RETIRING AGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 9

RETIRING AGE

CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES EXTENSION OF TIME An explanation that the rule providing for City Council employees to retire at the age of 65 did not apply in cases where the council desired to retain the services of any employee was made by Cr Taverner, chairman of the Finance Committee, at the meeting oi the City Council last night. The question arose when Cr McMillan took exception to a clause in the Finance Committee's report recommending that the services of Mr D. Tannock, superintendent of reserves, who had reached the age limit, should be retained for a further year. "1 do not suppose many will agree with me in this matter," Cr McMillan said, " but I am opposed to extensions of time for employees who have reached the age limil when there is no hardship involved. Mr Tannock is on the Superannuation Fund, and would suffer no har&shi* if his services were not retained, so that it is difficult to see the reason for this recommendation. There was a time when we asked people to work until they were no longer able to work, but a new conception has arisen, and we are now rather inclined to allow them to cease work at an earlier age, with the result that their expectation of life from the retiring age on is increased." Cr Taverner said the recommendation had come to the Finance Commute* from the Reserve Committee, and the Finance Committee always agreed with recommendations that came from standing committees Nevertheless, he wished to correct what appeared to be a misconception of the position—the view that unless the question of hardship were involved an extension of time was not warranted. "The question oi hardship is not the only one that is taken into consideration," Cr Taverner added. "It was laid down many years ago that members of the staff should retire a' 65 unless the council or the department concerned desired to retain their services. I have no doubt that in this case the chairman of the Reserves Committee can give good reasons why Mr Tannock's time should be extended."