9

H.—2B

It was strongly urged that a soldier's widow's first duty is to her young children, and that she could not give her children the care, oversight, and attention they are entitled to if she has to go to work to supplement her pension, and that the pension should be a sufficient sum for her and her children to live on. This is a view which commends itself to sympathetic consideration; the problems of the Juvenile Court largely arise from lack of parental control, and the more a parent's chances of control are weakened the greater is the danger. We recommend that the pension be increased by the grant of an economic pension of 10s. per week in the case of a widow with one child, with an increase of 25 per cent, on this amount for each additional child. This would work out as follows :—

Income from all sources, including civil pension, to be taken into account and the economic pension to be reduced accordingly. The economic pension to vary with the cost of living. (c.) Widowed Mothers totally dependent. At present this class receives a war pension of £l 10s. a week, which we will treat as a compensation pension. In addition, some may be entitled to old-age pension of 15s. per week, which is not affected by the grant of a war pension. We recommend the grant of an economic pension of £l per week to bring up the total income to £2 10s. All income, including old-age pension, to be taken into account, so that the total of pension and income should not exceed £2 10s. To be reviewed on change of circumstances, and economic pension to vary with cost of living. (cc.) Widowed Mothers partially dependent. This class is at present entitled to war pension of 15s. a week. We recommend an economic pension of £l a week to provide for cases of poverty. In determining the rate of pension the Board to take into consideration the property and income from all sources (including old-age pension) of the pensioner, and of all persons liable at law for her maintenance. To be subject to review and reduction as class (c) above. R.S.A. Claim 2. — That the pension to the- widow and child be continued so long as the child is continuing its education. The Board is at present carrying out this policy, purporting to act under section 13 of -the Act of 1916. This is an instance of the liberal and benevolent interpretation by the Board to which we have referred. We are of opinion that authority should be given to the Board in express terms so to act, but proper safeguards should be provided to ensure that the children are really benefiting by advanced education and are proper subjects for advanced education. The certificate of the headmaster should be required by the Board to that effect. Similar provision should also be made in the case of gifted children, such as holders of scholarships proceeding to a university course. R.S.A. Claim 3. — That pension should be adjusted triennially in accordance vjith variation in cost of living. This is a provision in the British Royal Warrant. We are of opinion that this principle should be applied in the case of economic pensions, but as prices are still

2—H. 28.

Widow and One Child. Widow and Two Children. Widow and Three Children. Jompensation pension Sconomic pension £ 8. 2 10 0 10 d. 0 0 £ s. d. 3 0 0 0 12 6 £ s. d. 3 10 0 0 15 0 Totals 3 0 0 3 12 6 4 5 0