THE PENSIONS OF RETIRED PUBLIC SERVANTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 1, 26 September 1919, Page 8

THE PENSIONS OF RETIRED PUBLIC SERVANTS

Sir—ln your issuo of September 18 I read that. "More than once this session the Government has been asked to increase the superannuation allowances of retired public servants." And the Prima Minister replied: "It was doubtful whether this matte:' could be dealt with this session." I am doubtful if the Prime Minister can bo awaro of tho hardships some of us retired men are under in this matter, or time would bo found to afford relief.

First, I would state a fact, that from many insinuations I have heard the public appear to bo unaware of, viz., our allowances are in many instances our own money beinjj doled out to us. As an example I will take my own case: When I was superannuated I was entitled to twelve hundred pounds odd as my.legal compensation for length of service. This sum I assigned to the Government in lieu of superannuation. I joined the Provincial Government in January, 1864, and after forty-five years' service. my compensation docs not amount to) what aro now labourers' wages, for if I want a man to dig my garden I havo to pay him fourteen shillings a day, and I don't receive that myself. While carpenters, painters, wharf labourers, etc., receive a great <leal mora —a painter told me the other day in Wellington, "I would not dip my brush in tho pot under two shillings and sixpence nn hour"—and these are tho men some of tho loud-mouthed Bolsheviki blatherskites in Wellington say don't make a living wage, while men who served the country in tho early days, now more or less cripples, through hard work and pioneering, have to exist on tho half of it and support some members of their family besides. I trust tho Gov. eminent, whom wo served all our best days, will boar in mind what was n> living allowance before t.ho war is now only a pittance.—l am, etc., ONE OF THEM. TWo havo already expressed the view that superannuated public servants, more especially thosa receiving moderate or small pensions, should receive consideration by way of bonus at Ibo earliest possiblo moment.]