THE PENSIONS BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 5

THE PENSIONS BILL.

SUAIMARY OF PROVISIONS. WOMEN TO CET THE PENSION AT 60. OTHER HUMANITARIAN PROPOSALS. [BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, July 26. The Pensions Bill, which was under discussion this evening, is primarily a consolidation of the existing law relating to old age, widows, and military pensions. As already indicated, when the Bill was introduced, several amendments are proposed—notably provision for paying old age pensions to women at the age of 60 and repeal of the income and property qualifications for military pensions. The former of these proposals is estimated to increase the annual liability for old age pensions by an amount not exceeding £70,000 after the first 12 months, while the added annual costs for military pensions under the latter proposal will be anything between £7OOO and £IO.OOO. Other minor amendments relate to the residential qualifications for old age pensions, the definition of income as applied to old age and widows’ pensions, disposition of property by will, payment of instalments accruing during December before Christmas and an alternative penalty fur fraud. Clause 7 provides for a reduction in age for the old age pension to 60 years for women. Clause 8 amends the present law providing for a maximum absence of four years during the 29 years preceding the date of application, whatever total length of residence may he, and permits of an additional six months’ absence for every additional year of residence. To have the benefit of any absence in excess of two years, the applicant must have actually resided in New Zealand for the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application. Clause 13 extends the income, including pension, of a married couple from £9O to £IOO. Clause 27 provides for the payment of the full military pension without regard to income and property. The qualifications relating to residence in New Zealand and habits, however, still apply to this class of pension. Clause 29 provides that any applicant for old age or widows’ pension who at the date of application is receiving income at the rate of the disqualifying amount shall be deemed to be ineligible. As the law stands at present magistrates have ruled that an applicant for old age pension who may be earning £3 a week, provided his income for the preceding twelve months does not disqualify him, is entitled to claim a pension until such time as his income has actually reached the disqualifying amount —namely _ £6O. There is already a provision which allows an applicant to be admitted to the roll immediately he ceases work. Clause 38 will enable a Magistrate to include property disposed of by will in computation of pension of deceased’s husband or wife. A practice has grown under the present law of persons with considerable estate leaving their property to their children, and thus enabling a widow or widower, as the case may lie. to qualify for the pension. Clause 56 provides for an alternative penalty by way of fine in lieu of imprisonment for fraud. This is to meet the case of an applicant with a considerable banking account who fails to disclose it-and attempts to get the pension. Magistrates have frequently referred to the fact that the law did not provide for a monetary penalty, it being the practice of the Department not to press for imprisonment.