NOT APOLOGISING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1943, Page 3

NOT APOLOGISING

MR ROBERTSON & EARLY SETTLERS IN RECEIPT OF AGE BENEFITS. INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM DEPARTMENT. “I have nothing to apologise for. There was no breach of confidence,’ stated Mr J. Robertson, Labour, candidate of Masterton in an address at the Central School last night, when referring to a telegram of protest to the Prime Minister and correspondence which appeared in last night’s “TimesAge” regarding his action (arising from a centenary dinner), in checking the number .of early settlers who were in receipt of Social Security benefits. Mr Robertson said that with regard to the use of the words “improvident paupers” it was apparent that some people had a feeling of guilt. He said he took a list of settlers' names to the Social Security Department and asked how many were in receipt of benefits. He received the information he asked for and no names were mentioned. The point he made at his meeting in the State Theatre was that Mr Holland had referred to the independent spirit of the early settlers. From the number who were drawing pensions it would be seen that there was not that independence referred to by Mr Holland. Mr Robertson said that of the 120 names, 85 were drawing the old age benefit as a right and not as charity of which they should be ashamed. .They were not impoverished paupers. If they were regarded as such, he said, it was due to the mentality of some people. TELEGRAM FROM PREMIER. Mr Robertson read the following telegram he had received from the Prime Minister in reply to that sent, on behalf of the early settlers, by Mr C. Bannister: — “Replying your telegram, am not acquainted with matter nor have I any knowledge whatsoever of facts, but clearly there can be no reflection upon anybody by stating that they are recipients of Social Security benefits to which they arc entitled by right. So far as universal superannuation is concerned this can by no means be regarded as charity as it is available and payable to everyone of 65 years of age and over regardless of the amount of income or capital of the recipients who are consequently receiving only what they are entitled to and what they pay for.—Kind regards. P. Fraser.” The meeting heard Mr Robertson’s explanation in silence, and no further discussion arose on the subject. Further reference to the matter was made by Mr Robertson this morning. He stated: “How do the recipients of universal superannuation regard it as insulting to have the fact of being recipients of universal superannuation made known? The only insult that I can see that has been offered to anyone in this matter is by those responsible for the telegram to the Prime Minister, in which they referred to the recipients of the age benefits as being improvident paupers. Those who take universal superannuation have after all applied for it and should not cast aspersions on those who, because the circumstances required it, applied for and received the age benefit.”

MR BANNISTER’S COMMENT

QUESTION COMPLETELY EVADED. Mr Charles Bannister (representing the Masterton Pioneers’ Association) states: "The Prime Minister’s reply completely evades the question asked in my telegram, namely, whether Labour policy permits Labour candidates to get confidential information and break Social Security confidence in the manner adopted by Mr Robertson at his meeting. This is apart altogether from the fact that the information was distorted so as to leave a wrong impression and cast a slur on the pioneers. It is considered that so far as the reply says anything relevant at all, it seems to imply that the Prime Minister condones the breach of confidence, a view which is regarded as unpardonable, except perhaps on the grounds that, as the Prime Minister states, he has no' knowledge whatever of the facts. It is considered that, if necessary, any further facts should have been confirmed by telephone from the Mayor of Masterton, so that a straightforward reply could have been given.” I INSULT TO LABOUR CANDIDATE (To the Editor.) Sir,—After reading the protest sent to the Prime Minister by Mr Bannister regarding a statement said to .have been made by Mr Robertson at his meeting on Monday night, I would like to inform Mr Bannister and the other correspondents that if they are going to attend political meetings they should listen a little more closely to what the candidate has to say. I was at the meeting and I clearly heard Mr Robertson state that he went to the Social Security Department and asked them 'to look up the names which appeared on the menu card and tell him how many of the settlers were in receipt of the social security. I also heard Mr Robertson say that he did not want to know who they were, but simply how 7 many of them were drawing social security. Therefore, the letters which appeared in yesterday’s issue were entirely incorrect and if this is the only way the Nationalists and the early settlers have of defeating Mr Robertson it is about time they adopted some of the cleaner tactics such as suggested by their leader, Mr Holland. Thanking you.—Yours, etc., ROBBIE-ITE. Masterton, September 23. INSULT TO EARLY SETTLERS (To the Editor.) Sir—Mr Robertson on his own admission had access to the details regarding pioneers who were in receipt of Social" Security benefits, and he had the names, although he says he was not interested in them. Plis comment of last night only makes things worse by attempting to state how many were on the age benefit (formerly the old age pension), and how many were on universal superannuation, although ac- ] tually it is self-contradictory, because later on he states that he did not know which were which. The amazing thing about his comment is that there is no expression of regret for prying into records which should be as confidential as those of the Commissioner of Taxes, or for his distorted statement of this ill-gotten information. He merely argues about the figures. This blunted sense of values is probably the logical result of the orgy of regimentation,

official inspection and general prying into private affairs from which the country has suffered during the past few years—l am, etc., DECENCY. Masterton, September 24. (To the Editor.) Si r —All my family thoroughly agree with your correspondent, "Granddaughter of a Pioneer,” that the early settlers and their families whom a local nolitician has offended by a gross breach of confidence and misrepresentation should join in asking their good friend the Mayor to take this matter up for them. Only by dealing firmly with such conduct can this sort of thing be stopped and better standards regained. —I am, etc., FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE. Masterton, September 24. (To the Editor) Sir,—l was at the meeting in question where the incident which has caused such an outburst of public indignation occurred. I was amazed that' a member of Parliament should be in possession of confidential information and use it in this way and I certainly took it that all these pioneers were living on the old age pension. I am most pleased that the whole discreditable business has now been exposed and the cause of the early settlers vindicated through your valuable paper.— I am, etc., PRIDE IN MASTERTON. Masterton, September 24.