PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 89

PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION.

POLICE POINT OF VIEW.

WANGANUI, February 14. At a fully-attended meeting of the local and suburban police, held at the station to-night, the question of the members joining the Public Service Superannuation Fund established last session was considered. I* was pointed out that the benefits under the Public Service Act were in many cases better than under the Police Provident Fund. For instance, instead of a penbion going up to 36 sixtieths of a year's pay, as provided by the Police Fund, it could go up to 40 sixtieths under the Public Service Fund. Contributions paid into this fund are returnable irrespective of years of service, or whether the member is dismissed or not, whereas under the Police Fund a contributor under 10 years' service cannot receive any refund. From 10 to 25 years (if he leaves voluntarily) he three-fourths of the amount contributed,- but after 25 years' service no return of contributions can be made unleee he retires on a pension. The Civil Service Fund p.rovides that the widow and children shall receive a pension of £18 per year during her widowhood, and each chjld 5e per week until reaching the age of 16 years. This applies to where the contributor has only served a short period prior to death. This, it was pointed out, is certainly a most liberal provision, and one that should make all married men consider it advisable to go over to the Civil Service Fund. Then again, the fact of all contributions being: returnable is of the greatest importance to both old and young members. In a few cases the amount of the contribution will increase from £ to 1 per cent., and in a few others it will "decrease by the same amount. It was thought that increasing the age of retirine from 60 years under the Police Fund to 65 under the Civil Service Fund was an objection from a police point of view but it was pointed out that the Minister in control of the Police Department could make the retiring age 60. and would in all probability do bo, as it would certainly be injurious to the department to have a number of policemen over 60 years of age. It was considered by those present that the great and only blot in the Civil Service Fund from a police point of view, apparently, is that there is no provision for a suitable pension for a police official injured while in the executioAgf his duty, as- provided for in the Police Fund, but it was thought that when this was pointed out step* would be taken to rectify it. After carefully considering the whole scheme it was unanimously decided to vote that the police join the Civil Service Fund.

Seven hundred dozen oysters, an average of two dozen and a-half"per guest, were consumed at Colchester oyster feast.