1936-08-26 — Page 17

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY,

WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSIONS

Colonial Service

Recommendations

CONCESSIONS TO BACHELORS

IN CIVIL SERVICE

The "Telegraph" has received the bulky report of the Committee on Pensions to Widows and Orphans of Officers in the Colonial Service, and on Colonial Provident Funds. The report was presented to Parliament this month.

The committee, Alfred W.

with

superannuation Sir The system of

benefits for permanent State servants K.C.D., Watson.

well-established themselves is n Government Actuary, as chair-feature of Government service, and man, were appointed in May, we feel entitled to assume that it will 1934, with the following terms sot be challenged or disturbed. of reference:

›

"LOCAL CONDITIONS"

It however reasonable to argue: at an official's domestic affairs are

"To review the existing arranges ments for the grant of pensions to the widows and orphans of officers in the Colonial Service; and tomalters for ils personal arrangement, make recommendations as to any changes in the present policy in this matter which Colonial Govern menis should be advised to adopt.

with special reference to

(a) the classes of officials to be

covered;

(b) the benefits to be afforded; (c) the nature of the financial provisions to be made."

widown'

with which the State is concerned no more and no less than it is concerned with the domestic arrangements of eltizens not in ita employ, or thin any other employer la concerned with the domestic affairs of his unployees.

Whether, then, the provision of government Widows and orphana pensions in a matter of ex- service is desirable respect of officers of a pediency, to be decided according to After reviewing the history of the relevant circumstanes. So far as and orphans pensions the general mass of the pubile service system, and discussing the differ- of a Colony is concerned, we consider "Fund" and that each Colonini Government must ence between a

decide for self, in the light of local "Scheme" the report anys:

"We are actuarially advised that conditions, whether, the provision of lahtrising that such pensions is expedient, and, if so, there is regans Colonies which have set up Schemes upon what terms.

There is, however, common to all 400- have been subsidising them to a

lons

was the Colonies a class of official to 4x102 than

In this connee-whom other than purely local con- aiderniy originally intended tion we are and referring to the patentsiderations apply, namely, the class of officials recruited from outside the fact that in the early years of a

Colony itself, and for the most part Scheme the contributions Freeived are in great excres of the benefits paid from the United Kingdoni.

Such excess by offset later on by .out.

contribu the excess of benefits over can tions which the taxpayers will have

DIFFERING OPINIONS

Sir P. Cunliffe Lister's circular and questionnaire of Aur, desch and audio it was fat till May: 1935, that the replies were

NOT A FREE AGENT

Committee's

for

Future

AUGUST .... 26, 1936.

Important Payments

HOW PENSIONS HAVE MOUNTED IN H.K.

Total

$ 280,320 312,000

Civil Servants

Police Widows & Orphaus

1020

$ 190,620

$ 45,000

$ 30,500

1021

210,000

50,000

40,000

1022

200,005

00,020

54,030

303,111

1923

293,000

--85,703

00,003

441,003

1024

353,800

115,000

06,000

634,800

1025

300,000

113,700

77,580

500,280

1920

.373,000

127,000

00,000

1827

433,310

143,543

09,050

$91,200

·075,903

1420

612,403

101,074

130,000

1020

490,000

193,000

150,000

1030

535,000

213,000

105,000

·*833,979 *847,000 *913,000

1031

703.000

275,000

248,000

1932

1033

1,008,000

370,000

250,000

1,300,000

$50,000

244,000

1934

1,500,000

330,000

200,000

*1,228,000 1,700,000 1,894,000 2,090,000

1935

1,450,000

370,000

230,000

+1038

1,250,000 320,000

240,000

2,070,000 1,810,000

Total Pensions Paid since 1920, $17,170,150.

*Includes a total of $115,000 Death Gratuitles. +Estimmied.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

OF INQUIRY

Important Recommendations

are

*There favour of

Made

vanced in support of this particular sugestion, and we may observe that those responsible for the proposals appear have overlooked the fact that if and when a bachelor contribu- tor does marry, his bachelor caniri- bullons generally buy an appreciable part of his total registered pension."

AND THE POLYGAMISTS And of much-married ment "A number of Governments, Asso- elations and representative officials suggested that officers who were not restricted by law to one wife at a ume should not be allowed to contribute. Where under existing arrangements such officers do contribute, only the first or principal wife is provided for, and we do not consider it necessary, to recommend any departure from that practice so far as local Schemes of Funds are concerned. The matter is mainly one for decision in the light of the particular conditions obtaining In the Colony."

