PENSIONS BASIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 10

PENSIONS BASIS.

MINISTER'S SIGNIFICANT HINTS. I "FRESH START SHOULD BE MADE." j (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Some indication of what lie proi poses to do in connection with pensions j legislation was- given by the lion. G. ■J. Anderson (Minister of Pensions) in i the House of Representatives to-day. He said he had had assistance from most able men, including Mr. G. Fache (Commissioner of Pensions). Theques- ' tion was whether he should.be allowed !to hasten slowly and remove anomalies, or whether members desired more should be paid in taxation to meet increased outlay -in pensions. The cubI ject was a huge problem. •' It would be easy if the -Treasurer gave him a j couple of millions to' put- all pensions on the same footing, but that was impracticable. Mr. Anderson assured the House that the pensions for blind persons would be included in the Pensions Bill which he hoped to bring , down this session. He could not say the bill would be comprehensive, for the question was too big. He was satisfied that the pension system would have to be placed on a superannuation basis, and that a fresh [ start would have to be made. Pensions j could not be made without taxation, and the only fair taxation was a contribution from the individuals themselves. He hoped in his bill to remove . a number of anomalies which made the present system very ridiculous. However, he could not hold out hope that people would get two or three pensions while others ! were receiving only one, and not much at that.