SUPERANNUATION FUNDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 5 March 1932, Page 11

SUPERANNUATION FUNDS.

TO TBB EDITOR OF THI I'BESS , Sir.—lt was very gratifying to rend in The Pbes.3, on March 2nd, that the Government contemplates "a complete overhaul of the superannuation fund, and a reduction of the subsidy." If anything wants cutting into, it is the superannuations. It is simply monstrous that these superanhuationists should bo costing the country "£4IX),COO a year" for doing icthing . They have had good posiliijfaa moat: of their lives, and for their services have been amjjJy paid, and it was-their-duty to provide for their age i«hert ; Weifr reicemng tat salaries, and not expect the taxpayers to do it; and keep them in idleness for the rest of tlieir lives. 1 worked hard for lorty years, and managed to save, out of my meagre earnings, sufficient to keep myself comfortably without any superannuation, and at tho sumo time I.have had to contribute to the superannuation fund, through taxation, to keep these superannuationists in comfort, till they die. I woi\ld like to ask where the justice comes in? It was positively astounding to read that "In the financial year 1931-1932, £170,000 was paid out of the railways working account, while the Government in that year also subsidised the teachers' superannuation fund by £126,000, and the public service superannuation fund to the extent of £101,000." And also: "There are still a large number of Civil Servants, however, who joined before 1908, and who are receiving large superannuation, particularly in the Railways Department, where cases are quoted of seven officers each receiving £llOO a year. Others in this and other departments receive amounts far above £300." >ln connexion with all Government superannuations it should also be provided that, at least, tho bulk of it should be spent in the Dominion, or that the recipients shall not reside, or live, out of the country for more than six months in six years, oh an average, and then onlv with the Government's consent.' The same should also apply to local bodies' superannuations, seeing that the ratepayers provide a subsidy.—-Yours, etc., CITY TAXPAYER, Christchnrcli, March 4th, 1932.