Social Security Anomalies

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 296, 10 September 1938, Page 13

Social Security Anomalies

Sir, —May I be permitted' to comment on the Social Security Bill? Over the air last week Mr. Nash told us of the wonderful scheme and the provision made for widows, invalids and orphans, and stressed the point that even widows who have not had a family are not to be overlooked. On being asked by the Leader of the Opposition what the married man whose wife was under 60 years would receive under the Bill, the Minister said 30/-. but he could have an extra 5/- and an income of £2/10/-. The Minister should know it is impossible for a working man who has reared and educated a family to have an unencumbered home or a banking account, and must of necessity continue working long after he is 60 .1o provide for his wile and give help to his children between,-the age of 1G and 20 years who arc not earning enough to bo self-supporting but are to be compelled by law to contribute 1 -■ in every pound they earn for the purpose of providing comfort for a special cla*». while their mothers arc left iu want, ' The New Zealand-born man who has fought for his country, marries a wife U> years or so his junior and helps to populate the country is to be penalised, while his bachelor friend can enjoy life, alter 60 at the taxpayers’- expense, while - a widow has only to fill in the resident ini clause to enable her to do likewise.' I must be too illiterate to undcrsttitid fully the meaning of the Social Security Bill’or too slow mentally to fnow the meaning of equality, so I, will ask the following questions, hoping someone may be able to fathom tlie conundrum (1) If a wife and mother of. a large family docs not need a pension till she is 60 years, why does a childless widow need one at 50? (2) If a wife of 55 years can live on an extra 5/- tacked on to her husband s pension, why does, a bachelor need 30/- a week? . (3) If the relatives ot an orphan child are allowed 15/- for its upkeep and that allowance can be provided by the State . till the child is IS years old, why have the family man’s children to start work at 16 and-contribute toward a better education for the other fellow two years his senior? (4) If the single man of 60 has not provided for his old age, how then can the family man have enough on which to keep his‘young wife till she reaches 60 years? (5) Is the tax-providing youth not within his rights in asking w’hy his old father is expected to toil on to the end because his wife is not 10 years older than the other women who are drawing a pension and the said youth providing for the widower of 60 whose wife has had no family? A person who thinks it wrong to provide for the helpless, orphans or invalids or widows would -have a very warped mind, but could we not have a more equitable distribution of public funds? — I am, etc., MOTHER OF SIX. Te Kuiti, September 6.