Finding Retirement No Problem

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 2

Finding Retirement No Problem

The question of what to do with yourself after you retire poses no problems to two Canadian women, Miss Dorothy Westbrook, and Miss Margaret Creighton of Regina, Saskatchewan, at present visiting Christchurch.

They recently retired from school teaching and say they are “revelling in our new freedom.” They are now on a long planned tour of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Teaching did not leave them with much spare time and they are looking forward to taking a greater interest in sporting and musi-

• cal activities and doing vol--1 untary work. “We don't want to do anything that will tie us down in case we feel like taking off on other trips.” said Miss Westbrook. “You can find lots to do when you retire,” said Miss I Creighton. “A friend of mine who was also a teacher finds she is so busy that she wonders how she found time to teach. It’s up to you entirely to find things to do. We are going to enjoy ourselves.”

Saskatchewan is at present the experimental province for the Canadian Government’s Medicare scheme. Free medical coverage from birth to death was introduced about three years ago. “It is working out very well. The people appreciate not having to worry about medical bills and this is reflected in their outlook. They are much happier,” said Miss Creighton. “The doctors were not happy at the start and quite a few left the province, but now Saskatchewan has more doctors than before. As far as I know they are not subjected to Government interference,” said Miss Westbrook. Medicare works on a tax basis. A single person pays a flat rate of 36 dollars a year. There is also a hospital tax and the rest of the money comes from income taxes paid to the Federal Government. Saskatchewan is a wealthy province. The economy is based on grain but during the last five years potash production has come to the fore in a big way. The substance lies several thousand feet in the ground. Water is piped in to dissolve it and it is then pumped to the surface. In addition there are mineral mines such as uranium.