SUPERANNUATION BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13873, 6 October 1908, Page 5

SUPERANNUATION BILL.

THE POLICE PROTEST. PROVIDENT FUND QUESTION. 'Certain: of the provisions in the Bill which is being brought down to amend the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Act have created great agitation amongst members of the police force in different parts of the Dominion, and indignation meetings and resolutions of protest are becoming frequent. Last night the members of the Auckland force met to discuss the Bill. There was a. large attendance. Strong exception was taken to the section which provides for an extension of the police retiring age from 60 10 65 year*. lb war pointed out that in all other branches of the Government service members joined at an early age, and on completing 40 years' service were allowed t» retire. This gave them the opportunity of enjoying their pensions foi a comparatively lengthy period. In the case of the police force a constable coil Id not join till he was 21, and the average joining age was 25; and, therefore, on 40 years' service, he would be 65 before he could retire. It yv»» contended, in view of all the circumstances, that the police force should receive special consideration. Section 56 of the Bill Was considered--to he a contravention of the spirit of one Police Provident Fund Act, in that, -n the case of a member retiring medically unfit, he can be called upon at any time up to the age of 65 years to take any employment in any Government Department which the Civil Service Board thinks proper to offer him. Under the Police Provident Fund Act it is provided that any member so retiring may not be called upon to take up such work after the expiration of one year, and it was contended that an unnecessary hardship is thus inflicted, seeing that such a member may have entered into business, and might be called upon to sacrifice it at any moment. j Considerable objection wae offered to the ; clause which provide* for the repeal of the Police Provident Fund Act, and the transfer of all a.ssels and liabilities to the Civil Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act. Members held that such » drastic proposal should not have been brought forward without consulting them. PALMER NORTH PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. press ASSOCIATION.] Palmerston North, Monday. At a meeting of the. local members of police force to-night, a resolution was unanimously carried protesting against the present Police Provident Fund being merged in the- public service scheme. WANGANUI POLICE IN FAVOUR. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] W.vnganui, Monday. The Wanganui police have been considering the proposed alteration in their pension scheme, and welcome the change. CIVIL SERVANTS' REQUEST. [BY TELEGRAM!.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. The following is the text of a telegram from the Civil Servants' Association, sent last evening to the Prime Minister in connection- with- the Supcronnuataon Bill now before Parliament: —"The executive of the Civil Service Association earnestly and ::respectfully urges that provision be made in clause 58 of the Public Service Superannuation Bill for interest being paid on contributions of officers! eomrndsorily retired, otherwise officers of honourable record will be in the same position as an officer dismissed for misconduct." AN ACTUARY'S EVIDENCE, [BY telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. - The evidence of Morris Fox, actuary, before the Public Accounts Committee on the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Bill, was to the effect tliat £5000 will be the annual subsidy required by the Teachers Fund and £3000 by the Police Fund. This, he says, will enable the police and teachers to participate in the higher benefits provided by the Public Service Superannuation Fund, and will place the former funds in a similarly sound position. It appears that there will under the present scheme need to be triennial'valuations; and any balance needed at the end of each period to make the fund sound will have to be provided out of the Consolidated Fund. A CHWSTCHURCH RESOLUTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Monday. At a meeting of members of the loci! police force to-night to consider the Public Service Superannuation Bill, a motion was adopted to the effect that the police should be allowed to retain their own provident fund, but that if they had to accept the new proposals they should be repaid what they have paid into the Police Provided Fund.