Socred’s super, ‘irresponsible’

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 17

Socred’s super, ‘irresponsible’

PA Wellington Social Credit's plan to lower the superannuation eligibility age to 55 years is irresponsible, says the New Zealand Party's Finance spokesman. Mr Hamish McHardy. The Government was struggling to finance the present level of government expenditure. including superannuation at the age of 60, he said. To recommend that universal superannuation would be made’ available to all from the age of 55 at minimal budgetary cost was "financially irresponsible." Mr McHardy also critic-

ised as "clearly irresponsible" Social Credit's claim that lowering the age of eligibility for superannuation would halve unemployment. Older people had skills that were in demand whereas many young unemployed people were without skills and training, he said. "Such people could not do the jobs of 55-year-olds enticed to prematurely leave the labour force." It was "irresponsible polities" to claim that unemployment could be reduced without creating any new jobs. Mr McHardy said.