PENSIONS REPORT

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 60, 29 July 1938, Page 2

PENSIONS REPORT

SPEECH ON THE REPORT BY MR. C. H. BURNETT, M.P. Mr C. H. Burnett, M.P. for Tauranga, in his reply to the member for Motueka, said he disagreed with his statements on taxation in relation to social services. A heavy responsibility devolves upon any Government to provide for the aged, the widows, the returned soldiers and the invalids, and we should not look at the matter always through spectacles of taxation. He understood that the statement was made by the honourable member for Motueka—published in the “Domi-> nion” on August 18, 1937—that,, prosperity had been made postpble by high prices following a drojgtfi the price of New Zealand prinHy products, and that much of the prosperity would later disappear. Mr Burnett said he would leave the Hon. Member at that, but it was important to note that while pensions have been increased by 33i per cent., the actual increase in the cost of living has been only 13 per cent.

“I congratulate the Minister on his able administration of the Pensions Department and on his report,” continued the speaker, “As he indicated in his speech, the work of the Department calls for tact and sympathy, but with some measure of firmness. I thank the Minister for the consideration that has been given to cases which I have brought to his notice from time to time. The figures relating to the invalidity pension indicate the great value that this pension is proving to be. In 1937 there were 7,491 invalidity pensions granted, and in 1938 the number increased to 10,633. Section 17 of the Pensions Amendment Act, 1936, indicates the serious nature of cases where invalidity pensions are involved. It reads:— “(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, every person of the age of sixteen years and upward shall be entitled to a pension (hereinafter in this Part of this Act referred to as an invalidity pension) . who—

i (a) Is totally blind; or (b) Is permanently incapaci--1 tated for work as the re--1 suit of an accident, or by * reason of illness, or of any congenital defect. ■ Subsection (2) states: “No person shall be entitled to invalidity penp sion who would be disqualified from obtaining an old-age pension on any of the grounds specified in ' sectioii*. ninety-one of the principal Act, or * who does n0t...... eto.” Subsection 2 of section 17 is an r exacting provision and. we understood all cases which come with--5 in the scope of that subsection—--1 there are 10,363 of such cases—--1 must be serious. With regard to 5 the South African veterans’ pen--5 sions I may say that I know of * several cases of New Zealanders who joined up with forces in other 1 parts of the British Dominions, and J although they lived, and in many cases were born, in this country * before they wept to the war and returned to, and became resident [ again in this country, they do not ' come within the scope of our law so ‘ far as receiving a pension is con- ' cerned. I would like the Minister to take that aspect into consideration. Another point I would like to draw attention to is the position which arises where a man is the recipient of an Imperial pension. I know of one soldier who served in various parts of the Empire and is drawing an Imperial pension of £3B 7s per annum, and which is regarded by the authorities here as part of his income and is taken into consideration in the computation of his invalidity pension which is reduced to only £l3 13s. per annum. This particular man served in the Cape Mounted Rifles through the Matabele war; he was in the Tirah campaign on the north-west frontier of India; he served with the Sherwood Foresters in the latter campaign and also with the Notts and Derby Regiment in the South African wab; he served with the Gondola Expedition in the Sudan under General Smith-Doreen; he served with the Second Camel Corps in the Solami campaigii, and with the Kafferiraim Rifles Mounted Corps in the African war when he was awarded the D.S.M. That is a wonderful record, which is unequalled in this Dominion. He came to this try and has lived here for twentysix years, but because he receives an Imperial pension he is penalised in the matter of the invalidity pension, so far as his income is concerned. I suggest to the Minister that no War pension should be regarded as income when computing the amount to be paid by way of invalidity pension. There are other aspects of this report to which I should like to refer, but my time will not permit. In conclusion, I would like to say that the Hon. Minister and the Government are to be commended for taking up so thoroughly this social legislation, particularly in regard fo pensions, we have a duly to care for the aged, the indigent, the invalids, and our returned soldiers, and sq long as I am a member of this House, I shall do everything in my power to assist this Government or any other Government to care for