PAID BY STATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 10

PAID BY STATE.

TOTAL OF 200,000.

"LAVISH PROMISES."

OPPOSITION CRITICISM. RESOURCES OF DOMINION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON,. Tuesday. Leading off for the Opposition in the second reading debate on the Pensions Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night, Mr. S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth) said one of the most interesting studies of Parliamentary life was the record in "Hansard" of the great fight to place 011 the Statute Book the Old Age Pension Act. The sound financial position of the country left by the last Government —('Government laughter)—and the substantial increase in trade and commerce which was recorded before the present Government took office had enabled the Government to make the present move as far as pensions were concerned.

"We welcome the bill," continued Mr. Smith. While the Opposition were ready to support the he added, they were entitled to look at the position of New Zealand. In the Public Service there were 65,000 persons, pensioners numbered 43,300, there were 12,000 inmates of institutions, nearly 20,000 persons were members of the Public Works Department, and there were 35,000 unemployed. The bill would bring in 23,000 additional pensioners, so that something like 200.000 members of the adult population were on the pay roll of the Government. The Government could only go. as far as the resources of the Dominion would permit. Lavish Promises. Mr. Smith referred to the lavish promises made by candidates at the last, election and by -canvassers who went from door to door. If all those promises were embodied in a bill many people would not be so disappointed today. As far as the present measure was concerned it had been stated that if the Labour party were returned to power pensions would be payable up to £3 a week. A Government, Member: Some in this bill go up to £4. Mr. Smith said he remembered the criticism of - the Government when in Opposition to what they termed the meagre increases that were given to pensioners. The Minister found now that his good intentions were hampered by the country's resources. He could not ; go t<) the extent of his promises. Has Lived Up to Promises. ' The. Minister (Mr. Parry): I have lived up to all,my promises. Mr. Smith sajd the last Government regretted having to make pension "cuts," but every class of the community had to make some sacrifice. He considered that the increase in the pensions now proposed would be cancelled out by the rising cost of living. There were cases in which widows should | receive the pension despite the fact that they had no children. That was a question that should have consideration. There was a total of GOO deserted wives in New Zealand, and he had seen something of what these Y onl<m an< * their children had to put upWth as a result of their callous betrayal by their husbanrts. The member suggested -that any moneys that were devoted to the welfare of the wives in these cases should be charged against the defaulting husband, who, if found, should be called upon to make a. refund. If he was not prepared to do that then he could work for the State. Mr. Smith suggested also that there should be provision to help husbands with families who had been deserted by their wives.