THE MINISTER'S SPEECH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 4

THE MINISTER'S SPEECH

Expenditure "Sound And Humane"

RISE IN NUMBER AND

VALUE

rProm Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 21

"The spending of the national surplus on pensions or social security is not only the most humane way possible of disposing of money; but it is also sound from an economic point of view," said the Minister for Pensions <the Hon. W. E. Parry) during the discussion on the report of the Pensions Department in the House of Representatives to-day. The money distributed in pensions was, as a rule, used immediately for practical necessities of food, shelter, and clothing, Mr Parry added. Dealing with the increase in pensions since the Government took office, the Ministc said the total number of civil pensions to-day was 76,445, compared with 45,968 in 1935, an increase of 31,477. The total annual value of civil pensions this year was £4,613,279, as against £1,963,696 in 1935, showing a rise of £2,649.583. Money paid out in pensions was spent almost immediately on food, shelter, and clothing, and it was the duty of a good Government to pursue a policy that would enable all sections of the community to secure the essentials of life Mr Parry said that in 1935 family allowances numbered 12,321, of a total annual value of £ 151,169, and at that time the allowable income of recipients was £3 5s a week. This year only 6853 allowances were necessary, of a total annual value of £94,168, although the income limit had been raised to £4 a week. The cost of administration, m proportion to total pension payments, was only 1.69, or 4.1 d in the £l, which, he contended, was not surpassed by any other Government department. Paying tribute to the staff of the Pensions Department, the Minister said that it had handled the extra work entailed in the increase in pensions in an extremely satisfactory manner. In spite of the unsuitable conditions in which many of the officers had to work. they had done their share ungrudgingly, and had exerted the greatest possible degree of tact and diplomacy in dealing with applications for pensions. . _„ Mr W. J. Poison (National. Stratford): Why can't you get them better conditions? The Minister; I was compelled, wnen 1 took over, to carry on with the existing conditions, because we had no other accommodation. Mr Poison: You have had nearly three years to find it. Mr Parry- Your Government had <!U or 30 years to do the same thing. "The conditions were a disgrace when this Government came into power." the Minister concluded, "but I have made a point of trying to find better accommodation for the department's staffs wherever possible. In spite of the unsatisfactory conditions, however the officers of the department have rendered very good service lam sure that all pensioners have good reason to be thankful to the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr Digby Smith, and to those under him.