PENSIONS RECIPROCITY

Evening Star, Issue 19318, 3 August 1926, Page 4

PENSIONS RECIPROCITY

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER [Per United Press Association.} WELLINGTON, August 2. The question of reciprocal pensions payments as between the Old Country and the various dominions was raised by a deputation to the Minister of Pensions (Mr Anderson). The case of a man who came to New Zealand when fifty years of age was instanced. He would have to wait until attaining the ago of seventy-five. 'The average immigrant coming to New Zealand would not live long enough to qualify for the pension. Many elderly people at Homo wished to come to Now Zealand. It was suggested that the Mother Country should take her share of responsibility. Mr M'Koen, M.P., referred to the failure of the reciprocal scheme with Australia, and expressed the opinion that a twenty-five years’ residential term was too long. The Minister said that whatever reciprocity might be arrived at he thought each country would have to pay Tor the pensions of those who migrated to another country. It had been suggested that payment should be on a percentage basis. If the period of residence : was reduced, naturally people would come out to the dominion because of the pension. What was wanted was young people. The age of forty should be welcome. He had no authority for saying it, but he thought the question would he discussed at the coming Imperial Conference. He would make a suggestion in regard to reducing the qualifying age to forty.