A WIDOW’S ANNUITY

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 10

A WIDOW’S ANNUITY

INCREASED FROM £3OO TO £GOO. WELLINGTON, June 2. In his reserved judgment increasing the annuity to the widow in the estate of George Winder, ironmonger, from £3OO to £OOO during the continuance of her widowhood only, the Chief Justice (Mr Justice Myers) said the principle in these cases did not seem to have been laid down as a matter of general application in New Zealand. In his opinion the obligation the Family Protection Act imposed upon a testator was to make adequate provision for the proper maintenance and support of his widow and not for her maintenance and support after she had become the wife of another man. If a widow elected to change her status and become the wife of another he did not see it could be said it was the du»y of the court under the Statute to make provision out of the testator’s estate to relieve the obligation of the new husband at the expense of the testator’s residuary legatees or others whom he intended to benefit by his will.

“ New Zealand is still a wonderful country. Let us adjust ourselves to the altered conditions before the cruel law of economic ciriuimtances forces this upon us. A little sacrifice will not seriously bint any of us, and it may not be long before prosperity again appears,” observed Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P, for Wallace, at the close of his address to the Invercargill Rotary Club and guests.