OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 6

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—l see in to-day's " Star " that/ the Hospital Board 13 calling tho attention of the Government to the inadequacy of the old age pensions. It is very.humane and honourable of tho board. . But there is generally a fly In the ointment, and in this case it) is tho remarks of Mr J. Paterson that T take objection to. If Mr Paterson knows of anyone receiving a pension but who is not entitled to one, it is bis duty at once to inform tho police. As for taking tho control of pencions out of our magistrate's bands, that is nonsense. There is not a more Just or capable man in New Zealand. If neople deßerve pensions they geb them, but not otherwise. That is saying a lot. For myself, 1 am only sorO' that all pensioners have not got threei acres and a cow—they would be very acceptable in these war times.

If Mr Paterson would turn the social kaleidoscope on the position he would find cases where three and four have to exist on the nen.sions of £1 a. week with a • purchasing vahie of less than 15s. These are tho cases our worthy win-the-war Mayor .has written to our members of Parliament about. The "Star" deserves the thanks of every pensioner for its editor's straight outsnoken leading articles. As for the TracTes and Labour Council, well, it's pnlv to be expected from them, as they /are of the same breed as myself, that they should believe in

LIVE AND LET LIVE