The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1915. PROVIDING FOR DEPENDENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 22 October 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1915. PROVIDING FOR DEPENDENTS.

The problem of providing pensions for dependents of brave men who may give their lives for their country at this time is not an easy one to adequately solve: Many' married ■ 'men have joined the Expeditionary Forres, and there are many more who will go if the call comes, but naturally those wiUi''niore w M4® timitSed" ;, of maintenance for -the wives and children they would leave behind are in la difficulty about the future. ' In a re'eent!'issue*' of the ; Wellington Post a •oorre'spofident complains that widow;s or' oilier dependents of soldiers whb give • their lives for their country suffer disadvantages or embarrassment by reason of the principle of discrimination in regard to pensions in these cases. There is a fixed scale for soldiers—personal property or income makes no difference to the State's payment—but the rate for dependents is assessed by a board, which 1 makes enquiries regarding the mater- ' ial circumstances of the claimant. The correspondent referred to contends i that this board has Inquisitorial powers, and he condemns utterly the whole policy of deductions in respect to property or other means of maintenance. Commenting on the foregoing, the Post says: It seems that the complainant has taken a rather pessimistic view. He anticipates that the board may be cruelly inquisitive, and that the .Minister may be an unjust dictator. Even if such gloomy forebodings were likely to be fulfilled, the whole force of public opinion would strike forcibly against such a violation of the spirit of the Act. and the "Bumbledom" would simply not be tolerated in this .dramatic country. During the main debate in the House of Representatives, several members urged that the pensions for widows and other dependents should be fixed i independently of their position in re- 1 gard to means of livelihood by their own resources or efforts, or the aid of relatives. The Minister opposed the suggestion on the ground that any superfluous subsidising of certain people would be at the cost of others who might need more than average assistance. The Prime .Minister, as well as Mr Allen, also asked Parliament and the people to bear in mind the truth that only a limited loading of pensions was practicable, and any al tempt to J go beyond the bounds of prudence would do'more harm than good. I