OLD AGE PENSIONS

Southland Times, Issue 17756, 6 September 1917, Page 4

OLD AGE PENSIONS

INCREASED CONCESSIONS ASKED FOB* THE MINISTER SYMPATHETIC* ‘ (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, Sept. S. Many members appealed for incceaa*| concessions to the old age pensioners when the Finance Bill was under consideration in the House to-day. The bill provides & war' bonus of 5s a week for the pensioner, but it does not remedy anomalies that have often been mentioned. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes said that an.«old age pensioner was not allowed to draw tha full pension if his, or her, personal earmhg> in the preceding year had exceeded £34. This was a direct discouragement to sat help, and he thought the amount should be increased at least to £52. Dr Newman mentioned the case or * woman 86 vears of age, who was not allowed a full pension because she owned a home worth £4OO, the statutory limit being £340 Other members urged that it was cruel to penalise old people because they had saved two or three hundred pounds, or acquired a small home in which to spend their declining years. ~ Sir Joseph Ward said that old people with small savings could invest them in annuities, and if the income did not exceed £34 a year they would still receive the full pension, or the old_ person who owned a home could hand the deeds to the Public Trustee and then remain in the house, rent free" certain repayments being made to the Government from the estate after death. He sympathised with the old people, but the increase being made in the amount of the pension amounted to £240,000 annually, and he could not accept any further increase in the charges. Several members protested warmly that the old people should not be required to divest themselves of property which they naturally wished to leave to their children. Finally Sir Joseph Ward promised to look into the whole matter and see what could be done before the Finance Bill was finally passed.