LABOUR'S POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 6

LABOUR'S POLICY.

Speaking at Rotorua on the 24th inst.. Mr. Endeari, member for Remuera, is reported as sneering at the "super-pension scheme—it is not a superannuation scheme," and adds, '""We are going to put a stop to this sort of thing." Mr. Endean and the party he supports are loud in their protests against the expenditure necessary for the proposed scheme. To extend it to make superannuation universal will entail a considerably greater measure of taxation. Eventually we may get general superannuation without income qualification; in the meantime the present scheme is a step in the right direction. Mr. Endean supports the National party, which, ji*st prior to the last election, issued a manifesto containing the following: "A scheme of compulsory national super-, ■annuation, covering pensions for old age, sickness, invalidity, widows and orphans ha« already been investigated. Investigations into national health insurance have also been made. These will be carried further and a scheme will be introduced." What a pity the National party does not give us the * benefit of the scheme it had ready to put into execution! Of course, the National party rarely gives a promise on anything of importance without leaving a loophole. It is so in this instance, for every promise is qualified with "as soon as financial conditions permit," which may well be akin to the Greek Kalends. Let anyone read that manifesto and he will find many promises which the party is now strenuously opposing. Also in it the National party takes to itself full credit for the improvement in the financial condition of the country, yet when Mr. Pavace takes some credit for the improvement since then he is accused of boasting. PLAIN BILL.