WIDOWS' ALLOWANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1917, Page 2

WIDOWS' ALLOWANCES.

DEFENCE MINISTER CORRECTED. Wellington, Oct. 12. Willi reference to (he statement mndo by the Minister for Defence on the third reading of the War Pulsions Bill that two guineas per week pension for a widow without chihh'in was m'ore ilia: l . Ihe Second Division League had asked for, slr. R. A. Armstrong, president of the league, states that he cannot understand the Minister's statement. The league at its first conference determined io ask for £2 fin (id for the widow without children and '.:! Ills for the widow with children. When the 'Pensions Dill was dUcv.ssed l;v the recent conference it was decided Io meet the Oovermnent's proposals of 30s and Mi, by reducing the league's proposals to £2 2s and £2 12s respectively. . The original proposals of the ieagne had been in ihe hands of (he slini.-!r:s and members of Parii-inien; since the 22nd August. Unerring to ;: further statement credited to the s!ini.-lcr that the Second Division League Conference had gone back on an agreement to accept clause 4 of the bill as it stood. Mr. Armstrong said that the sub-committee that waited on the Minister was empowered to point out .certain weal; spots in the bill and secure certain interpretations: they had no power to make any agreement, nor in their report was there any mention made of an agreement having been suggested. The Minister's statement, therefore, must be corrected, as the league was not prepared to allow it to go forth to Ihe country thai they had broken faith in anv v.av.