WIDOWS PENSIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 5

WIDOWS PENSIONS

THE NEW ZEALAND GRANT.

APPLICATION TO MARRIAGES IN ENGLAND,

WELLINGTON, December 11. A statement has been made in Ohristchuroh that if a New Zealand soldier marries an Englishwoman in England, and if the soldier is subsequently killed in action, the widow is not entitled to a Now Zealand pension. This is quite incorrect. The original War Pensions Act of 1915, in section 2, makes it absolutely clear that the wife of a soldier at the time of his death or disaiblement is entitled to a pension on the New Zealand scale from the New Zealand Government. There are no conditions whatsoever. All that the board has to be satisfied about is that there has been a marriage, and that the husband has been killed. Last week the Pensions Board dealt with a number of these applications from young widows of New Zealand soldiers, the marriages having taken place in England. The applications were fowarded by tho High Commissioner, and the board made no inquiry in any of the cases as to whether there had been an engagement to marry before the enlistment of the soldier or anything of the sort. Ten or 12 pensions were granted at one sitting of the board last week to widows in just this position. There was a clause in tho first War Pensions Act which provided that New Zealand war pensions were not to be paid to persons residing beyond the dominion, but this clause has long' since been repealed, and it never was enforced. There is still one class of wife who may not be provided for under our law. If a soldier marries an English girl after his disablement, then, before the wife can become entitled to benefits under the Now Zealand pensions scheme, the parties must prove that there was an engagement to marry existing before the soldier went into tho forces. Such marriages have taken place

in England. Englishmen in the Now Ze&land Army who were, before they entered the army, engaged to women in England have in some cases married after the disablement of the- man by wounds or sickness. In these cases the board require* proof of the existence of the engagement before the enlistment of tha soldier befor* giving to the wjfo the allowance to which she is entitled. Cases of this kind have been considered by the board, and the br>ard has had before it letters which have passed between, the parties, and accepted this evidence of the existence of the engagement. If no such proof is forthcoming the wife i» not entitled to the allowance. This is the only case in which an English wife of a New Zealand soldier is not entitled to all the benefits of the Now Zealand pensions law, and the provision was inserted in tha Act after due consideration.