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Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19784, 23 November 1929, Page 17

to rn *:-:tqb or thi isi» s Mr,—l wa* ex* pleased to s<-c tlic 1-ttrr "One «>f the V-'eak and Lohlv - - m The Pbess oi this mornings ns i: :.« a suujcrt I have felt very «;r..njt:y on for a I-np time. Vh<:n an a<:«*idriit happens or Midden death to a pensioner, why. becau.-e L« or she is I'.iviy circumstances, should the ' at ' - !■•.- out that thev were ytnsuja.r,? I do hope. Mr. now that this matter has h*en brought under the notice -■r" the newspapers, that they will se* h','T unfair it is *■■• th'.-se evncern-M- • Vr.-jr«. .••■-.. TLLAT ALL ALIKE. TO TEE rrITOK OF 131 TBI'S Mr.—Your corrf-sporideut, "Oue of the .Meek :i;id Lowly,'' appears to bare a v>r v uz uupres.-ion regarding tb»j ori-,-mal ;i-,t.iti.jn tor, and the pacing ot, old age pension legislation. Ih° ' atc i.t. Hun. R J. .Suldou vte curtail'.!J h.-ad of the Government that put the Uid Ag.- Pension Act through tne iiousc, hut In ita: more than eiico'iraged to du tins by force of puouc opinion. k'ur years prior to the pa.-smg ci this Act, an Association, calling tiiein-elveo '-The Progressive Liberals, liscd to hold forth in Cathedral square on Saturday nights, and one of the mam plank:, of tins Association was old-age pension?. About this time I .-it tended a political meetinc in tho Tuam street Hall (now Fullers' Opera tiou.se), when the then Premier, Mr It. ,1. Seddon, addressed the electors of ttinsuhurch. At that meeting a deputation from the Progressive Liberal Association asked him to bring in a I Jill to provide for old-age pensions. If I remember righfiy, the reply was that 'the proposal is not within the rauge ol practical politics, it is purely a matter for friendly societies." As a result, old-age pensions were held up tor about two years, when public opinion could no longer be withstood, md the Bill was put through *I think Mr it (;. Ell was a prominent member of the Progressive Liberals and could say •whether my memory of the genesis of old-age pensions in New Zealand and tho incident in {Tie Tuam street Hall is correct.) Prior to this, fflat alleged arch-Tory, Sir Harry Atkinson, proposed a universal pensions scheme, the main features of which are embodied in the National I'rovident Fund enactment, but, as this provided for contribution* for ocnefits. it was not so welcome as a scheme that would give something for

nothing. .Similarly Mr Seddon put the Labour and Land laws through the House, bur. they were originated by Hie Hon W. P. Reeves and the Hon John McKenzie. The same applies to other Liberal reforms prepared by Mr Hallancc. tour correspondent asks "What is tne difference between a superannuated public servant and an old-age pensioner." This: The old-age pensioner get-, a pension on a good character and a certain lei.gth of time lived iu New Zealand, and claims to have paid taxes tor the benefit of the pension. The Government servant pays the same taxes and, in addition, contributes to the superannuation fund. When he enters the Public Service, the civil servant ; s forced into a contract tvhpr»hv n oro-tnin ~Tv,..,i„f n f I, i„ oolora

whereby a certain amount of his salary is deducted for the Superannuation Fund every pay day. A forced contract sounds paradoxical, but in this case it's a fact nevertheless. It is good to force civil servants to make provision for the future, and this system is adopted by banks and many mercantile firms, but one never hears ot objections to persons retired from a bank- or other institutions receiving superannuation benefits. One might just as well question the rights of those who provule tor themselves by way of life insurance endowments and who may incidentally bar themselves from" the benefits of old-age pensions. It would be interesting to know if tlie amount, plus interest, contributed by civil servants and others to superannuation funds, would not benefit contributors more if invested in insurance endowments. Those who are not satisfied with the .*]mounts received l>y way of old-age pension have the opportunity for increasing it by way of contributing to the National Provident Fund or to insurance, but they must pay for such addition just as superannuaton contributors liave to do.—Yours, etc.. M.A.W. November 2'Jud. 1929.