COMPULSION FAVOURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 12

COMPULSION FAVOURED.

NATIONAL PROVIDENT PLAN.

FARMERS' DISCUSSION. (By Teiegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The introduction of a compulsory national provident scheme was advocated on behalf of the mid-Canterbury executive by Mr. J. R. Dalton, of Metliven, when speaking at the conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union last night. Mr. Dalton said that it must be admitted that the various pensions schemes were becoming more and more of a burden on the taxpayer. Had a compulsory scheme been brought in 40 years ago their would be a fund sufficiently large to pay all the pensions to-day. In a few years' time one-half the peop'le would be receiving pension# and the other half would have to pay them. There were many people who, when paid a cheque, squandered the money, when a portion should Vie set aside for their future and declining years. Mr. W. H. Allen, of Tirau. said it had to be remembered that any pension scheme had to come out of the productivity of the soil. Mr. R. D. Duxfield. of Horotiu, said he took it that such a scheme would supersede the present old age pension and charitable aid schemes. Mr. A. E. Harding, of Mangawhare, stated that the Civil Service had their superannuation scheme, and he did not see why there should not be some such scheme for the whole country. After other speakers had expressed their views, both for and against th" proposal, the following motion was car ried:—''That the Government be again urged to introduce a compulsory nation: provident scheme."