CITIZEN'S RIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 226, 23 September 1936, Page 12

CITIZEN'S RIGHTS.

I PENSION BENEFITS. MR. SAVAGE'S STATEMENT. A CONTRIBUTORY. BASIS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) tliis day. A statement that the working out of the details of a national health and superannuation scheme for the Dominion would become the major consideration of the Government as soon a? Parliament adjourned was made by the Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. M. J. Savage, last evening.

"We have not started to get down to details at all yet," the Prime Minister said. "There have been preliminary investigations but the question is one of magnitude and there are numerous factors which must receive careful consideration. "I'would be prepared personally to work on it night and day to ensure that we can' have a satisfactory scheme in operation before the end of next year. In my view a national scheme of superannuation and health insurance would be perhaps the finest contribution the Government could make to the country." Mr. Savage added that the Government would receive advice when it was preparing its plans. Actuaries, insurance companies, friendly societies, doctors and other organisations would be invited to make suggestions and the Government would endeavour to ' make the scheme as wide as possible. One of the difficulties that had to be examined was the future existence of private provident and superannuation schemes. They might continue in their present form or in some association with the Government's proposals. The question of the Government superannuation funds would also have to be considered to decide whether or not they should be included in the national scheme. In view of these and many other factors any discussion of annual costs or contributory levies was obviously premature. "I can give an assurance that the scheme will definitely be introduced next year," Mr. Savage said. "Legislation giving effect to it will be the most important feature of the of Parliament. It might be possible to reduce to some extent the age qualification applied - to pensions, but .we want to have, the benefits of the scheme available as a right of citizenship without any suggestion of a means test."