minimum wage FOR ADULTS

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 6

minimum wage FOR ADULTS

Family Income Of £5 A Week

AGE BENEFITS TO BE £2 (Special) WELLINGTON, August 9. Legislation is to be introduced during the present session to provide for a minimum wage for all adult workers, male and female, according to a statement made by Mr Nash in his Budget speech tonight. Mr Nash said that to ensure a minimum family income of £5 a week during periods of sickness, unemployment, or invalidity, it was proposed to pay benefits of £2 each for the father and mother with 10/- for each child. “Corresponding payments will oe made to those who qualify for miners’ and wat veterans’ benefits,” he said. “It is also proposed to provide a benefit for a widowed mother of £2 a week with an additional 10/- for each child, and provision will be made in special cases for an extra widowed mothers’ domestic allowance to meet the circumstances of homes where there are several children requiring the continuous personal care of the mother. This allowance will be paid at the discretion of the Commissioner of Social Security. “The benefit for widows who have not had children and who otherwise qualify will be increased from the present rate of £l/5/- to £l/10/- a week. The rate of benefit for those under 20 years of age who qualify on account of invalidity, unemployment, or sickness will be increased from the present rate of 10/6 to £1 per week. AGE BENEFITS “Age benefits for those who qualify will be paid at the rate of £2 a week for each person at the age of 60 years. In cases where the wife of a beneficiary does not qualify for age benefit in her own right, a payment of £1 a week will be made. All the amended benefits will operate as from October 1 next. The estimated cost of the benefits for the balance of the present year is as follows: — £ Invalids 195,000 Sickness 185,000 Unemployment 36,000 Widows 260,000 Age 1,100,000 Miners 25,000 War Veterans 43,000 £1,844,000 The cost for a full year is estimated to be approximately £3,688,000. Mr Nash added that proposals were under examination for the improvement of family benefits, and legislation for this purpose would be introduced during the present session.