otago Hospital Board was read urging that representations bo made to the Government with a view to having the pensions paid to epidemic widows brought! into line with ordinary widows' pensions. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said that the Auckland Board had already made representations regarding the matter to the Minister for Public Health Mr. J. Rowe said he was not altogether satisfied with the manner in which pensions had been allotted by the Auckland Board. In the early days of the epidemic, before it had definite authority •from the Government regarding the pensions to Be allowed, it had allotted small pensions to a" number of applicants. Authority had subsequently been given the board to allow pensions up to 12s bd for each child and 25s for a widow. These amounte were considerably in excess of the pensions first granted by the board, and he considered all the earlier cases Ehould be reviewed with the object of increasing the original pensions in deserving cases. The chairman said that all euch case* were being reviewed whero application was made. Many cases had already been reconsidered. Several members expressed the opinion that the matter of pensions to widows and others who had lost their breadwinners through the epidemic should be considered by Parliament. It was decided to support tho Otago board in representing the matter to the Government. It was decided to support the Southland board in urging the administration of epidemic widows' relief by the Pensions Board, the chairman remarking that the Auckland board had already made similar representations to the Government.