“PROOF OF POVERTY"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1002, 19 June 1930, Page 9

“PROOF OF POVERTY"

BASIS OF PENSIONS SYSTEM IS WRONG SUPPORT FOR MR. W. E. PARRY Unanimous support of Mr. W. E. | Parry’s, M.P., advocacy of increased old age and blind pensions was expressed in a resolution passed by a largely-attended meeting of pensioners which the member for Auckland Central addressed in the Trades Ilall yesterday afternoon. Claiming he had honoured his pledge. | given on entering the House, to w rk for the improvement of pensioners, Mr. Parry asserted he had taken an important part in having pensions given Ito the blind. The aim for both old | age and blind pensions was 25s weekly, I ;he said, but that did not prevent ac- ! ceptance of any smaller sum on the : way to that goal, which was the figure : • recommended by a special c-ommit-I tee, which investigated old ago peni sions in England. j An emphatic denial was given bv •: Ylr. Parry to the suggestion that old | age pensions were neglected at the 3 929 session. He asserted further that j it was incorrect and unfair to say the old people had not received consideraj tion from the Labour Party. Numerous letters from all over the North from old people, who through some technicality were debarred from obtaining pensions, had been received by him, Mr. Parry said. One case he quoted was that of an old couple over 70, who had arrived in New Zealand ■ six years ago, and who were unable ; to receive any pension from the Home | Government because they had left before .1926. and also they could not b< ; assisted by the Dominion Government I as they had not fulfilled the residenl tial qualification of 25 years. He adI vocated the adoption of a reciprocal agreement between England and the j rest of the Empire, under which old people coming here could have their pension remitted from Home to the New Zealand Government and paid to them here. He also expressed the opinion that the 25 years residential qualification was too long. “The basis of the old age pension system is proof of poverty, and it is wrong,” said Mr. Parry. “Old people! have to prove they are down and out before they can get it, and this is an insult to them.” The pension system should be based on the right to receive, and length of citizenship, he added. In his opinion the word “pension” should be eliminated and “national superannuation” substituted. A feature that was repugnant both to old people and to the police was the visits of the latter to homes of those seeking pensions, said Mr. Parry. He also condemned the necessity for renewal of applications annually for pensions, old people being compelled practically to go down on their knees for their rights. The basis of the pension system had to be reconstructed to eliminate these anomalies, added Mr.