OLD AGE PENSIONERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 8, 5 October 1920, Page 7

OLD AGE PENSIONERS

Sin—We read in our local papers that tho Prime Minister said, when tho increase of superannuation funds was on the tapis, that ho intended, when looking into the subject, commencing at the bottom, or lowest, and working upwards. May we dmw his attention to the fact that tho old age pension is the lowedf rung of the fodder, and therefore most in need of raising? In the' faco of the high cost of living, the high cost of the simplest means of existence, without which ive cannot live, when tho price of bread, 'butter, tea, sugar, milk, and eggs, with clothes, wood, and coal is rising more and more, week by week, how can those poor pensioners live on fifteen shillings a week? They don't livo, they just exist. Most of them lmvo to pay the rent of a rcom in which to exist; one room in which to sleep at Jiight, and live by day, and cook their food, and eat it, and eight shillings is tho lowest price asked for such a room. That leaves them 6even shillings—a eliilhng a day for food, firing, light, soap, candles, arid such medicines as old people require, and what for clothes? The Prime Minister is reported to have remarked a little while ago that "New Zealand was in a very prosperous condition," and we suppose on the strength of that prosperity every section of workers have been seeking an increase, even to the members of Parliament themselves but we don't Tend of any voice raised in supplication for the poorest and most helpless amongst us, no longer able to work, but they have worked amongst us. and spent their* earnings in tho country, given back that which _ they have received, and now from various causes are stranded amongst us. We people of small incomes, who find daily life a stragglo in those dear'doys, havo Known some of these pensioners personally, and tried in. a small way to help them during tlie trving winter we nave passed through, but we feel the matter ought to have public help. Wo' should have thought the Labour Party, being of the people, for the people, would have felt some interest iu the subject, find brought it forward, and had the pension raised to a pound, a- week at the least. Surely those who have just- voted themselves an increase of two hundred a year can see their way to giving these aid people five shillings a week increase to their miserable income; 60 many of them have nothing else to depend on. We appeal to the labour Party now, '.'but 'twere well done if it were done —don t let the consideration of the subject be postponed indefinitely, and the evasive We will look into it" shelve the matter. Thanking you in anticipation, Mr. Editor, foi inserting this, and trusting you will prove a help to the h^X^c.. Napier, October i, 1920.