EXTENDING THE 'PENSION SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 6

EXTENDING THE 'PENSION SYSTEM.

The deeds of the present Government are the most convincing answer to the. words of their critics who have misspent so much time and energy in trying to convince the. people of New Zealand that the Reform platform of humanitarian and other progressive legislation was only intended to catch votes, and was not to be taken seriously. The insincere methods of the old regime have so demoralised the followers of Wardism that an anti-Reformer can hardly believe it possible for any Government to draw up a straightforward progamme with the sincere intention of carrying it through. The declared policy of the Reform party was so manifestly Liberal and progressive that it made hostile criticism extremely difficult, and the only method of attack left open _ to their opponents was the 1 assertion that no serious attempt would be made to embody it in the law of the land. The progress of events is, however, completely demolishing this form of attack, for the Government have already redeemed many of their promises, and are steadily pressing forward with the remainder of their programme. Two important Bills dealing with the humanitarian side of the Reform policy were introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. One provides for considerable extensions in the existing system of State pensions, and the other provides for reciprocity with Australia as far as old age pensions are concerned. The former Bill provides that women shall receive a pension of £21 a year at the age of 60, which would increase to £22 at 61, £23 at 62, £24_at 63, £25 at 64, and the full pension of £26 at the age of 65. According to the present law the pension_ cannot be drawn by a person who is less than 65 years old. The extension provided for in the new Bill in the case of women is justifiable on many grounds, and will certainly be regarded as a boon by many people in unfortunate circumstances, who well deserve help from the State to provide them with some of the comforts of life in. old age. The Bill also provides that an annual pension of £36 shall be paid to every holder of the New Zealand war medal irrcspective of property altogether. This is sure to meet with almost- universal approval, lor no class of men is riiore deserving of consideration than the veterans who risked their lives for their country in perilous times. Indeed, the proposed pension is the barest justice, and they should have received it years ago. _ "Liberalism," however, showed little consideration for these old soldiers. Another feature of the Bill to which no reasonable exception can be taken is the proposal, that any person who has completed forty years' residence in the Dominion ran recoivc the pension even if he lias been absent from the country for some years, provided he has lived for twelve months in New Zealand prior to making application. Another welcome provision is the discontinuance of the old system by which the amount received from the Miners' Relief Fund is calculated as income, and the pension reduced accordingly. Taken altogether, the .proposals contained in the. Bill in-

volvc material concessions. They arc based on the principle of helping those who most need assistance, and should do much to improve the lot of the poorer scction of the people. The provision for reciprocity with Australia, in the matter 01 pensions will be appreciated by quite a number of people, in view of the. constant drift of population to and from Australia. "'This Bill will not come into force until a similar measure is passed by the Federal Parliament;