PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1936, Page 6

PENSIONS.

The Minister of Pensions has very wisely given his opinion to the effect that he does not think group community houses would ie acceptable to the war veterans or old age pensioners. He is quite right, and shows great acumen in publishing his views. What moat of us want is our freedom, and this can oily] be attained by a weekly monetary payment. Money spent on homes would be wasted. Far better would it be to give us a sensible sum every week and let us find our own quarters. Why cavil at the payment of £1,000,000 to bring old age pensions up to the £1 per week at 60 and another £1,500,000 to provide 17,000 invalids with pensions? Presumably it would keep all these people off the' labour market, and certainly all this money would be circulated and -find its way back to the Government in the form of taxation. Government is only a glorified business, and surely after all this talk about wishing to help the underdog and deserving, this eum could ho found, even if the following year's Budget did not balance. This and the idea of keeping children at school until they are 16 would do more to help the unemployment question than anything else. Would it be too much to a«k Mr. Savage for a statement of liis intentions in this direction? Surely we have been very patient and are entitled to know the Government's intentions, although they may not come into force for a few months. SIXTY-NINE YEARS.