WAR PENSIONS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

PARLIAMENT

SUGGESTIONS BY MR G. F. SIM HIGHER RATES BUT FEWER ECONOMIC PENSIONS (New Zealand. Press Association./ WELLINGTON, October 12. The War Pensions Amendment Bill and.the. War Pensions and Allowances (Mercantile Marine) Amendment Bill were passed by the House of Representatives to-day. For the Opposition, Mr E. P. Aderman (New Plymouth) said they welcomed the bill, but felt that the increases in pensions for which it provided still did not match increases in the cost of living. Mr G. F. Sim (Opposition, Waikato) advocated raising the basic pension tor total war disablement from £3 10s to £5 a' week. He said that when the basic pension was fixed in 1916 at £2 a week it was 69 per cent, of the then ruling wage of £2 18s Id for unskilled workers. The latest Court pronouncement brought wages for unskilled labourers to £6 16s 8d a week, sc that if pensions had kept their relation to wages the basic pension would now be £4 14s 4d a week. His suggestion of £5 a week merely meant 75 per cent, of the unskilled wage rate. Mr Sim said that in the light of increases in other pensions war pensioners had not been treated as well as j the Government claimed. The Gov-: ernment had nothing to boast of. A miner and his wife received £4 10s a' week without a means test Age Benefit Comparison The age benefit payable at the age of 60 was the equivalent of the 75 per i cent, disability pension, said Mr Sim.' He suggested that those whose dis-: ability was now’ rated at 75 per cent, should from the age of 35 onw’ards have j their rating automatically increased by 5 per cent, every five years. That would have the effect of giving them the maximum benefit at the age of 55. 1 which was only reasonable, as age benefits for persons with no disability: were available at the age of 60. Taking into account his other sug- ! gestions. Mr Sim said the time had come w’hen the economic pension should be abolished except in special l cases. That would have the effect of I giving an incentive to men to earn something for themselves thereby in-, creasing their independence and mak-j ing them useful members of the labour force. Mr Sim also suggested that the wives of disabled men should receive ( pensions as of right. This had been : done in Canada and was contemplated in the United Kingdom It was warranted in the light of the many extra duties and expenses that faced the, wives of disabled men.

Mr R. M. Macfqrlane (Government. Christchurch Central) said the Government was proud of its record. No country was paying better rates of pensions. The only way m which

higher pensions could be paid Was by taking money from taxation. The bill, was a step forward, and he hoped that, from time to time pensions would be ; increased in line with the national economy of the country. •‘Fouilest Means Test" “I will never rest until the fouilest means test of the lot—that on war pensions—is eliminated." said Mr J. R. Hanan (Opposition, Invercargill), i He would remind members that after a period of years in the House they , could qualify for a basic pension of £6. Rates of war pensions varying according to rank were a monstrous class distinction perpetuated after the death of the men who had given their lives for their country. *T am bitterly disappointed to und i that this bill perpetuates the same monstrous class distinction." said Mr Hanan. "To say that this was createu by Governments in the past is no excuse for this Government's not correcting what they know is palpably wrong. The Minister has done nothing about it and I suggest his better judgment has been overriden by the military hierarchy of this country.” Mr Hanan said he hoped the Minister weuld bring in the same rate of pension for the widow of a private as for the widow of a colonel. He could not be a member of anv Government that would perpetuate what was perpetuated in the bill. Mr P. G. Connolly (Government,! Dunedin Central) said that no Government had done more to eliminate differential pension rates than the present Government. In the South African war n.c.o.'s suffering from dis- 1 ablement received from 8d to 4s a day. but the colonel received one full years salary and a pension of £250 a year As time went on differences' might be eliminated altogether. Minister s Reply The Minister in charge (Mr F. Jones) said that returned servicemen would not agree with the member for Waikato when he advocated the abolition of the economic pension except in special cases. Serious injurv would be done to many people if that pen-: sion was eliminated Mr Jon e s said that the pension for disabled soldiers, from private to major was £3 10s a week, for a lieu-tJKaP‘-co!o2el £3 Ils. for a colonel ids, and for higher ranks £3 15s a week. th^h? anan: What about widow s. Mr Jones said that the widow’s pension for all ranks was £2 10s a week, tor commissioned officers below can. ‘ au ? £2 Iss - for a captain £3 for a £ f 3 7s ’ fo t a ! >® u tenant-colone! *- 3 . 16s - J.° r 3 colonel £3 18s. and for ?ha b t r! !n dler -R £4 a week ’ He bought mat all widows pensions should be the same. When consideration wa« given to an increase in that class of pension it was decided to grant a-> w^ eas x m all grades - There had ah LJ bedn , a , deslre •<> treat officers and men alike m pensions, but it could not be done in the present case because a ratio had been fixed for the ?nnwT ent ß Wh ether alterations to°=av be made Jn the future was hard | i I • j I