§ Mr. STEPHEN WALSHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is 1154W aware that in calculating the yearly means of applicants for the old age pension who are living with friends or relatives many pension officers debit the applicant with a proportion of the permanent charges of the home, such as rent, heating, and lighting, although such charges are practically unaffected by the presence or absence of the applicant for the pension; whether he is aware that by this method of calculation applicants are often made to appear as in possession of means disentitling them to pension, although as a fact they have no income whatever; and whether, in these circumstances, he will instruct pension officers that in estimating the yearly means of applicants for the old age pension standing charges such as those named shall not be taken into the calculation?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would point out that Section 2 (1) (d) of the Old Age Pension Act, 1911, provides that in calculating means for old age pension purposes account shall be taken of the yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed. Where, therefore, an applicant for an old age pension is maintained by friends or relatives, the pension officer has to estimate the yearly value of the maintenance, and, for that purpose, the has to take into consideration the whole circumstances of the household. In view of the provisions of the above-mentioned Sub-section, I am unable to issue the instruction suggested.