LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 7

LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD

REMISSION OF DEATH DUTIES SOUGHT.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 8. Remission of death duties in the estate of Sir Joseph Ward is sought in a petition presented in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr J. Hargest on behalf of Mrs Eileen Josephine Wood, only daughter of the late Prime Minister.

The petition is as follows:— In consideration of my father’s services to the country and the disastrous effect the depression has had upon this estate, I am petitioning the House for a rebate of the exorbitant death duties of approximately £70,000 paid to the Government. I am allowed £3OO a year out of the estate, valued by the Public Trustee at over £300,000. My father’s home at Heretaunga belongs to the estate and the, family agree to my receiving an additional £3 a week for rental of the home. I cannot afford to live in it myself, hence the necessity for renting it. The proportion attributable to my share is approximately £12,150. In consequence, my income is so diminished that I find it impossible to meet the expenses incurred by me during the two years my father was Prime Minister, and I took my mother’s place as his hostess. I realize I cannot legally regain any part of this amount, so I therefore reluctantly make this petition owing to the difficulties in which I find myself placed.