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Summary of Recommendations alone runs to seven phges of the re- port, and may itself be summarised as follows:

As regards the united branches of the Colonial Service and other grades of corresponding status, appointinenta to which are made by or with the ap- proval of the Secretary of State, the system of local or regional Schemes should be discontinued in the case of new entrants to the Service, und Central Fund should be established. to cover all such offelals irrespective of Colony.

of administ which should be benefits should apply to them.

We

the

The membership of the Central Fund would be based upon a list of average family responsibilities, to have control of the investments and posta comprising the offices scheduled in the various unified services and provide adequately for the future be responsible for the general ad- of his dependants.

ninistration of the Fund, the actual such other posts as the Secretary of Marcover, such an officer is at a management of which should be in State might from time to time direct. disadvantage In other ways as com-the hands of the Crown Agents for

The same rutes of contribution red with an officer working in his the Colonies under regulations made should be paid by all members of the by the Secretary of State. The cont Central Funit and the same tables of own home country.

relatively GOVERNMENTAL OBLIGATION

would be borne The Government subsidy should Fund. obvious arguments in by

The contribu- take the form of a percentage of the Colonial Government lions of officers would be collected by officer's salary, paid concurrently with affording assistance to an officer who the entploying Governments or by the officer's own contributions, Addi- is so cut off, by the nature of his the Crown Agents, by means of detonal voluntary contributions by the work, from many of the opportunities ductions from salary or pension, and officer should not be allowed.

The nature and scope of any provi- The necessities and the circum- ordinarily enjoyed by persons work-paid into the Fund.

Ing in their home country of providing

Paragraph 60 discusses an import-ion to be made for benefits to the to find. A Scheme to which nestaners of an official of this class do for the future of their familles with ant point:

widows and orphans of oficers not periodically not materially differ according to the a minimum of expense and diflculty. have considered the question included in a Central Fund must actuarial review

which he is serving:

it is true that in some of the whether it is practicable, having re- necessarily be a matter for considera- upplied may operate to the serious Colony

wherever he may be employed, the Colonies, as in the Home Civil Servicegard to differences of climate and tion by the individual Governpients disadvantage of the contributors "

fundamental consideration is that he there is

a system under which conditions of service, for uniform concerned. is employed away from a home sur-gratuities may be laid to the estate of tables of benefits and uniform rates SIX PER CENT. INTEREST

and

New benelit tables at 8 per cent. roundings, from his faintly ties, an officer who dies in the Service, and periods of contribution to be laid

11 officer on retirement, down for the members of the Central Interest should be incorporated in. the from the country where his dependanc

laws governing the Schemes (with ants may be expected to live in the Such gratuities, however, are Fund.

It is clearly desirable from the polat provision to safeguard existing mem- event of his death. Such an officer large reintively to ordinary fi must normally expect to maintain needs and cannot compare with the of view of simplicity and administra-bers who might thus be adversely certainly his children and possibly

affected):

The age of ressation of contribu- Fund or

arranged if possible, and we have Scheme. also his wife in his home country for benests of a Widows and Orphans live convenience that this dindinis as perlods which in the uggregate

We wish, therefore, to record our come to the conclusion that it can betion should coincide with the normal a considerable part of hig represent

view that, whatever ! Colonial arranged without doing violence tonge of retirement. Government may decide as to the ex-actuarial principl

those marriages contracted career.

The circumstances naturally vary

tribution should give a title to bencfit. arrangements for widows family maintenance and educa orphans' pensions in respect of its ing.

and concerned.

It has to be remembered that, wide If a pensionable officer retires on as are the differences to which we account of ill-health before he has reply was received from a particulion impose heavier relative expendi-employees generally, it is still und have referred, our proposal concerns served the quailtying period for pen

a tare upon a Colonial than upon 11:2 obligation to consider the position lar Colony, the Associations and Home civil servant,

and the needs of those of its officials officials who form, for practical pur- sion, and dies within two years of often held widely Tercut opinione si to the warrits, and deservinit has very little bury to adapt to ed lives. Generally speaking, they should receive the full pension for At the same time a Colonial civil whose homes are outside the Colony, poses, a homogeneous class of select-the date of retirement, his widow merits of existing provisions." his mode of living to his private cir-existing arrangements to which we are men of similar race, antecedents, which he was registered at the date of Other extracts from the report, cumstances and resources. He ኔ። desire to direct attention at this state social standing, and habits. Differ- retirement.

