"’Superannuation Claims Not Met By Government”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 6

"’Superannuation Claims Not Met By Government”

“We have to convince the Government of the justice of reviewing superannuation allowances to compensate for the loss of the present purchasing power and erosion due to the effects of inflation,” said the Dominion president of the Government Superannuitants’ Association (Mr J. S. Ken ward) at the annual meeting of the Canterbury and Westland branch of the association.

"For the last year, and in fact for many years, we have had precisely nothing from the Government, and no indication that our claims are likely to be met,” he said. Mr Kenward said that approaches had been made to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) at the end of last year, and promises that the situation would be reviewed in the New Year had been made. So far, however, no action had been taken.

“We feel that we have put up a good case and we must convince the Government of the rightness of our claim,” said Mr Kenward. “We have to convince them

that this is a moral issue, and we have to convince them of the magnitude of our problem. The excuses our Government has put forward to the present time are not valid,” he said. Mr Kenward said that the association was not concerned with political parties as such, but with justice for members. The Government had a special responsibility in its former employees, be said.

“As far as the future is concerned we must convince the Government that justice we feel is on our side.

“We are hopeful and we will continue to press the Government until we are successful in our claims. This can only be done if we have the support of bur members generally,” said Mr Kenward. The national president of the Railway Superannuitants’ Association (Mr O. J. Doidge) said that the association was up against the old problem of comparing allowances today with those of the past.

“We are expecting Mr Holyoake to have frank discussions with us and not just representations on paper from one person to another.” he said. “We are all determined that the matter will not be allowed to drop. We have to keep it alive even if we don’t get anywhere at present,” he said. The secretary of the Canterbury and Westland branch of the Public Service Association (Mr J. M. McKenzie) said that most people joined superannuation schemes to be able to afford to hold their place in society. “We have to ensure that we do not allow relaxation of the attitude of the Opposition or the Government in this cause,” he said. The association had the whole-hearted support of the public servants, he said.

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