OLD-AGE PENSIONERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 144, 14 March 1921, Page 5

OLD-AGE PENSIONERS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—We read in our local paper that during the last session of Parliament the Prime Minister said, when the increase of the Superannuation Fund was on the tapis, that he intended when looking into the subject commencing at the bottom or lowest rung of the ladder, and working upwards. May we draw his attention to the fact that the old-age pension is the lowest rung of the ladder, and therefore the most in .iced of increase. Perhaps some people object to tne old-age pension being classed on the same lines as the Superannuation Fund, the latter seeming to belong entirely to the Civil Service. Of course the Superannuation Fund is contributed to by the men of the service, and therefore the members will say, not a charity; but, after all, the old-age pensioners hate lived and worked in the Dominion a great many years, and all the money they have mado'has been j-p-ent-—not too wisely—in the Dominion; they have returned to the Dominion what the Dominion has given to them, .and left themselves poor in their old age, and have now to live on fifteen shillings a week. In the face of the high cost of living, the high cost of the simplest needs ot existence, when bread, butter, tea, milk, sugar, meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit are still so dear, how can these poor, helpless creatures live oo fifteen shillings a week. Most of them, the women especially, have to pay for a room m which to sleep, eat, and cook their food, the very lowest <i room can. be had ioi is eight shillings a week, leaving seven shillings—a shilling a day—for food, ■ firing, light, soap, etc. Where do clothes come in ? i Last session of Parliament was characterised by a desire for “increase of salary”—more money, every party clainoui;n„ for the same—workers, teachers Civil Service men, up to the members of Parliament themselves. Was it one hundred or two hundred they voted for _ themselves as an increase to their income of .£3OO a year? How many weeks.out of the year does Parliament sit? We outsiders scanned our papers anxiously, waiting to see who would champion the cause of our poorest, but never a man did we see. After voting themselves into four or five hundred a year, could not Parliament see their way to grant five shillings a week increase at the least to the poorest, making their income the magnificent sum of one pound a week. We thought perhaps the churches might interest themselves in the .matter. They have influence, and might have raised their voices to remind the members of Parliament ro old-a’ge pension, “freely y,i have received, freely give.” Thanking you in anticipation for inserting this, and trusting you will give it your support,—l am, etc., 1 C. BHERZ.