SUPERANNUATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4976, 19 May 1926, Page 1

SUPERANNUATION.

PREPARING FOR OLD AGE. ——— • HOSPITAL BOARD DISCUSSION. At the last meeting of. the Thames Hospital Board the question pf superannuation for the board’s, nurusing staff and other employees was, referred to by ythe 'receipt'of several letters from the National Provident Fund. The chairman (Mr W. E; Hale) referred "to the cost that the board would be expected to face in .addition to .the. deductions from the staff s, wages. Mr A. R. Robinson said he thought that local bodies and similar institutions should be compelled to contribute .towards a superannuation fund for their employees, . He mentioned .the ease of a district local body clerk who, after over 25 years of faithful service, would’be compelled to retire without any recompense of any kind beyond whatever donation the county council*- might see At to make. He thought that the time had arrived when ; the Government should introduce legislation 'whereby local bodies •could superannuate their employees and afford them the opportunity of providing for .their ,age. ,

Mr J. Rowe reminded the meeting that'the Thames. County, Council had inaugurated a. scheme of superannuation which, as far as he knew, w>as working successfully. The chairman agreed th,at the system should, be made compulsory .for local bodies, but contended that hospital boards were in a rather different category. , Mr W. c: Kennedy asked who was going to subsidise the employees. He pointed out that the largest majority Of ratepayers'were farmers, who spent their lives striving to make ends meet. The average farmer had little t hope of providing for old age. .Admittedly the superannuation scheme was a splendid one, but it should not be made a burden on the ratepayers. He thought that the m'ajoiity of employees, receiving' salaries 'or wages were not making-an honest endeavour . to provide for the future. Mr Rowe agreed, and said that it was a pity everyone was not compelled to contribute tciwa,rds a national provident fund. At the present time there was, far too much extraivagance. especially among young people. If compulsory saving was brought in it would obviate much of the hardship brought about by people neglecting, to put “something ajside for .a rainy day.” The matter was referred to a special sub-committee, to bring down a, report at the. next meeting.