WIDOWS’ ALLOWANCES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9789, 12 October 1917, Page 5

WIDOWS’ ALLOWANCES

DEFENCE MINISTER CORRECTED. With reference to the statement made by the Minister for Defence on the third reading of the War Pensiipns Bill that two guineas per week pension for a widow without children was more than the Second Division League had asked for, Mr R. A. Armstrong, president of the league, states that he cannot understand the Minister’s statement. The league at its first conference determined to ask for £2 5s 6d for the widow without children and £2 16s for the widow with children. When the Pensions Bill was discussed by the recent conference it was decided to meet the Government’s proposals of 30s and £2, by reducing the league’s proposals to £2 2s and £2l2s respectively. The original proposals of the league had been in the hands of the Ministers and members of Parliament since the 22nd August. Referring to a further statement credited to the Minister that the Second Division League Conference had gone back on an agreement to accept clause 4 of the bill as it stood, Mr Armstrong said that the sub-commit-tee that waited on the Minister was empowered to point out certain weak spots jn the bill and secure certain interpretations ; they bad no power to. make any agreement, nor in their report was there any mention made of an agreement having been suggested. The Minister’s statement, therefore, must be corrected, as the league was not prepared to allow it to go forth to the country that they had broken faith in any way.