NO BONUS

Southland Times, Issue 22767, 18 December 1935, Page 5

NO BONUS

PENSION RECIPIENTS LEGISLATION NECESSARY MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 17. It was announced this evening by the Minister of Pensions, the Hon. W. E. Parry, that he had made a careful examination of the proposal to pay a Christmas bonus, but the Treasury reported that legislation would be required to enable such bonus to be paid. . “This means that no action can be taken until after the new Parliament has met,” said the Minister. “I want however to give my assurance to blind persons, to widows, to old age pensioners and invalids who are suffering as a result of the anomalies in the present Pensions Act, that they will all benefit in the reconstruction of the pensions law that the Labour Government proposes to bring down in the New Year. “I do not under-estimate the size of the job,” the Minister continued. “It is a big one and I am pleased to have the opportunity of assisting to mould these humanitarian measures which will create the foundation of our future national system of superannuation. This measure will have pride of place in iny work in the New Year. I am sure from the kindly messages of goodwill I have received from all parts of New Zealand that our policy will have the support and co-operation of all those who earnestly desire to see the first step taken towards the aboli tion of poverty in New Zealand.”