Dismal Outlook

For

Service Pensioners

NOTE received from a resident of Australia—once well known as a man filling a high position in an Islands Government:— “With regret, after all these years, I must discontinue my subscription to the PIM ... We people, who depend mainly on a pension, are properly getting it in the neck these days; and the indi cations are that the present high cost of living will go higher.

“The Commonwealth Government, in this matter, seems to be as hard as hint, and quite unmoved by our appeals for a review of the pension rates.”

There are thousands of Civil Service pensioners in Australia today—they have gone there, wherever possible, to get whatever benefit they can from the Australian exchange rate. Where the pension comes from a Sterling or New Zealand or Fiji source, they do enjoy some slight advantage. But all classes, Australian and otherwise, now are being driven to absolute penury bv the gallop ing inflation of the Australian £.

All persons on fixed incomes are facing 'grim and alarming conditions. Where the income comes from property, the unfortunate owner can at least sell; but, where the income is based on superan nuation, the prospect is dismal indeed.

The pensioners’ only hope is some sym pathetic move by the governments con cerned.