The Guardian And Evening Star with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1933 SOCIAL WELFARE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1933 SOCIAL WELFARE.

Tiie Member for Westland has brought ior ward again the proposal for pensions for invalids. Tins is a money appropriation bill, and may not proceed beyona a certain stage, unless sponsored by tiie Government. Mr u lineu is aware of this condition, and tne Government has been asked to take up tiie measure, but so far the responsible Minister has refused to agree. The reason of course, is the financial one, the cost which would be added to the already high and growing costs for pensions and social welfare. The reasons prompting tiie movement are altogether creditable, and Mr O’Brien’s persistence in the matter will be admired. The ethics of the position are quite commendable, and there is a great deal to commend the measure if the finance can be produced. The times are not appropriate to the occasion, for socal welfare charges are rising, and superannuation commitments are not in a robust state. Under the Bill, an invalid is any person above tiie age of 16 years who is permanently incapacitated for work by reason of an accident or by reason of being an invalid, and who is not receiving an old age, blind or . widow’s pension. There are certain reasonable conditions proposed, governing claims for pensions, the maximum of which is £1 per week, with certain qualifications to' be determined by. the Commissioner of Pensions or his deputy. At present there are the following classes of pensions in operation: Old age (the largest), wiar (second.largest), widows, Maori war (now diminishing steadily), miners’, epidemic, blind, Boer War, Civil Service Act, sundry annuities and finally family allowances. The total cost for the last year available, 1931-32, reached the substantial sum of £3,088,536. The amount is steadily growing as in the previous year the total was under the three millon mark, Unfortunately it must be expected these 1 charges will increase, even though Maori war, Boer war, and epidemic pensions may be declin--ng. The conditions of employment and the range of unemployment, do not provide much opportunity for thrift nowadays, and there will be an increasing number qualifying for old age and widows’ pensions, as well as an increasing number for family allowances. It must be admitted the claims on the country in regard to pensions now provided for, are very substantial, and in the state of the national finances, the Government has to be circumspect in regard to adding to the annual liability. But invalids if in necessitous circumstances, are not neglected and unprovided for. Under the hospital system, relief is granted in respect to both indoor and outdoor patients, and the latest returns shows the costs under these headings was £311,847. This sum is less of course than war or old ago pensions, but approximate widows pensions (£325,998). Mr O’Brien’s proposal naturally makes the position of the invalid more secure, and less one of charity, but it can be well understood in view of the cost under present circumstances, that pensions established, the amount would increase substantially. It is therefore now a matter of pounds, shillings and pence. These changes are annually 7 recurring, and with increasing population, would be a growing charge. It is a humane proposal certainly, but the country must be just before being generous with what it has not at hand. Doubtless in time the pensions will be granted as a right, but in the meantime there is the means for relief, and from the figures quoted it will he seen that there is a large annual outgoing for the relief of the sick and distressed.