SUPERANNUATION AND PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 7, 4 October 1920, Page 5

SUPERANNUATION AND PENSIONS

POSITION OF. HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES. A deputation from the Harbour Board permanent staff, comprising Messrs. J. JJaiJey. L. Brown, Davies, Harding, Philpott. Ball, and Kaywood, with Mr. C. H. Chapman (secretary of the Harbour tsoard 'Permanent Employees'. Association) waited on the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Internal Affairs) on Saturday, with tfho 'object .<jf securing Government support to proposals for removing anomalies in the Local Authorities Superanuation Act and liberalising the pensions to widows and' children. Mr. Chapman stated that practically all tho permanent employees of the board came under the provisions of tho Publio Authorities Superannuation Act. Some nineteen ex-employees of tie board. wer6 receiving superannuation payments from tho fund. The number of widows on the fund was 14, and-there were eight children for whom pensions were being paid. He. emphasised the inadequacy of the pension of .818 per annum for a widow, and the meagre amount which ss. pei week was for a child. He asked that amendment be made to the Act so that no_ deduction should bo made from retiring allowance or pensions from sums received under tho Workers' Compensa< tion for Accidents Act. The association also desired to associate itself with the request of higher-paid officers touching the maximum superannuation allowance. Tho pensions and superannuation Acts in New Zealand were full of anomalies, but the deputation believed, the Government was earnesly desirous of removing anomalies .and improving the position for all concerned. The deputation thought it reasonable to ask that pensions bo such as to pormit a moderate standard of comfort to widows and children. The sum of .£lB per .annum to a widow would' not permit of , this standard, neither would ss. per week to a child. He asked the Minister to consider .these mat(tors when any alteration was being made in the v.arious Superannuation And Pensions Acts. Mt; Bailey emphasised tho necessity of. increasing, tho age up to which pensions "were payable for children, especially girls. At fourteen years of age vers few children oould be Cases had . occurred where pensions to widows and children -under the board's scheme had been reduced on account of compensation paid under, tho Workers' Compensation for Aooidents Act, but it ■was most,unfair that beneficiaries under a contributory eoheme should be so penalised.- ,

•Mr. Davies pointed out the unfairness of taking contributions from the salaries of the officers on a higher scale of pay for whioh no benefit in tho . shape of correspondingly increased pensions was received.' ~ ♦The iJinister, in reply; suggested that the deputation should obtain the support of the Harbour Board to tho proposed increases, in which case possibly tho Government would do something in the direction of granting the desires expressed by the deputation. It would bo impossible fits the Act to be amended this session. He was .sympathetic to- tho proposal for removing one anomaly that existed, whereby a benefit derived through the Workers' Compensation for. Accidents Act prevented full payments to widows and children under the superannuation Acts.