LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 13

LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD

ALLOWANCE TO DAUGHTER PAYMENT RECOMMENDED REPORT ON A PETITION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The payment of a compassionate allowance to Mrs. Eileen J. Wood, of Wellington, only daughter of the late* Sir Joseph Ward, was recommended by the M to Z Committee in a report presented to the House of Representatives to-day. The action was recommended by the committee after considering a petition by Mrs. Wood, praying for a rebate of death duties, paid in respect of her father's estate. Mr. F. Lye, chairman of the committee, said that after hearing evidence and recognising that the petitioner had no statutory remedy by way of remission of death duties, the. committee was of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration to the extent that until the petitioner's share of the estate became available the Government should grant an adequate compassionate allowance to meet liabilities incurred by her during her close association with the late lYime Minister. Mr. C. L. Carr said that as a member of the committee he wished to support the recommendation. The petition as framed did not represent precisely the mode and extent of the assistance recommended by the committee. For that reason, attention had been drawn to the fact that the petitioner could not hope, under statutory provisions, to obtain any rebate of death or succession duties paid. In view of the services of the late Sir Joseph Ward and of those closely associated with him, particularly petitioner, Mr. Carr hoped the Government would take heed of the recommendation of the committee. All were aware that during the latter months of Sir Joseph Ward's life it was necessary that members of his family should devote themselves very closely to his welfare, continued Mr. Carr. That meant a good deal of self sacrifice, apart from the personal side. Death and succession duties had first claim on the estate, out of which they had to be paid. Owing to payment of those duties it was impossible to pay accruing interest to the bank. That payment had to be overtaken. The bank was not manifesting that generosity he hoped would come from the Government. The bank was insisting on the payment of current and overdue interest. That meant that the petitioner had received practically nothing and that she was confronted with a position that was almost humiliating. It therefore became necessary for the State's good name, said Mr. Carr, that the Government should recognise its duty to the petitioner and to the country, and to the memory of the late statesman. Until the benefits did accrue the Government should provide the petitioner with a compassionate allowance. No other members spoke on the report, which was adopted.