OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2211, 16 July 1896, Page 20

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

A GOVERNMENT SCHBME

(Fbom Orjs Own GoRBESPONnENT.) Wellington, July 7.

The long-promised roheme of old .age pensiens has ab length been formulated by the Government, aad .t3-day made its appearance in the shape of a lengthy bill. The preamble set forth that " whereaß it is equitable that all persons wha during the prime of life have helped to bear the public burdens of the colony bjrtbe piying of taxes and to open up its resources by their hbour tn-J skill should in old ag-j be protected by the colony against the risk if want." The bill then proceeds to state tbat subject to the provisions of t'io act every person after atta ; nin& the age of 65 is to bo entitled to ft pension of not le3» than 5s nor more than 10i per week for the rest of his lift*, provided that he is residing in the colony on the date when he established his claim to the pemion ; that he has redded in the colony for not lsss th»n 20 years, at suchd&fce; thai fee hus so resided continuously for nit less than tbreo years iinmddiately precediag Mi-.h date; that he has not been a'ssut from the coloay for in all more tban 18 months during the p?riod immediately preceding suoh date ; and tbat he U the bo'der of n pension certificate as provided in the bill. A person while in prison shall be "deemed to be absent f rr m the colony for the time of It's incarceration. Provision is made in rogard to districts and the appointm-nb of rogiatr&rs: Several clauses deal with the form of registry . and investigation of pension claim? ; al-o for the heating- of appeals from the decision of a registrar by a' magistrate. Pensions ate to be payable by weekly instalments, but no peneiou Bh»H be payablo for.any period during which > the pensioner is in prison 1 or out of the colony, and the instalments for such period shall be deemed to be absolutely forfeited. Pensioners attempting to obtain piyment for any suoh period shall •bs liable &o imprisonment for' - nob' more than three months. The pensions are to bo absolutely iualienable, except by disclaimer on the part of beneficiaries. A return of persons disolaimiDg the benefit of tha acb is to be laid before Parliameafc each session.

The moneys required for the payment of pensions are to be raised in one or m >ra of the following modes, as Parliament thinks fit :— (1) A primage duty on imports; (2) a wages tax on all wagss aud s4*ries between 3(h a week on the one hand and the limit of income tax exemption (£3OO per annum) on the other ; (3) a reduction in the income tax exemption ; (4) a graduated land and income tax ; (5.) an increase in the graduated land tax ; (6) an increase of the death duties by graduation and by removing the exemption as between husband nnd Wife ; (7) an increase of the stamp duties by graduation. The moneys so raised are to bo pud iufco the pnblic account to the credit of the fund. If there is an insufficiency of funds ab any time, the con-olidated fund is to be drawn upon.