PENSIONERS' TROUBLES

Evening Star, Issue 25172, 11 May 1944, Page 7

PENSIONERS' TROUBLES

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—lt does not seem to me that, the pensioners are getting a square deal. Ninety * per cent, of the old-age pensioners assisted the election of the present Government to power. Why did these " old timers " put this Government in?_ It was simply because they (the pensioners) are from the ranks of the workers, and have fought for over 40 years to bring in legislation that would do away with the fear of old age and the fear of want, and that is what was promised. But that promise has not been carried out. It is utterly impossible for those who are unable to do any work, no matter how light, to live on 32s 6d a week. Would Messrs Nash and Co. be game enough to try it for just one month in the winter, when more coal is needed, and house rent and all essentials are at sky-high prices? These pensioners are the parents of the Army, and they never got any 7s 6d a week for every soldier they brought into the world. They are not asking for luxuries, but simply for access to thoso things which go to make life in their declining years tolerable. After all the years of fighting and drawing up of a good, sound Labour policy, the men we put in to Parliament to carry out that policy have nearly all twisted to Tory-Labour. Have we got to wait for another humanitarian to come and go before there is something more done to make the Social Security Act function as it was intended to do? Must we wait for another Dick Seddon, a Harry Holland, or a " Mick " Savage to come and put a few more rungs in the ladder of social justice, and in the meantime sit down and listen to a lot of blatherskites telling us we were never better off in our lives? I think that the Pensioners' Association before very long will be an organisation that our politicians will just have to listen to. I was at the pensioners' social and dance a week ago, and I was struck with the great following the pensioners have got, especially by the younger people. In conversation with the president of the association, I was informed that the membership in Dunedin alone was close on 2,000. Everyone who is paying social security tax is eligible for membership, which accounts for the largo number of young people attending their socials and dances. Let us hope that the powers that be will do a little more for those unfortunate people Someone may tell me there is a war on, but I am quite aware of the fact.— I am, etc., Father of Two Desert'Rats. May 8. .