Old Age Pension.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3782, 15 May 1908, Page 2

Old Age Pension.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. As the outcome of the discussion which took place at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation last month several resolutions on the subject of old age pensions were submitted at last night’s meeting of the branch. They were as follows: — “That the Government be requested to amend the Old Age Pensions Act in the following directions: By adding to sub-section 6 of clause 8 the following words, “Provided that in the case of an applicant for the renewal of a pension certificate the fact that the applicant has been convicted only twice in one year for drunkenness shall not be deemed to be evidence that such person has not led a sober and reputable life, or that he is not of good moral character.’ So that in determining the amount of pension to any person being a military pensioner who is an applicant for the old age pension, the military pension received by such person not exceeding £lB per annum, shall not be deemed to be income. So that in computing the net capital value of the accumulated property of an applicant for an old age pension who is entitled to or possessed of any policy of insurance upon his own or any o her person’s life no deduction from the full amount of pension of £26 per annum shall be made on account or in respect of any surrender value not exceeding £150.” After a brief discussion the resolutions were carried.

Mr T. Harle Giles pointed out that for such offence of drunkenness the convicting Court at present had power, in addition to imposing a fine, to order forfeiture of whatever instalment of the man’s pension it might think fit, and that on the pensioner being convicted the second time the Court was obliged to cancel his pension for a term of five years, which meant a penalty of £l3O. This, he considered, was an injustice, and should be removed.