The Northern Advocate THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1913. OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1913, Page 4

The Northern Advocate THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1913. OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Since the Old Age Pension Act came into force the total sum expended by the State in this direction amounts to £3,972,420, a large amount, it is true, but greatly less than will be the amount distributed to the ensuing period of similar length. Fifteen years ago there were 11,285 old age pensions in force, the average being £17 2/-. The growth in the number of pensions and the amount paid to each recipient has moved steadily upwards, with the result that in the last financial year 415,760 pensions were current, averaging £24 19/7 and thus involving an annual expenditure of £415,760. This session an amendment has been made to the law, reducing the age of qualification for women. This will necessarily add to the expenditure. Thus taking into consideration the normal increase of population and the additions to the Bill just authorised it is clear that within a year or two the charge on the State for supporting the old age pension system will amount to half a million annually. The fact that the percentage of pensioners to European population eligible by age and residence shows a rather marked increase indicates quite a number of things, the most noticeable being, perhaps, that the need for the pension is more widely felt than before. One or two interesting facts in connection with the distribution of the pension are derivable from the report of the Commissioner presented to Parliament the other day. The European population of the North Island is 563,729 and among these are 6758 pensioners to whom are paid £183,203 a year. In the South' Island the population is only 444,120, but the old age pensioners there number 9072 and the expenditure is £ 229,205. Of widows' pensions there are 1297 current, the-outlay in this direction being £24,768. Most of these affect the South and some of the comparisons are instructive. In Auckland thoie are 1955 old age and 176 widows' pensions in force but in Christchurch, where the population is many thousands less, the numbers are 2115 and 196 respectively. In Wellington the expenditure on pensions is £30,809; in Dunedin, £42,----231.