Imperial Pensioners

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 280, 23 August 1934, Page 11

Imperial Pensioners

Sir.—l wish to enter a protest against Imperial pensioners being obliged to pay unemployment tuxes. The pension in most cases ranges from 5/- per day downwards, for non-commissioned officers and privates. I wotfftl point out that: .(l) That New Zealand has a suitable climate for exImperial pensioners, from the East; (2) that Old Age Pensions are not taxed; (3) that New Zealand is the only country in the Empire which imposes such a- tax on Imperial pensioners; (4) that it is for the benefit of New Zealand that such pensioners should settle here, as the pensions help to improve our financial affairs; (5) that it-pays us better to have one Imperial pensioner than to receive £2O or £3O in taxes as the pensioner pays practically all his pension out for the benefit of this country; (6) that if such taxes were remitted Imperial men could still be. allowed on the unemployed list if they wished and paid arrears of taxes; (7) that it is likely the Government did not fully consider the position when it imposed this iniquitous tax on us; (8) that most pensioners are unfitted for unemployed work through their previous occupation.—l am, etc., IMPERIAL PENSIONER. August 20.