SOCIAL SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1939, Page 9

SOCIAL SECURITY

HEAVY INCREASE IN OUTLAY MANY NEW APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS. SURVEY BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 31. The coming into operation in April last of the Social Security Act automatically increased by £1,608,000 the total amount paid in civil pensions then existing. The Acting-Minister of Social Security, Mr ,Parry, explained tonight that the aggregate figures he had quoted did not cover any new applications, but merely represented the increased annual cost of the changeover from pensions and allowances in force at March 31 last to benefits as from April 1 last. Classes of pensioners which benefited and the amount of increase in each class were as follows: —Maori War, £500; miners, £9500; widows, £70,000; family allowances, £87,000; invalidity, £41,000; and age, £1,400,000. Since the Social Security Act had become operative, the Minister said, no fewer than 29,453 new applications had been received for benefits in the various classes, Maori War, miners, widows, family allowances, invalidity, and age. That number of applications for pension was apart from those received for unemployment and sickness benefits.

The Minister said it could readily be understood, from the return he had given, what a benefiting effect Parliament’s new legislation had had on civil pensions in force in March last. “I do not think there is anyone,” Mr Parry said, “who will cavil at the increased amounts given to pensioners in the classes I have mentioned. All deserve State benefits, for all have played their part in the growth and enterprise of the Dominion.” The word “pension,” the Minister pointed out, was not now employed in legislation affecting civil pensioners. It was replaced by the word “benefits,” and the word“pension” appeared now only in Acts governing the granting of war pensions. Mr Parry paid tribute to the work of the men and women of the staff of the Pension Department, which was now merged in the Social Security Department. “The Government wias fortunate in its choice,” added the Minister, “in requisitioning Messrs J. H. Boyes and H. Digby-Smith, two most capable and experienced pensions officers, and each having been Commissioner of Pensions during the years I was Minister of Pensions, to reorganise and guide in the new department the work which they, with their staff, have so long and ably performed under the old legislation. “I think it can be conceded that the triumvirate of the Social Security Commission, Mr Boyes. Mr DigbySmith, and Mr J. S. Hunter —the latter also having a fine Public Service record —will see that the legislation is fairly and sympathetically administered. “The work involved has placed a heavy strain on the officers of the department, as new computations had to be made and the necessary authorities issued in time for the first pay day under the Social Security scheme on April 21 last. Delay must unavoidably take place at the outset of any new scheme. because of the large amount of work emailed, but every endeavour is being made to overcome it.”