PENSIONERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20851, 6 October 1937, Page 9

PENSIONERS

DOMINION TOTAL BIG INCREASE RECORDED A 21-per cent increase in the number of pensioners in New Zealand is recorded in the annual report of the Pensions Department. The State paid 102,974 pensioners in the year ended March 31, 1937. This cost the country £4,940.428, an increase of £1,280,764 over the previous year’s figures.

The cost to the country measured by head of population for this pension service was £3 5s 9d, compared with £" 9s Id. This big increase is due largely to the Government’s legislation substantially increasing the amount of individual pension payments, and its invalidity pensions legislation. Old-age pensioners comprise the principal section of the pension payroll, numbering more than half of the total. There are 23,711 war pensioners, an, increase of 1080 over last year. There are still 36 men receiving pensions for service in the Maori wars, and 57 for services in the Boer war. The Pensions Amendment Act, 1936, made provision for the first time for the payment in New Zealand of invalidity pensions to persons of the age of 16 and upwards. The report of the department says that its extended activities have made necessary an increase in staff and reduced the accommodation of its offices, particularly branch offices, to a state of inadequacy. Steps are being taken to remedy this difficulty, and better provision is also being made for pensioners, with the establishment where possible of special rooms to ensure privacy for Interviews.

The following tables give details of the numbers of pensioners and amounts paid in the last two years:—

REFUGEE FROM CHINA

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF “BLACK SATURDAY” By Telegraph —Press Association AUCKLAND, October 4. Refugees from Shanghai, Mrs C. F Taylor and her son, Rodney, aged five have arrived by the Aorangi. Mrs Taylor lived 14 years in Shanghai, where her husband is an electric'll engineer. She is to visit relatives In Dunedin. She said she had known fours wars in China, but the present one is the most dreadful of all. Graphically she described “Black Saturday" In Shanghai when the Chinese aeroplanes aimed bombs at the Japanese flagship lying off the Japanese Consulate. The bombs were falling in the International Settlement, and the Japanese anti-aircraft were opening fire also. There was heavy loss of life in tne crowded Shanghai streets

Mis Taylor said that the British Navy played a wonderful part in evacuating British nationals, the women and children being taken by gunboat down the river to the P. and O. liner, Rajputana. On the way down there was constant firing by the opposing forces, and 2000 women and children were crammed on the Rajputana for the run to Hong Kong Passengers who did not have beds slept on paper on the deck, and some women passengers who could not sleep walked about with wild eyes and their minds a complete blank. At Hong Kong, the British community did everything possible. A special camp was for the refugees, but it was impossible tor days to get news of friends.

Her home was in the French Concession and she had to walk out and leave everything. She was only allowed to take one trunk. She got in touch with her husband from Hong Kong, but since she has not heard from him.

1936 Class of Total An’l. payments, value. 1935-36. pension. No. £ £ War 22,631 1,384,340 1,349,447 Old Age .. 43,309 1,828,150 1,718,601 Widows .. 4,369 321.605 311,86'’ Maori war 43 2,107 2.577 Miners 851 73,331 67,834 Epidemic 10 501 907 ” Invalidity 507 23,961 22,991 Boer War 55 2.086 2,127 Sundry pensions and annuities 151 15,065 13,053 Civil Service Act, 1908 13 4,460 4.676 Family allowances 11,691 144,856 149,043 War veterans’ allowances 1,043 58.358 16,544 Totals .. 84,673 3.858.820 3,659,664 Class of 1937 Total An’l. payments, value. 1936-37. pension. NO. £ £ War 23,711 1,532,424 1,483,345 Old age 54,134 3,068,293 2,413,103 Widows’ 4,753 464,879 412,280 Maori war 36 2,106 1,972 Miners’ .. 1,040 87.832 83,213 Epidemic 3 76 253 ♦Invalidity 7,491 478,165 284,760 Boer War 57 2,131 2,067 Sundry pensions and annuities 144 13,161 13,892 Civil Service Act, 1908 11 3,933 4,106 Family allowances 9.515 125,702 130,730 War veterans allowances 2.079 151,713 110,667 Totals 02.974 5,930,42' 4.940,428 * Blind pensions formerly payable have been merged with invalidity pen-