"COMMON GOOD"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 4

"COMMON GOOD"

PENSIONS POLICY. RECIPROCAL SCHEME. AUSTRALIA CO-OPERATES. STATEMENTS BT MINISTERS. A Press Association cable received from Canberra states that in the coming year the Federal Government will introduce legislation providing for reciprocity between Australia and Xew Zealand on invalid and old age pensions. This will moan that time spent in either country will be taken into account in determining residential qualification. "This information will make heartening reading for many Xew Zealanders and Australians residing in both countries," said the Minister of Pensions, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to-day. "For a long time now efforts have lieen made to bring about reciprocity in the pension system between the Commonwealth and Xew Zealand. "It was in 1913 that the Dominion Legislature passed the requisite legislation, but Australia in the long intervening period has been unable legislatively to take similar action. The Federal Government now proposes to come into line with Xew Zealand, and the people of the Dominion will join with the Xew Zealand Government in extending- to Australians and the Federal Government unstinted congratulation." Mr. Parr.v said there was no doub.t but that reciprocity in the pensions systems would still further increase the I bond of friendship between Xew Zealanders and the people across the Tasnian Sea. That kinship had been growing year by year, and to-day the feeling of the two peoples in all avenues for the common good was great and farreaching. Conference in Australia. The Minister recalled the conference he (with the Commissioner of Pensions. Mr. H. Digby Smith) had ill Canberra in February last with the Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons), the Federal Treasurer (Mr. P. G. Casey) and one or two other members of the Commonwealth Government on the question | of the reciprocity of pensions between the two countries. "It was one of the most interesting conferences in which I had the pleasure of taking part.'' remarked Mr. Parry. j "As the Xew Zealand Government repreI sentative in the negotiations on the reciprocity question I was received with the utmost courtesy and consideration, and the helpfulness of the Commonwealth Government in the efforts made to reach an amicable agreement was made plain and appreciated by me." Quoting the proposals placed before the Commonwealth Government as a basis for the discussion, the Minister said the principal part of the agreement come to was as follows: — • the ca * e of an applicant who is eligible otherwise than bv residence on or before January 1. J939, f or a Commonwealth pension, and who has been resident in the Commonwealth for twelve months imroediatelv preceding hie application, residence in Xew- ZeaSSjKwSti? a 8 ****•. >*/»• . " ( ! , . ) ~T n the case of an applicant who is eligible otherwise than bv residence on or before January 1, 1939," for a Xew Zealand pension, and who ha* been resident in Xew Zealand for twelve months immediately preceding hfc application, residence in the Commonwealth to count as residence in Xew Zealand. ~ "A*} Eaoh country to accept financial liability in proportion to the respective period of qualifying residence bv the pensioner in each countrv as at date of first grant of pension. In the event of any person in receipt of a reciprocal pension becoming eligible bv residence for a pension in the countrv in which he is residing, full financial liabilitr to be then taken by that countrv. 'The same undertaking is to apply to* invalid pensions." :" Cable from Australia. Mr. Parry said the Government received to-day the following cablegram from the Commonwealth Prime Minister: "Referring to recent conference Canberra reciprocity of Xew Zealand and Commonwealth invalids old a-e pensions draft agreement now being prepared on general lines of our discussions Canberra last February. You will be further advised earliest possible moment. (Signed) Prime Minister." (See storv on cable page.) ' I