RETIREMENT AGE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 4

RETIREMENT AGE

Government Policy For Public Service

"I think you can take it as official that the Government favours the principle of public servants being retired at 60 years of age after 40 years’ service, or at 65 years of age in any case,” said the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, addressing the annual conference of the New Zealand Public Service Association in Wellington yesterday. . ✓ “As a general principle that will operate,” he said, “but I don't think there could be anything worse than the idea that because a man has reached the age of 60 years he lias finished his contribution to the Government and service of the country.” To say that a num was finished at 00 years was entirely wrong, but he should have tile right to retire then after 40 years’ service. Mr. Nash said he thought it would take a long time to work out all the principles to be operative in the superannuation and retirement system. He would like to see the Superannuation Act entirely consolidated so that many anomalies could be removed. During the election campaign it had been stated that superannuitants were unfairly taxed for social security and national security and on the surface it looked as if that might be so. But 'f superannuitants were exempt, what about persons over 60 who were not superannuitants but who had saved their own money? And what about persons who continued to work after they were 60. Should they be taxed? Congratulating the association on the work of its officers, Mr. Nash said; 1 don’t know whether you want more militancy. I don’t mind militancy. But if a man knows he is right in his case 1 believe he will get better results in the long run by using (lie reason and the pressure of the argument in bis case than by threats.’’