Abroad on Super?

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 4

Abroad on Super?

The Leader of the-Opposi-tion (Mr Rowling) has asserted that National Superannuation is being used as “pin money" for overseas holidays —and Christchurch travel agents agree that travel by the elderly has increased significantly over the last few years.

Mr Rowling, commenting on the latest overseas exchange figures, said he was not complaining about people who went on a once-in-a-life-time overseas trip. Rather, he was concerned about people who, because of National Superannuation, spent their winters in Fiji instead of New Zealand.

There were people in this situation getting $30,000 or $40,000 a year. The travel consequently contributed to the big use of foreign exchange and the resulting deficit in “invisible" overseas transactions.

“The. country cannot afford that sort of situation,” Mr Rowling said. National Superannuation is available to all New Zealanders. The only qualifications are that the applicant be aged 60 and have lived in

New Zealand for at least 10 years. No qualification of income applies to the scheme. Travel agents report that many elderly people go on holiday overseas but most question whether this can be directly attributed to the Government’s superannuation scheme.

“There are certainly a lot more elderly people travelling these days,” said the manager of Atlantic and Pacific Travel, Ltd (Mr C. R. Wood). “A lot more may be moving because of National Superannuation, but also because they are becoming increasingly aware it is possible to get away to a wanner climate.”

Travel had lately become more accessible to the majority, especially with the advent 'of “reasonable”, fares. “These people may be spending their superannuation, but that is not the only reason,’.’ he said.

The travel supervisor of Guthrey’s Travel Centre (Mr D. Hayton) said that the “elderly market” had always been well travelled. “It is an established fact that it is the elderly and the young who

travel abroad — the others don’t have the opportunity,” he said. Mr Hayton acknowledged that superannuation made their travel easier. “But it should be appreciated that this is the age-group that traditionally travels,” he said. “One change that can be seen is that people who a. few years ago would make only one big world trip are now repeat travellers.” The change, he said, was in more affluence today. Another travel agent approached also noted a large number of elderly travellers. “All we can say is that these are people who have succeeded in their financial management. It could well be that they are helped along by the National Superannuation. But if that is so God bless them,” he said.

Mr Rowling has not spelled out what Labour intends to do about the “problem.” He said yesterday that superannuation had to be looked at in relation to people’s needs. “The Labour Party will have a firm policy on superannuation by the" next election,” he said.