RECIPROCITY OF PENSIONS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19770, 7 November 1929, Page 15

RECIPROCITY OF PENSIONS.

! SCHEME WITHES* THE EMPIRE. I CHRISTCHI'RCH MOVEMENT. J for «..rr." y.-sr< pa«t the Ilomeiand >fi"-.t>t:-« .n N-"v Zealand, representing British peop'e **'-° have settled in the Itom-Mot:. hive b«»n agitating for an r.m-r-dnicrr '. < the Pensions Act, ia the *?::!;•'■ ••:' a :■ c .I'T."':*; arfree:i;. ; r.t between ttr- .*f Bri'ait. and the Dominions so that i«.T»ou4 «-.o -i"'-'f not resided ui the . •,,utitry for the, period at present re-Tar'-d* und- r the Art shall b» entitled t',. j. ;i .-,,;. . r-;l t ci.i pensioners ivho ha'. .• :•*!.;• d for th<- greater part of T)i.-,r ..-. >i it: ~r Scotland, but who, after coming to New Z-aland. have reached" pension age, or wh-i hav- rome to Now Zealand even • after !!.*>- have been in recijit of a pension u. England. h:r. •■ suffered eoni sideraM- injustice ov.-r what is held to ' b* pur-'lv rm nvtraiyht in the framing 1 of the "s'atutes. The matter was ! tirst tnkTi <:p by the Christchunh 1 Combined Homelands Societies, who, I about a vear ago, forwarded the followj ing resolution to all the Empire I'ari lian.et.'s: I -That this axs-nibly of the C'hrist-[tbtjr.-li (.%"■■'» Zealand; Momelutid j Sxifti s respectfully a.-ks the Pnrli.aments of the British Era- ' pire to brine their negotiations re- ! garding the reriprocity of old age pen- ' sign* within the Empire to a practical i and workable finality." ' Further information on the subject I wan piv-n by Mr W. T. Con i bear, cori responding secretary, at the ««eeond anj nunt social gathering of the Societies j last evening. 1 .Mr Combrar explained that they had 'i the whole of the wholesale and industrial co-operative societies, and the ! trades union organisations, with an ng- > gregato membership of over live raillions, behind them. Such co-operation from the Homeland would assist them materially in helping them to ventilate the omission of reciprocity of old age pensions from the Statutes. Since their meeting about twelve j months ago, over 80 letters had been ! published in the leading British Empire ■ newspapers, and there had been nunu-r----j ous editorial articles. About 80 prominent statesmen and about 40 Homeland Societies within the Empire had interested themselves in the matter, and certain difficulties had cropped up, particularly in Canada and Australia, where the pensions schemes varied in the different States. Some were national, while others were provincial, and negotiations were consequently difficult. There seemed to be no difficulty, however, between the British Tarliament and the New Zealand Government, as far as could be discovered from recent information. If the New Zealand Government showed its willingness to negotiate with the English Government, thedesired conditions could be obtained with little difficulty. Everywhere within the Empire there was a recognition of its justice and reasonableness In conclusion, Mr Conibear said that they were awaiting further information from the British authorities. Several letters promising favourable consideration of the proposals were read from the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph W.nrdi and the Minister for Pensions (the Hon. Mr Veitch). The meeting was presided over by Mr T. Radcliffe, and the following programme was contributed:—National Anthem: waltz: Scottish Society: song, Mr 11. J. Francis; reel o' Tmlloch, Misses R. Belmar, R. Campbell, J. Dickson, and M. Morton; West of England Society; piano solo, Mr P. E. L. Broad; song. Miss Colley. Caledonian Society: Song, Miss Irvine; solo dance, Miss Sey. Manx Society: Song, Mr L. C. Quanc. Lancashire Society: Songs, Mr 8» Cheeiham and Mrs A. Ha troll. Cambrian Society: Performance by Welsh juveniles; song. Mr E. Rogers; Auld Lang Syne. The items were interspersed with dances to music by an efficient orchestra. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) and Mrs Archer were also present, and Mr Archer addressed a few words to the gathering.