RETIRED PUBLIC SERVANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18199, 21 March 1921, Page 8

RETIRED PUBLIC SERVANTS

POSITION REGARDING BONDS. (Fbou Otra Own Qpbbespondmt.j WELLINGTON, March 18! Several questions have been asked regarding the continuance or discontinuance of the bonus to superannuated public servants, and no reply had yet been made. Mr W. A. Veitcih (Wanganui) asked the Prime Minister to-day whether ho could give an immediate reply, as a considerable amount ot anxiety existed on the matter. _ Mr Massey said that it was hardly possible to deal with the matter at present. A thousand pounds was a very considerable sum of money. In view of recent developments ho had to be very careful to avoid anything in the way of a debit on March 31 next year. Last year the money was payable in October. He.;proposed to leave it over until the business session, and then take it into consideration. Whether it would be possible to give the sum that was given last or some smaller sum would then bo determined. The need for the bonus was not so great as it was last year. The cost of everything in connection with living had gone down. Mr ;M‘Combs -(Lyttelton): The Govern ment* Statistician shows that it has gone up 72 .points since last October. Mr Massey: I know what the Government Statistician says. I have his report on my table. There are many articles on sale to the public now for which too much is being charged. I think there is more profiteering going on now than during the war. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) asked whether it was, to be inferred that the Prime Minister’s Statement meant that the bonus was to continue after March 31 until nest session. . Mr Massey replied that he had not said so. He iritended to be very careful about any promises that he might make for the next six months. Payment on the bonus commenced last October. He was not-sure whether there was a retrospective payment back .to April 1, but ho would have that matter looked into.