‘Miserable’ Rise For Pensioners

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29950, 11 October 1962, Page 18

‘Miserable’ Rise For Pensioners

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 10. The emergency benefit was merely a subsidy to the landlords who were robbing the age beneficiaries,- said Mr R. Macdonald (Opposition, Ponsonby) in the House of Representatives tonight during the second reading debate on the Social Security Amendment Bill.

The Minister of Social Security (Mr McKay) explained that the bill added the 2} per cent, general wage order to all benefits, except the family benefit, and to the mothers’ allowance.

Mr McKay said the bill also removed an anomaly from the present law which prevented a disability pension being paid to a beneficiary A sea cadet had been injured. he said, and had been granted a war disability only to find that the family benefit had to be cancelled Mis M B Howard (Opposition. Sydenham) said she eould not see how age beneficiaries in homes could pay £5 or £5 5s a week from a benefit of £4 17s 6d a week

"They have no money left for clothing or entertainment I know that they can get an emergency benefit, but everybody doesn't know about the emergency benefit.” said M'ss Howard Mr R I 3ailey (Opposition Heretaunga) said the Labour Party felt the increase was too little at this stage to meet the increased costs of the recipients “Other sections of the community have had relief of up to £5O of their income tax.” he said, comparing the increase with tax concessions in this year's Budget Mr N V Douglas (Opposition. Auckland Central) deplored the fact that people had to "crawl” for help from the special assistance fund

"It is an indictment on society that people should have to plead for succour in tills age,” he said. The Minister of Lands (Mr Gerard): Rot. Mr Douglas claimed the Government operated the Social Security Act from an "electoral fear.” not because of its convictions ' Restrictions were lifted on rents so pensioners in many instances had to beg from the special assistance fund for help to meet the increased costs,” he said. The government had also increased rail fares, postage rates and telephone charges The 2s fid increase was “miserable' but pensioners would welcome it, because they needed it

Mr A, J. Faulkner (Opposition, Roskill) commended the Government "for following the precedent set by Miss Howard in automatically passing on wage orders to beneficiaries” “Down the years the National party has imitated the legislation that the Labour i*arty has initiated,” he said "Can we honestly suggest that 2s 6d is adequate compensation for the increases experienced in the last two years? No evidence has been brought by the government to show that it is." Mr Macdonald said the emergency benefit was merely a subsidy to the landlords. "The landlords know that a single beneficiary can get 15s and a married couple 30s so they pu’ the rents up,” he said “Give members on the other side of the House 2s 6d and see what a squeal there would be But any crumbs from the rich man's table are welcome"