Furniture Grant for Widows of New Guinea Internees

New Guinea Internees

THE day before his government met its Waterloo at the December 10 elec tions, Mr. Chifley informed Mr.

Sydney Smith, secretary of the Austra lian Prisoners of War Relatives’ Associa tion (NSW Branch) that New Guinea widows of civilian internees were eligible for £75 furniture allowance. There were, of course, certain conditions attached thereto.

Although the Chifley government is now no more there is no reason to believe that the new government will go into reverse on this question.

Mr. Chifley’s statement, contained in a letter, was the outcome of representations made by Mr. Smith on behalf of his Association in a letter to the then Prime Minister in August. Mr. Smith had been informed by the Repatriation Commission that the regulation relating to the furni ture grant to certain war widows of Aus tralian servicemen did not apply to New Guinea women who had lost their hus bands who were civilian internees of the Japanese.

Mr. Smith pointed out that the govern ment recognised these widows for the purpose of War Widows Pensions, which had been granted to them as from Janu ary 17, 1946, and said that it was fair to assume that as their bread-winners had given their lives for King and country they should be entitled to the same rights as widows of members of the Australian Forces. He quoted the case of a New Guinea widow who had been separated from her children for

eight years and who only recently had been successful in getting a house where they could all live together. The Prisoners of War Relatives Association had made inquiries on her behalf regarding the furniture grant and had been informed by the Repatriation Commission that the regulation did not apply in her case.

Mr. Chifley’s reply (dated December 9, 1949) was as follows: Dear Mr. Smith, I have your letter of November 9, 1949.

The Government has approved the ex tension of the furniture grant of £75 provided for under the Australian Sol diers’ Repatriation Act to married, blinded and totally and permanently incapacitated persons, and widows with children under 16 years under the New Guinea Civilian War Pension Scheme. Furniture grants

to these persons are to be made on the conditions laid down in the regulations under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatria tion Act but for this purpose the Govern ment has decided that a widow with children under the age of 16 years at January 17, 1946, will be regarded as a “widow with children” provided:— (1) the child or children are still living with the mother; (2) the need for furniture still exists; and (3) application for assistance is made within twelve months of the time of commencement of the new benefit.

Yours sincerely,

J. B. Chifley

Prime Minister.

Koro Island, Fiji, recently reported the discovery of a live American bomb, an aerial 50-pounder. It is believed that it was dropped during combined opera tions which were staged at Koro in July. 1942, in preparation for the US Marines’ first landing at Guadalcanal.