CASH FOR PENSIONERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 13 August 1937, Page 9

CASH FOR PENSIONERS.

PAYMENT BY INSTITUTIONS. MINISTER GRATIFIED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 12. Gratification was expressed to-night by the Minister of Pensions (Hon. W. E. Parry) at payments from pensions received by the authorities controlling public homes and hospitals to inmatepensioners of the different institutions. The Minister said some pensioners in hospitals had written pointing out that they liked to have a few shillings now and again to meet obligations they had outside the institution which maintained them and the payments now made from their pensions which the authorities collected were welcomed and appreciated. “I find from information now before me,” Mr Parry stated, “that the controlling bodies of all but five hospitals and homes of the Dominion are making payment to these pensioners. One can well imagine how welcome that payment is to tho pensioner who loves to* feel onco again a few shillings in his pocket. I think the managements of hospitals merit full praise for their action. It certainly receives it from the pensioners in the institutions.” Tho Minister said hospitals not making payment supplied clothing and tobacco. He hoped all would see the reasonableness and magnanimity of making, some grant to the inmate pensioner.

“The Government sees that the Maori gets equal treatment with the pake’ha in all its social legislation,” said the Minister in replying to a deputation. “I noticed a statement printed in the south that Maoris were not being treated as fairly as their European brethen —that pvjiehas unlike Maoris received a pension at 65 for males and 60 for females. That provision of our law applies, of course, equally to Maoris. It was a misleading statement to make and it was a pity tho speaker before making the reference had not taken the trouble of looking up the Act. There was no differentiation between European and Maori.