OLD AGE PENSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15298, 10 May 1913, Page 8

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

AUSTRALIA, CO-OPERATES- ... — ■;;-..-, ■~;;.; ,■■-. : ;■>;.,■;l3ff|§ MR. ■ FISHER'S AGREEMENT. '>| -■•V ■■•' ■.- •'■.'- ' •'•' .;-■■•■/ ■■■• /.< '•"""■. -" "■ . ■ :'■ >:■:? .>'■■:■'■■"■'■'■ :-■' -v...-' .'.'",'.'•—r—.«■'': , - - , ' I -'& '"' '■ ; .-.". •;.•••■.■■ ..'..'•, ■:,:...V^; Co-operation, in the provision of old age -.'; pensions „between Australia and New Zea* .- land is now a matter upon which repre- '■ :■*■ sentatives of the two Governments have ~,|"; j entered into an agreement. I •">: Upon his return from Australia yester* ■;, day, the Hon.; F. M., B. Fisher (Minister for Customs), stated that he had con* ,■'?,( eluded an agreement with the Prime Min» ister of the "Commonwealth, the ' essential f|| feature of which was that residence "in I either the Commonwealth or New Zealand >■ would be qualification for a pension. The £§ proposal upon which they agreea was that - an applicant for a pension who had resided .-'- in the country in which he made applica- j tion for 12 months prior to the applica- 1 tion would be ; entitled to a pension, pro- 9 vided his residence had been - continuous t|| in Australasia for the required number ojfflß years. The applicant must also comply M with the requirements of the pension lawsg of the country in which he was then resident. At present 25 years' residence is quired by the New Zealand law, and .20y; years by : the Australian law. . "I hope- I soon to be able to equalise these; said Mr. Fisher. ;■ He Explained that eacb;|| country will • maintain a separate"' *?coßßt?j|| of all pensions .'..under this agreement, and the money will be contributed by two • countries on • a population ? basis. >| $[;i& The Minister said ha hoped that". before; ; long this agreement would be ext*nde*' : : for the benefit of the; mercantile. for a man who had served Australasia ;■.«•s a sailor for 20 or 25 years «as*a»s<ipj|jj serving of consideration at the hands/*.;£ the Governments as anybody else. :.Vs#J||§| ♦ " * • 'r^lreS