SUPERANNUATION FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1932, Page 6

SUPERANNUATION FUNDS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Would youkindly allow me a little space in which to. answer "Honest's" letter in your issue of-the 9th July? Let me point out that those Public servants who joined the Superannuation Fund in 1908 have received a good deal for nothing, and have been on an extremely good wicket. I personally know Public servants who have only paid into the fund for a few years and yet have received pensions for the whole of their service. Is this fair or reasonable? Recently the Government, through financial stringency, reduced the pensions of old-age pensioners who were on a more pittance, also returned soldiers and others. Does "Honest" claim to belong to a privileged class? I do not believe that any Civil servant would refuse an outside lucrative position if it were offered him. Why, everybody knows it' he left the Public Service he would get the money he has.paid into the Superannuation Fund back. Hundreds of Public servants have left and taken, up civil employment to my knowledge. Why accuse the Government of dishonesty, when it is iii.-iking an honourable attempt to put the fund on a sound basis. I say advisedly that these original contributors have played the biggest .part in placing the fund in the position it is in to-day. To my mind it is imperative that something has to be done to light the fund. My humble opinion is that there arc only two alternatives to do so: To reduce pensions or to liquidate the fund and pay contributors back the amount they have paid into it.— I am. etc., FAIB. FLAY.