OLD AGE PENSIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10689, 8 September 1920, Page 7

OLD AGE PENSIONS

ANO SUPERANNUATION STRONG PLEAS IX HOUSE TOR INCREASES. On Sir W. H. Herries (Minister in charge) 'bringing down a. return in regard to old ago and other pensions yesterday afternoon. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) strongly urged the necessity for increasing the pensions of superannuated public servants, and old ago and other pensions. Old ago pensioners, ho contended could not live on their pensions to-day, though tho pensions had "boon increased; and many superannuated public servants wero gettinsr less than tho old age pensioners. "Recently, a- case came before the Supreme Court in which an allowance of 35s a week was mado for a woman and child. Their room cost them 16s a week, leaving only 19s a week for food and clothing, etc., for the two of them. The judge held that 3os a week was not a living allowance, and was not. reasonable maintenance from a man receiving £5 a week. He suggested that the increases might be made bv way of a bonus. ,_ Dr. Newman (Wellington East) said that tho position was truly deplorable. There were many sad cases in Wellington and other cities of people suffering great privations because of the inadequacy of their pensions. The House- had increased tho salaries of judses and others, the honourable members were increasing their "own salaries, and had given considerably over a million a- year in increased wages to civil servants, and thev should increase the superannuation allowances and old age pensions. Mr G.' Witty (Riccarton) said that civil servants' pensions wore beine increased at Home, and they should be increased hero. • . -Mr L. M. lsitt (Chnstchurch North) strongly stressed tho need for higher nensions and allowances. Mr Massey: And yet you want us to reduce taxation.

Mr lsitt: We would prefer to see ir= - cmase<i taxation■ of those best able to boar it; (Hear, 5 -hear.) He protested against poor_'old couples, who owned a house nominally worth £4OO. having " their -pensions reduced in consequence. Tt_.was,_Jie contended, a penalty on thrift. BILL TO BE INTRODUCED. Sir W. H. Herries: AVait till you see the bill. Mr W. H. Field (Otnki) strongly | supported-the plea; as did Mr A. -S. , Malcolm (Clutha), who also emphasised the- need for curtailing expenditure on Defence and in other direcMr T." E. Y: beddon (Weetland) stressed the need for legislation giving effect to tho remits as to war pensions passed by the New Zealand Returned. Soldiers' Association. Were these matters, ho asked, dealt with in the Sir William Herries said that the bill was not one for dealing with war pensions. , - , Mr E. F. Hockly (Rotorua) hoped that the claims of the Maori war veterans would-not be forgotten. Mr P. Eraser (Wellington Central) btrongly endorsed that, had been said as to increasing the pensions, especially the widows' pension. He hoped that the increase given would be a substantial and a permanent one. No less a pension than that given to epidemic widows and orphans should, he held, be given to every widow and orphan in tho land. Mr Wilford:/Hear, hear. Mr Fraser was quite positive that if the House had to choose- between increasing the pensions and increasing their own salaries, ton. members would say: ,!.'.lncrea&o. tho pensions and let tho' salaries-go." ;..<Hear, hear.) Messrs T.. W. Rhodes (Thames), J. A. Young (Waikato),- W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), '(Waipawa), Rl W. Smith (Waimarino> H. P. Hudson (Motueka), r ;and J. McCombs > (Lyttolton) also advocated a substantial increase in pensions, Mr Parry making a special plea on behalf of the recipients of miners' pensions. Mr Parry added that he believed that tho feeling in favpur of universal pensions would before long be 60 strong that the Government in power would be compelled to earmark five ;■ millions a year of. tho unimproved values of the country for > such : a purpose. ("Ohl" and Hear, hear.) Colonel Mitchell (Wellington South) asked whether a bill dealing with soldiers' pensions would be brought down this year. \ ' , Mr Massey replied: "There will be a bill this year, but the proposed increase of a. million a year is absolutely out of tho question. It cannot be given." Mi- McCbmbs pointed out that a 23 per cent, increment tax on the 24 millions of increased land value referred to by Mr Massey on Friday last would provide £6,000,000 for old age and other pensions. Mr Massey: Do you think land values will go on increasing? Tho Hon. Dr Pomare: They decreased in the 'eighties. Mr MeComhs: They have been increasing of late years at tho rate of 11 millions a year. The debato was interrupted at 5.30 by the dinner-hour adjournment.