SECURITY BENEFITS

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 10

SECURITY BENEFITS

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA EXTENSION CONTEMPLATED (I\A.) WELLINGTON, April 24. The Director-General of Social Services for the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr F. H. Rowe, will arrive in Mnv Zealand on Saturday to discuss with the Department of Social Security the question of a further extension of the reciprocal arrangements between Australia and Now Zealand in connection with social security benefits. The Minister of Social Security (Mr Parry) said to-day that, in particular, reciprocal widows' and family benefits would be discussed. The extension of the principle of reciprocity in such matters was in keeping with the Government's policy of trying to obviate, the difficulties arising through people having residence in both countries and not being able to qualify for a pension in either. "Already," said Mr Parry, " reciprocity is in special operation between Australia and New Zealand in connaction with old-age- and invalid benefits, and the object of Mr Rowe's visit is to have a conference with a view to extending the principle of reciprocitv." Mr Parry added that negotiations had taken place with Britain with the object of establishing reciprocal social security benefits. "We have advanced in our negotiations considerably," he said, " but further negotiations have still to be carried out before finality can be reached."