Pensions bill passes all stages

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 3

Pensions bill passes all stages

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 3. Parliament put two bills, validating increases in social security benefits and war pensions, through all their stages today after such a course had been suggested by the Opposition.

When the Social Security Amendment Bill and the War Pensions Amendment Bill were introduced today, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) suggested that this course be followed so that legal power to pay the increases could be given as soon as possible.

The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) said Mr Kirk’s suggestion was “a igood idea” to help the passage of the House’s business but pointed out that it would make no difference to beneficiaries receiving the increased payments. Some already had received increases which were announced earlier this year and others were due to get them shortly.

Mr A. J. Faulkner (Lab., Roskil!) said that in neither bill was there any positive move towards ensuring that those who fought for their country or helped to build its economy could share in their retirement in the benefits made possible by their efforts.

With regard to war pensions, he said, the Government could well give consideration to the annual reviews of benefits. RATE OF INFLATION If inflation were 1 or 2 per cent per annum, the present system of biennial review might be enough, but, with inflation at a rate of about 10 per cent each year, this should be brought back to annual review. The Government should consider this, he said, if it really meant what it said about trying to provide benefits that would keep pace with the cost of living. Mr N. J. King (Lab., Birkenhead) said that had the Labour Party been the Government, social security beneficiaries and war pensioners would have received $1.50 more than provided for in today’s legislation. Not only was the Government not giving pensioners and beneficiaries enough, but it was also taking too long to pay out increases. The Minister in Charge of War Pensions (Mr Thomson) said the Government already had taken notice of the Re-

turned Services Association’s recommendation of an annual review. The Government would consider this proposal “in the New Year.”

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