OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 257, 5 November 1897, Page 8

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

THE MINISTERIAL PROPOSALS.

.(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. There are 64 clauses in. the Old Age Pensions Bill introduced to the House, and the measure provides fully for ways and means as well as machinery for admihiS/trationof T,the Tension Department. The amount necessary .to .pay pensions is. to he* taken from the consolidated fund, jvlnle the cost of administration is to be met from money voted by Parliament. The Colonial Treasurer is to pay into the Post Office account from time to time.money necessary to provide pensions, which are to be paid in monthly instalments by postmasters all over the colony. The qualifications for pensions are as follow i—Claimants to he of the full age of 65 years, to he resident in the colony Avhen the claim is established, and to have resided continuously for twenty years immediately preceding. The total income from all sources (exclusive of personal earnings and pensions) is not to he over £36 yearly. Those who during the four years preceding their claim have been convicted four times of drunkenness or suffered imprisonment for four months or over for any offence, are debarred from obtaining pensions. . Imprisonment is to be considered as absence from the colony, but temporary absence for a less period than eighteen months shall not be deemed to interrupt continued residence.

The amount of pension is to be £17 a year, diminished by £1 10s for every complete £3 of income, so that no pension shall be payable for any year in which the income is £36 or upwards. In case of a husband and wife (unless ■when judicially separated), the yearly income of each shall be assessed to be not less than half the total yearly income of both.

Pension districts are to be established, each under charge of a Deputy Registrar, subject to a Registrar, who, subject to control by the Colonial Treasurer, is to have general administration of the Act. There is power ot appeal by DeputyRegistrars to Stipendiary Magistrates with regard to proof of claims, and in such matters the strict rules of evidence are not ,tp, apply, but questions are to be decided in equity arid good conscience^ Instalments falling due while a pensioner,is out of the colony or in prison shall be absolutely forfeited, g.nd if tlie. an inmate of any hospital or charitable institution when the instalments fall due.'these are to be applied towards his maintenance. In certain cases pensions may be paid to a clergyman, justice of the peace, or other reputable persons, for the bejieiit of the

pensioner. / If any pensioner is convicted of drunkenness the court shall order the forfeiture of one, two, or three monthly instalments of the pension, in order to/ secure the maintenance of the pensioners. The pensions are made absolutely inalienable.

The Act applies to Maoris and aliens who have been naturalised for twenty years, but Maoris drawing pensions under the Civil list are excluded.