SUPERANNUATION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 9

SUPERANNUATION

Sir,—Your editorial on the superannuation benefit does full justice to an excellent proposal of the National Party, Having made inquiries from the National Party office this day, I can reassure your correspondents “Superannuitant' r and “Non-National’ that the doubling will be immediate (this year), and it will be £BQ from April 1, 1952. The Labour Party i| conspicuously silent on this benefit, which proves that it is out to perpetuate the stigma Of charity in old age by the means test, which is to apply to the £26 cost-of-livlng .bonus Mr Nash has promised superannuitenta Every elector, young or old, should study the merits of this improved benefit, as set out in your editorial, particularly the benefit to the national economy and the fact that the National Party is out to give the greatest benefit to those on the lowest incomes.—Yours, etc., „ F.C.

August 27, 1951. Sir,—Your correspondent “Superannuitant" is mistaken in stating that superanrjuitapts’ incomes have remained just as they were years ago. In the latter part of last year, I was officially advised, as one of those in the lower-income group, to apply for a partial age benefit to supplement my allowance. Thj* was subsequently granted, and in consequence I am now receiving an income which compensates adequately for the rise in the cost of living. Contrast this generous treatment with the comparatively meagre cost-of-living bonus granted to superannuitants by the Labour Government. an amount that necessitated careful spending in order to balance the domestic budget. There is little doubt that those in the same category as the writer, are infinitely better off under the National Government.— Yours, etc., GRATEFUL,

August 27, 196 L Sir,—l sympathise with “Superannuitant’’ in his dilemma, but so far as the present .government is concerned I am afraid it is a case of this year, next year, some time, never. According to the advertisements in the daily newspapers respecting universal superannuation, the first instalment of the promised increase will not become payable until July 1, 1952, when, as “Superannuitant" states, many may not be here to participate. Many superannuitants have received nothing whatever during recent, years to meet the increased cost of living. In my own case, after 20 years on a very modest superannuation allowance, I have only received one small cost of living bonus, which was granted during the war years. Nothing further nas bean granted, "notwithstanding the promises made by the Prime Minister and his deputy months ago that superannuitants would receive sympathetic treatment.—Yours, etc., • ANOTHER SUPERANNUITANT. August 26, 1951.