uns to 65 printed pages, are seldom free to choose, for example, relates to the position of an oficial which

climate ences in the

and amenities of follows:

in what kind of house he will live and who is transferred from one Colony the Colonies in which they serve be The first question that arises is on what kind of scale. He is bound to another.

taken as offset to some extent by whether the provision of Sinte-alded to take his share in social functions

differences in leave conditions. pensions for the widows and orphans and in giving hospitality all of which

The of State servants generally should be means expense. regarded as a necessary or desirable feature of the organisation of a public service.

complete.

"Altezeller, replies reived from 35 Governments, 93 Associations, and 37 representative of the offelals. On examination

not reniles it was apparent that

Colonial unly did the various

or to the interests

Governments differ in their lowe with individuals, but, broadly speak- | Pediency or desirability of providing of the Gove of the officinis deals the period of payment of con-

but that, where more than

anc

We feel bound to answer that such provision cannot be regarded i

as necessary in principle.

When these considerations are

"ACCIDENTS OF TRANSFER"

taken into account, we do not think interchangeability in the Colonialations affecting the perlod with the addition of compound in-

whole.

are

8/atleties of

The refund to be granted In the case of a bachelor who dies or leaves the Scheme or Fund from any cause should be his own past contribuilons

We understand that the principle of of

service and the age of re-terest at 2% per cent.

to become uni-

REFUND TO WIDOWERS Service has long been recognised in form. The

mortality The refund to be granted in the that the prevailing scales of salary practice, and that it is the policy of difference than might be expected in abic children who dies or leaves the show That there is actually much less case of a widower without pension- in the Colonial Bervice are such as His Majesty's Government to foster to leave much margin for an officer interchange in the Interests of the

the factors affecting pension tables Scheme or Fund from any cause without private means, and with Service and of the Colonies as a for Europeans in the healthier and should be all contributions (with com-

the unhealthier Colonies. In fact. comparatively few officers of the pound interest at 22 per cent.) paid (by him since the death of his wife or class with which we are dealing are cesser of liability in respect of his employed outside the troples, and children whichever be the later. fewer still spend their whole official

is dismissed from the careers in the non-tropical Colonies. Service, all contributions should

We consider, then,

that it would be reasonable to construct for the

the pensionable children

receive a members of the Central Fund a single refund of his contributions without set of labics providing the same interest, subject to the deduction ot benefis in return for a given contri- any sums owing to the Government; bution, Irrespectively of where the and a married man or widower with officer-concerned might happen to be pensionable children should remain serving.

registered for the pension earned by his past contributions,

MANSION POLISH

ANTISEPTIC

EXCELLENT FOR THE LEATHER

COACHWORK OF MOTORS PERAMBULATORS 2

A healthy

and polished

home in every tin

· Mansion," the brilliant polish for Stained or Parquet Floora med Linoleum, is also a valuabio cleansing agent. It quickly removes all dirt and lix Anllaeptio proporties destroy any harmful dust gazma. Use Mansion** the Antiseptle 'ollsh, that ensures a healthy and polished home.

FOR DARK WOODS USE DARK MANSION,'

Obtainable at all leading Stores

Sole Agents: Imperial Chemical Industries (China),.Ltd.

"What is needed is a general arrangement which will secure all officer's position Irrespective of the accidents of transfer."

NON-EUROPEAN OFFICERS

Regarding the inclusion of Europeans, the report states:

The report recalls the raising of the guaranteed rate of interest from 6 per cent. to the " "exceptionally high rate of 8 per cent." for which it says there is now no justification.

It is pointed out that 'the system of refunds whereby the only return made to bachelor or widow. without pensionable children on leaving the Fund is one-half of the total past con tributions paid by a bachelor, or one half of the contributions pald by a widower since the Fund ceased to be-

The replies to the question whether come Hablo for benefit on his behalf leaves a considerable margin with the arrangements for widows' and Fund, a matter as to which crem- orphans pensions should include all mendations are made by which the employees of the classes concerned, profits arising on this arrangement as irrespective of race revealed consider to bachelors and widowers will be EDI

ablo divergencies of

of opinion, mainly substantially reduced in the interests tlon of the Colony from which the according geographical situa- of these classes of contributors.

reply caine. In some Colonies the UNIFICATION

stage of developments of non- Section V of the report deals with Europeans is much higher than in Colonial. Serviers, and its aims and others; and their marriage customis advantages, and makes the primary may differ considerably. recommendation:

to the

|

officer

A bachelor of her without

No widow whose husband dies non-without issue of such marriage should within twelve months of the marriage

approval of the Governor in Execu- be entitled to pension except with the tive Council or other controlling authority.

should be raised to 21.

