Hope—That Will be Deferred.

Manawatu Herald, 10 November 1896, Page 2

Hope— That Will be Deferred.

« The Old Age Pensions Bill did not pasa this last session for many reasons, on* of the chief being the

want of any reliable data to work upon. To remedy this, " The Registration of People's Claims Act 1890," wa3 passed, which provides that every person of sixty-five years or upwards who has been resident in the colony for twenty fivo years, and who has not besn absent from the oolony for moi'e than eighteen months daring the last ten years of his residence, and whose total income from all sources (exclusive of his personal earnings) does not exceed i the rate of £00 a year, shall be ! entitled to a pension certificate. The Act makes provision for the machinery requisite to carry out the provisions, and in a schedule gives an example of the form in which a claim for a pension has to be set forth. Applicants must send in their claims not later than the first day of March next, or such extended date as the Governor prescribes, and it will rest with the Deputy Registrar to admit, re j act, or postpone the claim according to the nature of tho evidence .before him. The possession of a certificate will not entitle I the holder to a pension unless a scheme is arrived at as to how the means will be forthcoming. It is a step, however, in the right direction, and will, we trust, aid materially in securing some provision for the old age of ihose who have borne the heat and burden of the day without much success to themselves.