SINGLE MEN ON SUSTENANCE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22676, 3 April 1939, Page 14

SINGLE MEN ON SUSTENANCE

TO, THE EDITOR 0* THE PRESS Sir,—l wish to beg space to find out what the intention of the Government is regarding the single man who is over 60 years of age, and who is due for the benefits of the Social Security Act. "Most of them have been on sustenance at £1 a week for a considerable time. . Everybody knows that the £1 they have been receiving is not worth at the present time any more than about 14s. This is due to the rise in the cost of living. Now in regard to payments to be made to these men, they are not to receive the pension which is due to them till April 23. What these men are going to do in the meantime is a nightmare to them all. There are men (I am one of. them) who were told when reporting this-week that that was the last time that we need come back. We collected £1 last Wednesday and as far as we know that is the last we are to get until we receive our pension. Well, that is a nice prospect for many of these men, some of them having to pay up to 8s a week for a room. What are. these men going to do for the next three weeks? Surely the Government is not going to see these men on the streets during the Easter week and the weeks to follow. The returned soldiers protested and sent a deputation to Wellington. I saw in last night’s paper that Mr Savage had agreed to let those men carry on till April 14. The Prime Minister has said that no one would starve or want, but I can assure Mr Savage. that there will be starvation and want during the coming weeks if nothing is done for these men.—Yours, etc.. ONE OP THE MEN. March 31. 1939.