WAR PENSIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 457, 28 July 1915, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS.

SEVERAL AMENDMENTS. ENLARGING THE SCOPE. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 27. The War Pensions Bill was recommitted to consider amendments to the Bill brought down by-Gover-nor's Message. The first amendment proposed an alteration in the definition of dependents, excluding from the provisions of the measure a woman who may marry a member of the Forces after the date of his disablement; also illegitimate children born after the expiry of 12 months from the date of the departure of the member from New Zealand, or the children of a marriage solemnised after the date upon which the member was disabled. It was also proposed to include any member of a soldier's family not already included who was in fact wholly or in part dependent upon his earnings immediately j>rior to the dale upon which he became a member of the Forces. Another important proposal was that the Board might grant a sum not exceeding 10/- per week for the payment of an attendant for men totallydisabled, so long as it is satisfied that the services of an attendant are indispensable, and thal v the soldier is not possessed of means to pay for such services. A third-amendment provided that where application is made for a pension under the Act in respect of the death or disablement of a Native member of the Forces, a Native woman who has been married to such member in accordance with Native custom, and whose marriage is subsisting at the time of his death or disablement, shall be deemed to be his wife within the meaning of the Act, and the children of such marriage shall be deemed to be his legitimate children. Every application by a Native woman to whom this section applies for a pension under the Act in respect to the death or disablement of her husband shall be supported by a certificate signed by a Judge or Commissioner of the Native Land Court that the applicant was married according to Native custom, and that the marriage was subsisting at the lime of the death or disablement of the husband. The Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) said that the chief amendments had been introduced in accordance with promises he had made to various lion, members when the Bill was last considered. He especially referred to the provisions for attendants on disabled men, and the wives of Maori soldiers married according to the Native custom. Sir Joseph Ward contended that one of the proposed amendments imposed an injustice on the mother of the illegitimate children of a soldier who might marry the woman after his disablement. It was not right that a woman in such a case should he debarred absolutely from receiving a pension. . Mr Allen said .that Sir Joseph Ward's contention would not hold water. Illegitimate children had been provided for. Mr L? M. Isilt (Christchurch North): But the mother is not. The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney General): No. We deliberately left her out. Provision was made only for women married to soldiers before they left New Zealand. It was not intended that pensions should he paid to the wives of men who married four or five or 20 years after their disablement. Mr Isitt: But can't you make an exception where the man marries the mother of his child? Mr Herdman: If the House desires such an exception it might be made. Mr J. A. Hanan (Invercargill): The children were born before the man .was disabled. Sir Joseph Ward thought it would be an unhappy thing if illegitimate children were provided for and not the mothers. There should be the same consideration as in the case of Natives. Mr Herdman: The children are provided for. Sir Joseph Ward: The mother ought to be provided for. Mr Allen: She is not the wife. Mr G. Witty: She is'the mother, and ought to be the wife. He thought parents not dependent beforehand should not be altogether cut out if they wanted help afterwards. Mr J. McCombs (Lytlelton) thought that in a case where a woman was left with an undertaking of marriage she ought to be considered. Mr .L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North): Considered that the woman's claim should be recognised directly a marriage took place. Mr Allen said it would not do to open the door too wide so as to lead to abuses. Suppose a man with a wife had illegitimate children, and, after the war, got a divorce and married Hie mother of the illegitimate children. What then? Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central) said that there seemed to be no provision for a father, after the death of a mother to whom an allotment had been made. Mr Allen: That will be a matter for the board. Sir Joseph Ward instanced the case of a man with illegitimate children, his wife living with someone else, having no children. Surely the mother of the man's children should not be robbed of consideration. Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) thought that a man with illegitimate children should be encouraged to marry the mother by the granting of a pension. Mr P. C. Webb (Grey) thought that future wives of disabled men should certainly be provided for in the Bill. Mr C. J. Parr (Eden) agreed with the view that every encouragement