The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1909 OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2697, 30 December 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1909 OLD AGE PENSIONS.

A piece of legislation which stands to the credit of the present Parliament is the amendment to the Old Age Pensions Bill. This measure wa s introduced by the Premier a s the result of persistent representations made by Mr. T. E. Taylor, who claimed that the possession of a home should not debar old people from obtaining the full amount" of pension that would otherwise be their right. This contention was heartily endorsed by the House, as we have no doubt it is by the country as a whole, and, there being-no opposition, the Premier found time to pass it in what were supposed to be the last days of the session. Now that the Bill has become law it may be as well to emphasise the significance of the new provisions. The pensions for homes cf various value have been amended as follows: —

Sir Joseph Ward informed the House that the amendment would add £25,000 per year to the cost of old age pensions, and this amount- the taxpayers should cheerfully concede. It is now possible for a person to possess a home valued at £340 and still draw the full pension of £26 a year without handing over the home to the Public Trustee. The pensioner may possess a home worth £4OO and still draw £2O a year, or worth £SOO a year and still draw £lO a year.. Having recognised the principle that the care of the aged is a proper charge upon the State it becomes our duty to see that that principle is interpreted in as generous a fashion'.as our financial position will permit.

£2 w -P ~3 . s £ S 5 f5 a; ® iz J ’£.2 V c/? c/: A ® 5 C uJ rPi ■ C a.

£200 Single Married £21 £26 £24 eacli £26 each £250 Single Married £16 £26 £21 each £26 each £800 Single Married £11 " £26 £19 each £26 each £340 Single Married £7 £26 £17 each £26 each £360 Single Married £5 £24 £16 each £24 and £26 £380 Single Married £3 £22 £15 each £22 and £26 '£400 Single Married £1 £20 £14 each £20 and £28 £450 Single Married Nil £15 £11 each £26 and £15 £500 Single Married Nil £10 £9 each £26 and £10 £600 Single Married Nil Nil £4 each £26 and nil