Retirement at 55 suggested

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 2

Retirement at 55 suggested

Earlier retirement to help ease the unemployment problem was suggested by the chairman, Mr O. W. Thomas, at the annual conference of the dairy section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers yesterday.

Mr Thomas said that there was a ridiculous situation in which jobless, able New Zealanders were producing families, which enabled them to qualify for State housing and State-supported incomes to enable them to remain jobless. “Why don’t we perhaps consider voluntary retirement at the age of 55 years for those who want it?” he said. “Surely the option of retirement five years early would be an investment in job opportunity for those who wish to embark on a chosen career. I cannot think of anything more demoralising or disheartening than the situation of those who desire to work but are unable to do so.” Mr Thomas, of Oxford, was re-elected chairman for an additional term, and the section vice-chairman, Mr A. P. Brown, of Christchurch, was also re-elected. Mr Thomas forecast that the dairy industry in the province was on the verge of a big expansion over the next four to five years.