THE ALLOWANCE TO WIDOWED MOTHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 5, 1 October 1917, Page 6

THE ALLOWANCE TO WIDOWED MOTHERS

Sir,—As your paper is so widely read, I beg space tor a few remarks and information. Plans are before'l-'arhauient, wo are told, by< which the' widowed mothers of eoliliers are to receive up to IDs. lid. per 1 week separation allowance. Does that apply to tlii; single men in the First Division, as a o reat many of them have widowed mothers entirely dependent upon them. We are also told they will still be able to the old-age pension. Kow, there.are some in this country who through no fault of their own cannot claim the old-age or widow's pension. Take the case of a soldier who is \ now away fighting for his countly. He sent for his old mother to from the Old Country before the war broke out, tvluoli she did. He has now had i to leave liei-. ,-She has his allotment of 3s. pgr day, also Is. per day separation allowance. Except for that she has absolutely nothing. (Jut of that ..she has to pay bis insurance money, as he could not possibly do it on the 2s. per day left to mm. This old lady—7o years of age—has had a comfortable homo with her son till he went away. Owing to not residing long enough in this country she can not claim the old-age or widow's pension; to the Charitable Aid Board she will not go, nor does it seem right that sue should only have that alternative. If|her_son had been at home, shu would have oeen able to still live in comfort. It seems only fair that those who can-,not claim the pension should be dealt witli more liberally than at present.' Apologising for taking so much apace in your 'valuable paper,—l am, etc., OWE WHO BELIEVES IN FAIR PLAY. [The widowed mother of a first Division man can claim tlie same pension as' the widowed mother of a Second JJivi; sion man. She can; also make application to the Financial Assistance Board for the insurance premium money on ter 6on's insurance.]