OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 3

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

IS INSURANCE-INCOME? The existing legislation governing tho old n';e peniions scheme provides that money drawn on an insurance policy is reckoned as income. The point was discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon on the report of the Public Petitions (A (o L) Committee on. . tho petitjon of \\'il!iani Henry Clarke, of Auckland. The committee recommended that the deductions made from tho petitioner's pension should be paid, and , that legislation should be passed to prevent a recurrence of the case. The circumstances of the ea>e were explained by Mr. W. It. .Tferries (Tauranga). . who remarked that Hie petition was particularly deserving of consideration. Tho petitioner was an old age pensioner in very poor eireum-taiices. His home was de-' stroved by fire, and the insurance which lie drew to rebuild his house was counted ns income with the result, that tho old man lost his pension for the year. Mr. Herrics considered that the original Act Was not intended to deprive a pensioner of his rights in such circumstances. Last session Mr. W. 1). S. Macdonald, (Bay of .Plenty) had unsuccessfully tried to secure the insertion of a clause in the amending Act that would meet such eases. The Trime .Minister (Sir .lo'eph Ward) said the ease appeared io be a. hard one, Ihouirh Hie decision of the magistrate was strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act. He would make inquiry regarding tho particular case, and would also lie glad to look into the mattcr-with a view io deciding whether amending legislation was required. The report was received.