OUT IN THE COLD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1938, Page 8

OUT IN THE COLD

Labour's promise of superannuation for all, not as a matter of need but as of right based on citizenship, was clear. What of the fulfilment? Speaking in the House of Representatives on September 1, 1936, the Minister of Pensions (Mr. Parry.) said: When the age defined in the Bill or in the superannuation scheme is reached, whatever that age may be, the citizens reaching it will automatically, whether rich or poor, be entitled to receive the pension or superannuation —not because they are poverty-stricken, but because they have the right because of their citizenship, No clearer promise than this could have been made. How has it been observed? The Nationalist candidate for Hutt (Mr. Andrews) on Thursday evening gave an impressive list of the many people who are not covered or only partly covered by the provisions of the Social Security Act. Here are some of the examples quoted by Mr. Andrews: One child in 212 will qualify for the orphans' benefit, one family in 12 for the family benefit, one miner in 60 for the miners' benefit, one wife in 36 for the widows' benefit, 155 persons out of 1491 for the old age pension, and 62 persons in 1000 for public hospital treatment. In addition, Mr. Andrews pointed out that prohibited from obtaining full benefit under social security, but still having to contribute, were 21,890 public servants, 13,273 railway employees andj 8058 teachers who were already super-, annuation contributors, 26,574 National] Provident Fund contributors, 108,059 j friendly society contributors, and a] proportion of 725,259 life insurance and industrial life policy holders whose total policy value was £136,013,097. In addition there were contributors to superannuation funds of local bodies and contributors to business funds and group insurance schemes. Impressive as the list is, Mr. Andrews could have added to it the thousands sf people who have

made provision for themselves by investments and in other,ways. They will pay fully, but the superannuation promised them without a means test will be £10 a year in 1940 (not 1939) at age 65 (not 60 as with the means test) —increased by about Is a week each year. A public servant who retires on £200 a year (for which he has paid for forty years) will, if he is 65, receive £10 —and have to pay £10 social security contribution. This is apart from whatever he may have to provide of the enormous subsidy required from the Consolidated Fund.