PENSIONS BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1924, Page 4

PENSIONS BILL.

WELLINGTON, October 11. In the House on Friday night the HOll G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Tensions Act Amendment Hill. He said the Bill was a distinct step forward in this class ol legislation, in keeping with the spirit of the times all the world over. Most pensions schemes in other countries were based on a contributory basis, and this was the only means by which pensions could be extended in New Zealand, as otherwise taxation would become unbearable. Discussing sickness and invalidity pensions, be maintained there must be provision for wife ami family while the bread winner is sick. All this would cost a great deal of money, and. lie had come to the conclusion that a complete system of pensions as had been asked for by some members would cost not loss than six millions per annum. In future, however, lie thought we should adopt superannuation, not a pension scheme, with a maximum benefit of (MOO. He bad not consulted bis colleagues about it, but bis own opinion was that a commission or committee ■should he set up to continue the investigations he had begun. *1 bis board of inquiry should make its report, and 011 that report a Hill should he prepared which could he submitted to the people at next general election. The .Minister then proceeded to explain the provisions of the Hill. The first portion of the Hill relating to widows’ pensions grants a general increase of 2s (id per week. That is to say, the allowance to a willow in respect ot each child is raised by this amount. In the 1919 Finance Act it was stipulated that the total income of a widow seeking a pension should not exceed Cl os a week, with 10s a week in respect of each child. That maximum is increased to £2, with 10s lor each child, hut must not exceed Co 10s a week. Under the principal Act an exemption of C.‘310 was allowed in property owned by a widow or her children before it was counted against a pension claim. ’I bat exemption is raised to C 520. A further clause extends pension benefits to illegitimate children whose father is dead, if the children are dependent on the mother, and if an investigating Magistrate decides that the ease is a deserving one be call grant a certificate authorising payment, ol pension ju-t as il the applicant were entitled to widow s pension. It often had been argued, said the Minister, that an old couple owning a house worth, say, £IOOO, should not have pension deduiled on this aeiiatut. but if no deduction "ere made, I)..!. Lit*- old •■•nude "ore simpl.' saving op tins money "bub Ihc,\ would ham! over to relatives at their death. For this reason lie did not think deduction should be less than C 520, as proposed in the Hill. It, was also bis personal opinion that where children ol obi people were able to do so, they should maintain their aged parents. Mr Fraser: In addition to pension? The Minister: No, certainly not, except in eases where old people who have a right to pension do not desire to lie maintained by their children. Mr Fraser: That won’t do. Continuing, the Minister proceeded to explain the provisions regarding pensions for the blind. I in* Hill pinvidcs thab every person ol the lull age of twenty years, who is totally blind, shall he entitled to pension, unless governed bv the limiting clauses. Applications for pensions are to be judged by a commissioner, whose decisions will be final. The Hill also provides that every person who while domiciled

in New Zealand served as a member <>f a New Zealand •contingent in .Smith Africa, and who is entitled to receive mi old age pensions under purl' I ot the principal Act, shall be entitled to an additional CIU a year, but that Ins aggregate income from all sources must not exceed C9l a year. Ihese changes in the pensions system were estimated to cost between Clot),090 and CltityiOO additional to the present expenditure per annum. Miners phthisis was not dealt with in this Hill because it was an occupational disease, am! was provided for elsewhere. Mr Wilford congratulated the Minister oil the Hill. It was certainly progressive, but we were hastening slowly. Ho thought the Minister migliL very well have increased the pension to 17s (kl per week. An increase of 2s (id was nut mueh help. Personally he would like to see Ihe pension raised to Cl per week. He asked the Minister to inform the House what this would cost, lie also asked the .Minister to still further lift the value of a residence which an old age pensioner may own above £520. it was but a poor dwelling that was not worth more than that, and if the Minister could lift the value to £520 he could easily go a little further. For the rest he welcomed the Bill.

Mr Fraser regretted the limit which had been put on the earnings of widows with children. The pension was given as a right and he objected to anything savouring of pauperism, therefore a widow should be given sufficient to live upon and keep her children, or she should he allowed to earn as mueh as she could. 1 here were other features of the measure to which lie took exception, and if passed would lie a blot on the Hill, but ' for its undoubted improvements he felt truly thankful. Air Wright congratulated the Minister on the advances made, hut endorsed a good deal of the criticism of previous speakers. Pensions were still inadequate, in view of the cost of living and high rents, especially in Wellington. The limit to the value of a home which pensioners might own was still much too low.

Mr Sidey said that while the Bill increased the income which a pensioner might have without suffering deduction, on the other hand certain exemptions which he formerly might claim by law wore taken away, so that ft, was possible a person might receive a smaller pension under this Hill than before. He objected to the proposals to include war pensions as part of a pensioner’s income. War pensions should be regarded as something quite apart, and should not prejudice the amount of the pensions received. The debate was continued by Messrs

Rhodes (Thames), Sullivan, Linkluter, Poland, Armstrong, Lysnnr, Edio, Holland, and Sir George Hunter, all of whom criticised details of the Hill, hut cheerfully accepted its general principles as an advancement on present legislation. The Hill was read a second time.

Smokers who are niggardly of their ’baccy arc rare. As a rule their pouch is at the service of almost anybody. Of course there .are exceptions. Do you remember the story of the smoker who kept two pouches. One he called “the world,” the other “providence.” The first was always empty: the second always well filled. If asked for a fill he would regret that he “hadn’t a bit in tbe world.” If questioned as to what he was going to do for himselt 110 would say “oh. 1 must trust to Providence.” 'Well, there arc all kinds of smokers, just as there are all kinds of tobacco. By the way, have you tried our own N.Z. grown tobaccos? In some respects they are unique. I*or one tiling they are all toasted. Hence their peculiarly delightful flavour; secondly they contain so little nicotine that they may he smoked “till the cows come home” without proving injurious. That’s why the doctors approve of them. Try Riverlicacl Gobi mild. Navv Cut (Bulldog) medium, or Cut Plug No. 10 (Bull’s Head) full.