PENSIONS PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 14

PENSIONS PROBLEM

VIEWS OF MINISTER WAR VETERANS AND AGED THE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A deputation from the South African War Veterans' Association to-day asked the Minister of Pensions, Hon. W. E. Parry, for assistance by way of an art union to purchase a block of land at Tauranga on which to build hutments to house South African War veterans who were unable to care for selves in tho cities. The deputation also asked tho Government to restore the annual grant of £250 to the association.

Mr. Parry, replying, said he was not enthusiastic about the scheme proposed. The problem of old age could not bo solved by building communal homes and expecting aged people and others to be satisfied. Tho only solution of old ago was to give men and women an income that would enable them tb live decently. War veterans and old people were just as much entitled to a home as the average man. The Minister said the pension problem was a tremendous one. If he reduced the age of those eligible for the old age pension from 65 to 60 years and increased tho pension by 2s 6d a week it would cost £1,000,000. If he gave a pension to the 17,000 invalids it would cost £1,500,000. It was all very well to say the Government should do this and that, but the problem was not so easy to solve. He had proposals before him now and if he was able to put them into operation step by step in the next three years he would bo very happy. Mr. Parry promised to consider restoring the £250 grant to the association.