The pensionable nge for boys

PROVIDENT FUNDS Equal contributions of 5 per cent. of the member's salary should b made by the member, and by the Government.

The Government bonus and Inletest thereon should be paid to the officer After carefully considering the he leaves on account of ill-health, views put forward, we recommend satisfactory completion of contract that, on the assumption that the abolition of oflice, reaching retiring untiled services will be predominor with the consent of the Govern-

age, or determination of contract

by antly European, the Central Fundment (not Involving dismissal). II should cover all members of these dies in service, it should be paid services; in effect, the post and not to his estate. the race

cer who holds it

of the officer should be the criterion.

(a) As regard the unifled branches of the Colonial Service and other grades of corresponding status, ap- pointments to which are made by or with the approval of the Secretary of State, Insurance through the system of local or regional scher

nchemes should be discontinued In the case of

a member of a Provident Fund new entrants to the Service, and the On the question whether local stances, he should receive his own leaves the Service in any circum- Colonial Governments should be in Funds or Schemes should be framed contributions will interest less any vited to co-operate in the establish- with or without racial distinctions, debt due to the Government. ment of a Central Fund to cover all we feel that, in view of the varying future members of these branches and conditions in the several Colonies, no is dismissed the Service, or resigns If a member of a Provident Fund grades, irrespective of Colony: general principle can be laid down. without giving the prescribed notice

(b) as regards other classes of The matter is one which should be oficials, the arrangements to be made, determined, in respect of each Colony, Government, all or part of the bonus or having the permission of the if any, should be determined accord-In the light of the structure of the and interest thereon should be with- Ing to the clrcumstances of the public-service of that Colony. Colony concerned.

held as the Government may direct. A CENTRAL FUND

.THE BACHELORS

Female contributors should be Of the proposal for a Central Fund

ellgible for Government contributions, Then there is the question of with interest, on It is stated:

retirement on bachelors: The Central Fund which

"We are unable to accept the pro-than three-

account of marriage after not less visage, would be constituted by Act pomal that bachelors should be exempt.

service. years of Parliament and vested in a Board The more

Temporary withdrawals up to one- generous refund for half of the depositor's compulsory

we en-

of Management appointed by the bachelors which we propose do deposits and bonuses should be allow- Secretary of State. The Board should molishes most of the arguments, nd- eil in euriain circumstances.

Johnnie Walker looks into the

future

"If good whisky could be had by just making it,” said Johnnie Walker, "there would be no need to look into its future. But it is only by maturing for long years in the wood that good whisky develops * depth' and 'roundness.' Every year thousands and thousands of casks of whisky are laid down for Johnnie Walker-every year thousands and thousands of casks of fully matured whiskies are blended in the perfect harmony of Johnnie Walker. To-day, as always, you are right to ask for Johnnie Walker by name.”

JOHNNIE WALKER

Eorn 1820 – still going strong

Sole Agents for China GALDBECK, MACGREGOR & CO. LTD.

SHANGHAI HONGKONG Ə TIENTSIN

FINGERNAILS Will Sparkle

CUTEX

with CUTEX

CUTEX LIQUID POLISI IN ALL NEWEST BILADÉS Tinted Hall • Made the fashion by Cutex

When amart worned want the correct shade of 'polish, they wrold experimenting with Inferior palkbes and spourtain dym. They select Cutek, known all over the world no the Sander. They know Catex, will woar for darg without pealing or turning an ngly colour, and that they can depend on the correctness, of its shades.

Be sure to get genuine Cutez-Imliatore will be prosecuted,

CUTEX

((0)

Culex at new law priebe

CUTKX

Liquid Pollak

BOLE AGENTS FOR

HONGKONG & SOUTH CHINA

W. R. LOXLEY & CO.

(China) Ltd.

SIXTH ANNUAL

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC

COMPETITION

ORGANISED BY

***THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH"

ENTRIES CLOSE

5 P.M. 31ST AUGUST