Proposed Universal Superannuation

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 13

Proposed Universal Superannuation

Sir, —I hope the Parliamentary committee for the above will act on the ba'sis of sanity and square dealism. If the tax for it is to be any more in the £ than New Zealand is carrying now, I am afraid this land is going to lose a lot of its populace. I know a number of settlers who keep on saying they are going to try and cash up. and get away from this country. Take as instances those who are already on superannuation, which, broadly interpreted, means partial dismissal from occupations. They are trying to live on half of their former salaries—in some cases less ’than half —many of which were only bare living wages., - It means that as they are placed now they have no chance of paying their way comfortably, no chance of avoiding debt if sickness falls on them, and, worst of all, that little bit they tried to put away in their better days, must now be entirely forgotten. The Sd. in the £ now makes a hole in the pensioners’ incomes that they could well do with, but if they are to have imposed .upon ’ them further taxation then how and'where they are going to live free of debt .is hard to imagine, unless it be in gaol. There is an idea-up and down the country that 2/- in the-£ is to be the tax; that the superannuation is to be .about £65 per annum; that the age will be 60 for the recipients; that where one has any income no superannuation will be allowed to him or her. -If the last is to s be so, then the law should be sb framed that those already on superannuation, no matter from what source, should be excluded from the taxation of the pro- , posed Act. I hope, therefore, your paper will do all it can to protect the lowlypaid pensioners accordingly.—l am, etc, SUPERANNUITANT. Dannevirke, March 10.