If pensioners weren't too old some might be forced to go on the streets at night to try and supplement their income—they would be put in this degrading position because of successive governments' failure to adequately support them. This sentiment was wryly expressed by Fred McComish, President of the Wellington Pensioners and Beneficiaries Association at a forum in the Union Hall last week. He told the small number of students present that pensioners are protesting not only for themselves but also for young people who will one day be pensioners too and largely dependent on the state.

In opening the forum, McComish described the pensioners demonstration at Parliament in March. It was the first occasion in the southern Commonwealth when pensioners have marched on Parliament, and he was proud of it. It was a spontaneous movement of the pensioners themselves who felt it was time that their pensions were increased. Most of them can barely get along on pensions, and anything above the subsistence level is out. Nor can they afford to replace articles in their home which break or wear out. McComish said he wouldn't even be able to afford a new suit if the charity shop was closed.

"Outright bloody cheek"

Pensioners have to seriously reorient their whole way of life to their changed economic conditions. Many have had to stop having people in for afternoon tea and supper—the price of tea, coffee and cocoa continue to rise. Sugar has gone up, so have biscuits, and their fixed incomes do not keep up with rising prices;

A single male pensioner gets $24.85 a week compared to the average wage for males of $98 a week. Since many wives work the take-home pay of a working husband and wife is often $150 a week—a pensioner couple gets $44.70.

McComish marvels at the double standards and 'outright bloody cheek' of ministers giving themselves terrific salary rises, when the budget turned around and gave pensioners a mere $2 a week increase.

Pensioners and beneficiaries are upset that often many people in influential positions think that they are 'bludgers'. Such people fail to realise that pensioners have paid tax since the 30's. A man on Geiringer's radio show rang and said that the old people should be put away. But as McComish stated "we built this country, we are the country".

Some people believe that pensioners should have saved for this period of their life. This was impossible McComish pointed out, as inflation makes savings progressively more worthless.

Many pensioners are willing to work but they are unable to get employment because they lose their pension if they earn over $17 a week. Few employers are willing to offer the necessary part-time work.

Nothing to boast about

The Pensioners and Beneficiaries Association handles many cases in addition to the basic problem of the inadequate benefit. A recent case concerned 12 pensioners living in a shack in Wellington. Their rooms are barely big enough to fit their beds in, yet they are each paying $12 a week. Another case was a lady aged 97 who lives in a private nursing home in Miramar. She spends most of her day just sitting looking out of the window, virtually waiting for the undertaker. She was paying $184 a month for her accommodation which left her with no money for food. Her son and daughter had to find $100 each month to make up the amount which her meagre pension paid.

McComish cited the case of a lady paying $6 a week for a state unit who received a letter from the SAC more than doubling the rent to $15.60. This woman's pension is $24 so two thirds of it will have to go on rent.

Politicians used to boast of the lead New Zealand gave the world in social welfare, but pensioners now feel that the government's treatment of them proves this to be an empty boast.

—Margot Bourke