To ask the Minister for Local Government whether in the event of applicants for Old Age Pensions being unable to obtain the required certificate of age, he will accept as conclusive the evidence of persons of standing who know the applicants concerned.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - OLD AGE PENSIONS.
TOMAS MAC ARTUIR
Mr. ERNEST BLYTHE
The answer is in the affirmative, provided that any inquiries that may be made show that the knowledge of the persons giving evidence is sufficient, and that the circumstances of the particular case support, or, at least, do not conflict with, such evidence.
The following sources of information as to ages of claimants for old age pensions are availed of:—
1. Baptismal Certificates and Registers.
2. Marriage registers.
3. School registers.
4. Other records, such as insurance policies, records of service in Army, Navy, Police, Civil Service, or elsewhere.
5. Statements of claimants and of persons of standing who know the applicants.
The Ministry cause inspection to be made in all cases where the evidence, though not conclusive, indicates that claimants' ages are likely to be established by that procedure.