Hop es Of Adjustments For Superannuitants

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31680, 16 May 1968, Page 5

Hop es Of Adjustments For Superannuitants

The hopes of Government superannuitants for automatic periodic adjustments in superannuation to match rising costs rested on a successful outcome to the work of the joint committee that was investigating the question to make recommendations to the Government, said the national executive secretary (Mr C. L. Mayo), when he spoke at the annual meeting of the Canter-bury-Westland branch of the Government Superannuitants’ Association. Mr Mayo said he would retire soon after 22 years as national secretary, and in that time, he had hoped to see the long-sought-after adjustment of superannuation. The efforts of the national

executive had been sustained. While there were side issues, the fundamental issue was the provision of machinery for automatic and periodic adjustments of superannuation, said Mr Mayo. There was now a gleam of hope through the Government joint committee set up to present a case for the Government’s consideration. The association, for the first time, was represented on this committee. A working party had been set up to get information

from other countries. It was a colossal job and results would take some time, but it was vital to superannuitants that a favourable recommendation should produce Government action. "Our fate is likely to hang on the deliberations of this committee,” he said. “The public service organisations are with us all the way in our fight for justice. “A feeling of optimism should be with members, because we are closer to attaining a measure of adjustment than ever before.”

To Mr S. G. Turner, Mr Mayo said he did not think the Government would again use the universal superannuation increases as an argument against adjustment. Mr C. L. Doidge, Dominion president of the Railways Superannuitants’ Association, said he felt superannuitants were in sight of success. “New Zealand seems to be the only country in the world that has not adjusted the superannuation payments of public servants,” said the chairman (Mr H. P. Robinson) in his annual report. “The United Kingdom. Australia, the United States, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and others have all done so. in accordance with world practice and in common justice, New Zealand superannuitants

ask for similar treatment.” A remit was adopted for the Dominion conference in September that any percentage increases in superannuation be calculated on the initial entitlement, with equal justice for all. Another remit asked that special provisions be made for those who retired before 1950, and received little advantage from the rise in salaries in 1947. There was an attendance of about 80. Officers elected were:— Chairman, Mr R. P. Robinson: secretary-treasurer, Miss B. E. Smith; minute secretary, Miss L. U. Crisp; auditor, Mr S. E. Penlington; representative on Dominion executive, Mr W. E. Barker; representative to Dominion conference, Mr Robinson and Miss Smith: committee, Messrs J. G. Johnston, F. Halldane, A. G. Lake, S. E. Penlington, S. G. Turner, W. H. Thomas, Mesdames I. P. Cooper, E. A. Kerr, H. F. Skey, M. M. Wimsett, Misses F. I. Hay, D. M. Walker, and F. H. Tonkin.