Pensions System

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 7

Pensions System

£3,352,0CX) PAID ANNUALLY FOR OLD AGE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 6. Evidence regarding six classes of provisions under the pensions system of New Zealand was given before the select committee ou National Health and Superannuation this morning by the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. Digby Smith. Air. Smith detailed the present provisions for old-age pensioners, widows, invalids, families, war veterans and miners, and quoted the Government’s proposed alterations where they had been stated. Only two members of the general public occupied the seats provided for visitors. Mr. Smith, in the course of his statement, mentioned that at February 28 last there were 59,088 old-age pensioners and the annual value of their pensions w as £3,352,000. Mr. Smith discussed the points outlined in more detail when questioned by members of the committee. War veterans, he said, would be on a much better footing if their permissible income were increased. At present war veterans on pension had no incentive to

The chairman, the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer, said that Mr. Bmith would be called again to give more detailed evidence, but the committee would probably meet in private to hear him. Mr. W. 8. la Trobe, former superintendent of Technical Education, read a section of a report dealing with the training of domestic workers which he had presented to Parliament last year. He suggested an apprenticeship system under which girls would be placed in private homes with the Btate liable for the payment of their wages. He thought. He thought that method would be less costly than the establishment of training hostels. The creation by the Government of a national home service corps to assist; the sick mother and the mother with young children was suggested by Mrs. Maude Bullock, of Wellington. Alembers of the home service corps, slie said, should have the same status as nurses or members of the dental clinic taff. The training should be both practical and theoretical, and students should carry out their practical work iu the private home with certain listed mistresses.

Evidence on behalf of the Worne’. s Division of the Farmers’ Union was given by Mrs. Helen Wilson and Mrs. A. B. Smith. They outlined what tLcir organisation had done in providing assistance to country mothers during the past 32 or 13 years. They sail they had gone into the question of taking over Girls’ Flock House when it closed down, but had not sufficient funds to do so. They suggested that their experience could well be used in any national scheme for household assistance and that Girls’ Flock House should be used as a training centre. Evidence was also given by Airs. G. L. Stewart, representing the Women '■ Social Progress Movement, Mrs. if. Kelso, for the New Zealand Women's Institutes, Airs. G. W. Guthrie for the Alothers’ Helpers, and Airs. Marshall AlacDonald.

The committee adjourned until tomorrow morning.