THE PENSIONS SYSTEM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5318, 27 August 1928, Page 3

THE PENSIONS SYSTEM.

I o MIL A. M. SAMUEL’S ADVOCACY. MORE LIBERAL TREATMENT. When the members of the Ho,use of Representatives were discussing matters in connection, with recently, Mr, 'A. M. Samuel, member foi Ohinemuri, in the course of his Wmarks, said: — like the Government to serSly consider the whole, of the pension system of t.hi|s country, with a view of having it thoroughly oveiihauled, for I would like to, see an allround increase. I wquld like to see our pension, system put on a contribubasis, so that it wo t uld work out J in such a way that every mapj and woman who had rendered social seivice to tire Dominiojp would never be • afraid of old age or invalidity, but would always, be able to look fol ward to a period of well-earned rest in his or her old age. I .feel -su're that 'if it had not been for the period of economic stress through Which we have recently parsed, and if it were noit for the. large amounjt of money that has had to be found for the purpose of relieving unemployment, the Government would have instituted some increase Qf pensions which wqul.l have been of benefit to those in need. However, I sincerely trust that sometHfing of the kind Will commend itself to the Government in the near future, and I am certain that every member of this House, if he< thought there was an opportunity of helping the old-age pensioner, the widQW, the blind, the miners’ phthisis p’eHsiqner, o;ran yo hteriiiiiu y the htme lilrfd or any other de.ser.vng; case, Would certainly give it his wholehearted .support. “On numerous occasions I have drawn attention to one or two anomalies in! the Pensions A c t> and I would like to mention again the case of the miners’ phthisis pensioner. The „ miners’ phthisis pensioner is in re- " ceipt o,f £1 15s per. Week in the case of a married man. and £1 ss, in the. case of a single man. and I say a.gain that k this is not sufficient to keep a man and his wife- and possibly a familyI am hoping that 'the Government ' • Will .see its way -to increase these amounts, which, in my opinion, a,re 'totally inadequate-. If there, was a scheme for providing a. general all--round increase in pensions I would - give it my hearty -support, provided that the country was able .to foot the bill. The miners’ phthisis pensioner has to be- totally incapacitated, and a man who is totally incapacitated cannot live op the amount granted. I wcjuld suggest to the department that this particular system of pension should be liberalised. Its scope should be widened by some small , amendment o,r regulation to, enable this pensioner to increase his income by way of fugitive earnings. A man who is unfortunately suffering from this terrible < disease would be much better in the open air, and there are numbers of positions he could fill by g.oing outside that- would not Onily be of benefit to but would enable him to earn a little money to provide, extra, comforts for his wife and family. I trust .that the Government will Consider amending the' law in this direction. “There is one other aspect of this particular pension to which I will again draw the attention of the Government. -I was of opinion that some slight amendment of the legislation would haye been brought dbyn to remedy the anomaly to which I am about to refer —the date of a pensioner s death. If a pensioner dies on the date, that his pension is due, or the day after, his dependants lo®e nothing, but if the pension is, paid op the 31st day of the month and the pensioned dies op the 30th of the month fallowing, the wife .arid family receive nong, the wife and family receive nothing. I am quite certain that was not the spirit 'or intention of the leg.islatiop, when it was passed. That man has in the past received his pension in lieu of wages and on account of his inability to wwk, and in, ninetynine eases out of a hundred the four weeks’ money .that the pensioner was entitled to Iw been anticipated by , his wife and family. -It may have L been spent, in buying necessaries in order, to, keep body and sopl together, and because the pensioner dies before weeks before his pension is due that pension is not paid. T'ha.t money should belong to his. dependants by right. < Y “There is another matter I wish to refer, to, and that is the question qf pensions for women with invalid husbands. A woman with an, invalid husband is in a much worse position than a widow. A woman whose husuand is laid up through sickness or accident - is not in receipt any pension, and ' she may have seven or. eight children to keep. I am not going to suggest that she would be better off socially without a husband, but she would certa.inly be- better off financially, because she would then be entitled to; a pensioq sufficient to keep herself and her. children from want. This-is a pension that I strongly urge- for the most favourable consideration of, the Government, and I cannot for the life ►'L-' of me uiiideiistand why legislation has < not been brought forward- before this providing for pensions in such cases. I cannojt see why a woman- who, ha,s children and whose husband is laid up in hospital or at home, and who ‘s iii indigent circumstances, should not, for .the time being, be a charge' upon the State. A wido,w is a charge upon the State, and a woman .With a sick husband is as. much entitled, if not more so, to, assistance from the State. “Before resuming my seat, I -desire to the old-age pension d'sqtialiification. I would like- .to see that removed. The disqualification in, regard to property is nothing more or lefss than a tag upon thrift, and places the pension outside the- categoiy fc*- of a reward for long service. The full pension should be paid when the allotted age is reached, irrespective of earnings which have been; the result of hard work and economy. In many cases, as a. result of a man’s thrift and because he has denied fiPmseif certain luxuries, the old-age pension is not obtain,able in full. That •disqualification should be wiped off the

statute book, sot that the pepson may be obtained as a right.” Sir John Luke: What period of domicile should be applicable ?

Mr Samuel: “I am cojn’ing to that pOjint. The question of reciprocity between this an,d other parts of the Empire in regard to old-age pensions has been raised on several occasion?, and is most important. I. am certain that Great Britain is no,t go'injg, to. repudiate her responsibility in .this matter. She desires New Zealand to accept a certain proportion of her population year by year, and she cannot ignore her liabilities in regard to the old-age pensions due to those who, migrate to qtlier parts of the. Empire. They are ;stiil of the. Empire so loji’g as they reside on British territory. and I feel morally certain that if the matter was properly represented to the British authorities a reciprocal treaty could be arranged regarding, old-age pensions, and a similar agreement could be'- reached w’ith Australia. There are a number of casers of Iw.rdsh-ip—l do n-o f t suppose there is a member of this Hojuse who has not at. some time or other received communication's on that score-, cases of people from Britain or. Australia coming to New Zealand pvho,, merely bcca.usc of the break in their period of residence or domicile, are- denied the right of receiving an old-age pension when they find themselves against hard times. It certainly -seems a reproach on Britain, New Zealand, and Australia that a reciprocal agreement was not .arranged years ago. Because it was dropped ’n the past is no reason why it should be dropped foi' aJll time, and I suggest that the Government should again; get into touch with the authorities in Australia and Britain apd -makt every effort tes effect this reciprocal agreement whereby the old people of the Empire should be freed from the penalties at present imposed on them.”