SIX MILLIONS IN PENSIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 5

SIX MILLIONS IN PENSIONS

NEW ZEALAND’S ANNUAL BILL. [PICB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, February 19. The annual value of pensions of all classes now paid in the Dominion is nearly £6,000,000. The increase in the bill is attributable largely to the Government’s review of the pensions legislation which Parliament passed last session. Some illuminating authoritative figures were quoted to a deputation to-day by the Minister for Pensions, Hon. W. E. Parry, showing details of the increase. “The figures make interesting reading,” remarked the Minister, “and show the number of increased pensions granted since Parliament removed anomalies which had long existed in our legislation.” Stating that the amendments to the pensions laws which came into opeiation almost immediately after their being passed by the legislature were part of the policy of the Labour Party in the general election, the Minister said that he doubted if any member of the community would, cavil at. the scope of the amendments. “Eulogistic commentaries bn the pensions provisions now in force,” continued Mr. Parry, “have come from all sections of the public, showing that all realise how great was their necessity.” The Minister said that the claims received for the 12 months ended March 31, 1936, including old. age, widow’s, and invalidity, and miners’ pensions, and family allowances totalled 10,938. The claims received for the 10 months ended January 31, 1937, totalled 27,443 and the claims granted during the 10 months ended Jan-

uary 31, 1937, totalled 10,714. The only class showing a reduction was the family allowance , no doubt because of increased. employment and higher wages. The number of pensions in force and their value at March 31, 1936, and as estimated at March 31, 1937, were: —

The Minister said the numbers of wives and children for whose benefit pensions were paid in various classes were: Widows’ pensions, 9863 children; invalidity, 1693 wives and 1671 children; miners, 591 wives and 416 children: family allowances, 45,206 children; total, 2284 wives and 57,156 children. The War Pensions Department aclminstered by the Minister for Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, had also to administer 23,654 war pensions, 2024 war veterans’ allowances, and 2810 pen, sions on behalf of the Imperial and other governments. The total number and estimated annual value-of those pensions now being administered was [ as follows: — No. £ Linder the Pensions Act, 1926, and the Family Allowances Act. 1926 73,569 4.127,100 Under the War Pensions Act, 1915 25,678 1,661.000 ' On behalf of other govts. 2.810 176,500 Totals 102,057 5,964.600 “I have given you gentlemen,” stated Mr. Parry, “full information of the results which the new pensions legislation’ has brought in benefits and comforts to the deserving, whose cases all members of the community must and do wish to recognise.” At his instance the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. H. Digby-Smith, had recently visited all the larger centres of the North Island to meet persons whose claims for pensions benefits had not been passed because they did not come apparently within the scope of the legislation. Tlis report and correspondence from claimants made plain the thorough ami painstaking way in which Mr. Digby-Smith went personally into the large number of cases which came before him. Many of the claims it was found possible to grant and others required further investigation as certain features of them might, be brought within the law. He was satisfied that the method of personal contact between the chief executive officer of the department and claimants had achieved good. Mr. Parry paid a high tribute to the untiring efforts of . the 260 officers of the Pensions Department in dealing with the increased work the administration of the new legislation had caused.

1936 1937. Value Value. No. £ No. £ Old age 42,649 1,808,000 52,015 2,975,000 Widows 4,379 323,000 4,678 505,000. Invalidity 504 23,500 6,140 420,000 Miners ■'827 71,000 1,020 90,600 Family allow. 11,841 145,000 9,716 136,000 Totals 60,199 2,370,500 73,569 4,127,100