OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 19, 1 October 1898, Page 5

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Clause 1 of the Old Age Pensions Bil[, which has occupied -the attention of the House for so long, was adopted in Com-

inittee on Tuesday night. The clause is one of vital importance, as setting out the qualifications necessary to entitle a person to receive a pension, and as it was impossible to follow with any degree of accuracy the many amendments to it moved and negatived or affirmed, the clause as finally passed is given below :—: — " No such person (that is a person of 65 years of age and upwards) shall be entitled to a pension under this Act unless he fulfils the following conditions, that is to say 1. That lie is residing in the colony on the date when he establishes his claim to the pension ; and also 2. That he has so resided continuously for not less than 25 years immediately preceding such date ; provided that continuoua residence in the colony shall not be deemed to have been interrupted by occasional absence therefrom unless the total period of all such absence exceeds -two years ; nor in the case of seamen by absence whilst serving on board any vessel registered in and trading to and from the colony if he establishes the fact that during his absence his family or his home are in the colony ; and also, 3. That during the period of 12 years immediately preceding such date he has not been imprisoned fra four months, or on four occasions, for any offence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months as upwards, or during the period of 25 years immediately preceding his application been imprisoned for a term of five years, •with or without hard labour, and dishonouring him in the public estimation ; and also 4. That the claimant has not at any time for a period of six months or upwards, if a husband, deserted his wife, or without just cause failed to provide her with adequate means of maintenance, or neglected to maintain such of his children as were under the age of 14 years : or, if a wife, deserted her husband or such of her children as were tinder that age ; provided that, if the pension-certificate is issued, the pensioner's rights thereunder Shall not be affected by any disqualifies' tion contained in this subsection unless the fact of such disqualification is established at any time to the satisfaction of a Stipendiary Magistrate, 5. That he is of good moral character, •and is and has for the last five years immediately preceding such date been leading a sober and respectable life; and also 6. That his yearly income does not amount J652 and upwards, computed as hereinafter provided ; and also 7. That the net capital value of his accumulated property does not amount to ;£270 or upwards, computed and assessed as hereinafter provided ; and also 8. That he has not directly or indirectly deprived himself of property or income in order to qualify for a pension ; and also 9. That he is the holder of a pensioncertificate as hereinafter provided.