CHARITABLE DOLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1916, Page 7

CHARITABLE DOLES.

PENSIONS BOARD CRITICISED. j THE DEWAR CASE. lAt the annual meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union on Thursday evening some trenchant criticism took place in connection with the action .of the Pensions Board in granting pensions. Mr. R Masters, who opened the. question, referred to the case of the mother of the late Sergeant-Major H. Dewar, one of Taranaki's most popular and prominent players, who laid down his life at Gallipoli. It was, he said, a most distressing case. Mrs. Dewar, who was a recipient of the old age pension, had

depended to a large extent on her late son, who contributed £1 per week towards her upkeep. Up till recently, when the pension had been increased to 15s per week, the Pensions Board had only granted her 10s per week. To make her position harder, another son, who had contributed 15s per week also to her support, was now paralysed and •was a burden on her. Representations had been made from various quarters! for an increase, but without result. The Stratford Patriotic Committee had for warded lier £25,. and the IPalmerston Committee were also temporarily giviny her an extra 5s per week. At present she was receiving 30s per week, and had to keep her invalid son out of this and, pay 15s weekly for rent. Representations on this case were made to the Hon. James Allen, when in Stratford recently, but the speaker was sorry to say they were not received very sympathetically, and those present were practically told to go to the Patristic Committees to get funds to keep them. In the case of a private the wife would get £OO to £BO, but this mother, Mrs. [ Dewar, only got a charitable dole. As footballers throughout Taranaki they should do something to help Mrs. Dewar, who should be placed in the same position or in a better position than when her son was alive. A small committee in Stratford was working in 'her interests. Mr. Masters instanced a case in which a lady earning £K)S per annum, who married an officer just on the eve of the war and still carried on her werk, received a pension of £lO4 per annum on 'his death. This would have to be paid probably 40 years, whereas .Mrs. Dewar, who did not require it for hut a few years, only received a dole. Mr. McLeod said that it was a case in which footballers should assist, bsth financially and also by using any influence they might possess. The late Mr. Dewar was one of the straightest fellows that played football. He personally knew that Mr. Dewar supported his mother regularly. The Government, he considered, took one wrong attitude in calling for more than the mother's' sworn statement in the case of a son's support, wliercas in the case of a wife lit was automatically assumed that she was supported by her husband. It was almost impossible for a mother to give outside proof. It was the duty of the country to keep the mother in the same degree of comfort when 'her son was dead as when he was alive. A resolution should b e passed drawing attention to the llagrant wrong that was done in making flesh of one and fowl of another. He considered that some money ought to be raised in the province, w'here Dewar would be rememhered fur a long time for his clean record.

Mr. T. Buchanan realised that it was disgraceful the manner in which pensions were doled out. Instead of doing justice and being liberal, the Government endeavored to conserve the revenue of the country. Outside the fact that Dewar •played football, he had laid down his life, which had been his mother's keep. A Strang resolution should be passed by t'lie Taranaki Rugby Union, which would back in the i efforts of the War Relief Association, who were taking up the matter. Strong representations should b,» made to the Government, even if they went to the expense of sending someone to attend t'lie Board. The present doles were a disgrace to the Board and to the dominion.

Mr. 'E. Nalder, in support, pointed outthat the Hawera Club had raisod a fund, which they held themselves, to assist any of their footballers w'he might reauire assistance. ' .

A resolution, proposed by Mr. B. Masters, and seconded by Mr. -Buchanan, was unanimously carried as follows: ''That . the Taranaki Rugby Union strongly protests against the' inliuman treatment by the Pensions Board in failing to make adequate allowance to Mrs. Bownr, aged OS, whose son lost his life in. the defence of his country, and the ■Union asks that'sho be placed at least in the position of comfort that existed prior to the death of her son."

Several of those in the room handed in subscriptions, and subscription lists will be sent through the province prohably, though it is realised that the majority of the late Harry Dcw&r's contemporaries are at the front.