INCREASED PENSIONS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 365, 20 February 1937, Page 6

INCREASED PENSIONS

NEARLY £6,060,000. MINISTER’S STATEMENT. Few Should Cavil at Scope of Amendments. Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The annual value of pensions of all clases now in force in the Dominion is nearly £6,000,000. The ncrease in the bill is due largely to the Governmentfe review of pensions legislation which Parliament passed last session.

Illuminating and authorative figures were quoted to a deputation today by the Minister in charge of pensions, the Hon. W. E. Parry, showing details of the increases. "The figures make interesting reading,” said the Minister, “and show the number of increased pensions granted since Parliament removed anomalies which had long existed in our legislation.”

Expressing the opinion that the amendments to the pensions laws which came almost immediately into operation on their being passed by the legislature, were part of the policy of the Labour Party in the general election. The Minister Laid that he doubted if any member of the community would cavil at the scope of the amendments. “Eulogistic commentaries on the pensions provisions now in force,” continued Mr. Parry, “have come from all sections of the public, showing that all realise how great their necessity.” The Minister said that the claims received for the 12 months ended March 31, 1936, included old age, wid ows’, invalidity, miners' and family allowances, numbered 10,938. The claims received for the 10 months ended January 31, 1937, numbered 27,443, and the claims granted dur ing the 10 months ended January 31, 1937, numbered 19,714. The only class showing a reduction was family allowances, no doubt the result of in creased employment and higher wages'.

The number of pensions in force at present and tljeir annual value were as follows: At March 31, 1936: Old age, 42,649, £1,808,000; widows, 4378, £323,000; invalidity 504, £23,500; miners, 827, £71,000; family allowance, 11,841, £145,000; totals. 60,199, £2,370,500. At March 31, 1937: Old age, 52,015, £2,975,000; widows, 4678, £500,000; invalidity, 6140, £420,000; miners, 1020, £90,600; family allowances', 9716. £136,000; totals, 73,569, £4,1’7,000.