Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1911. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10159, 8 February 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1911. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

Nobody in Masterton seems '• to bo troubling very much about the' N.ational Provident Fund, which" was instituted, by legislation last session. Possibly if a brief digest is 1 given of tJie provisions of the Act, some local interest will be awakened in it. The object of the Act, as set forth in the preamble, is "to 'provide for •benefits on childbirth, chronic incapacity, widowhood, orphanage,' and any person may become a contributor to the fund who—(a) Is a resident of New Zealand; '(b) is over 16 years of age; (c) Is under 45 years of age; and (d) whose income 'does not exceed £2OO a year. The following benefits are payable:— (!) A. payment, not exceeding £6 for medical attendance on the hirth of a. contributor's child or children after contributing for twelve months'. (2) An allowance after three months' incapacity to work of 7s 6d per week for each child of a contributor under 14 years of age, due after contributing for five years. (3) A pension at the age of 60 of 10s, 20s, 30s, or : 405,. according to the scale, of contribution hereunder. (4) An allowance on the death' of a contributor of 7s 6d per week' for each child' until 14 years ; of age, and 7s ,6d for l die widow so long as any ohilcl is under 14 years of age'; due -after contributing for five years. No medical inspection is required on joining. Pro-

vision is made for those who at any time are unable to keep up their payment; and also for those who withdraw from the Fund under any circumstances. further, the Old Age Pensions Act has been modified for the benefit of contributors. Persons can join the Fund at the age of 1" and up to tne age of 45, and the weekly contributions range from 9d, Is, Is 6d, 2s 3d, and 3s for the first-mentioned age to 4s lid, Us 10d, lls 9d, and 19s 8d for the last. All details may be obtained from the post office officials, lo whom 'we refer any one who is desirous of securing the benefits provided under the Act.