LIBERALISED PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1934, Page 6

LIBERALISED PENSIONS.

Labour's attempt through a private member's Bill to secure liberalisation of pensions payments, particularly to invalids, will strike a responsive chord in the hearts of many people. Unfortunately, there is much more in the proposal than mere sympathy can encompass. Regarded purely politically, the move was undoubtedly an astute one, which placed the Government in an unenviable position. To have to refuse easement and comfort to the community’s most unfortunate members is an unpopular and difficult thing to do. But could Labour, were it in power, grant the pensions it asks the Government to grant and then assure the country that it had done the equitable thing to all concerned? The Hon. J. G. Cobbe with some justification told the House of Representatives that New Zealand had “not done badly” in meeting its obligations to the aged and needy. Definitely the people, through the Government, owe a duty to those in need. Just as definitely there is a limit to the generosity with which that duty can be discharged, and if that limit has been reached it is unfair to accuse the Government of niggardliness or lack of sympathy. Admittedly, the Bill to some extent involved only a transference of the burden, but since some additional cost would have had to be faced, the Bill, since it was not sponsored by the Government, had to be ruled out of order. Mr. Cobbe was able to show that the people were already contributing a very large sum in pensions; he might have added that, temporarily at least, the public is bearing the tremendous additional burden of relief to victims of unemployment. The Minister indicated, that there were certain directions in which it was possible that assistance to those in need might be liberalised, and that inquiries in that direction were proceeding. He is not likely to lack the support of the people if he can show there is a section of the community which, comparatively speaking, is in urgent need of further assistance from the State.