PENSIONS BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1924, Page 4

PENSIONS BILL.

WT.LLIXCTOX, Oil. ibt* .11 mist? of IJopiv-.enia-ties went into Committee for further considersi ion ol the Pensions Act Amendment Bilk .Ml- Siilcy said be wi bed In raise with the Minister tile question >•! whether war pensions should not be regarded as in an altogether dilfereiit category from other pensions. and should not count against the receipt of the old age pension. .Mr Fraser asked that in eases where pensioners were detrimentally allecled tiv repeals of previous provisions, these repeals should not be retrospective ami should noL a fleet ilm-e already in receipt of pensions. The Minister, in reply, said the lloii-e bad aI a ays agreed that anomalies should be i cinovcd, and it was clear that if a pensioner was receiving two pensions, lie win in a better position than tho~e who only received one pension. There weie ll" 1 ! receiving double pensions, and lb" other twenty thousand pensions had only one. and vv bat they could earn, and many bad nothing but the pension. lie thought all should be brought on to one level, and so. as nearly as possible lie proposed in the Bill to fix a Hat rate as a basis on which |iayimuii will be made.

Mr Poland allirmed the desirability of removing anomalies, but deprecated tile suggest inn that in doing so they should reduce the amount, of pensions paid ; t liev tv ere too small now. A number of speakers dwelt oil tb" illilaiiui'S of reducing existing pensions. ami Indore tlm ■ nop: r adiourumciit the Mini-ler unmnimed that h" vv .1 picpaicd to ntaj.o tin- i elm tcm ■ apply only to fill lire pension .. The tii-st clause was pa-sed shortly before I 1 o'clock. 1)11 Clause 111. dealing will] widow's pensions, a lengthy debate toil; plate, members asking lor increases which (lie Prime Minisler said would total £|.ll), O'n. Mi Massey appealed t<> members to exel'ei-e a sense ol imloel'ilt ion. At 11..1.1 pill, the Bill was reported from Commit lee. leave I cing given to sit again.