SECURITY PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 11

SECURITY PLAN.

NEW PROPOSALS.

NO INCREASE IN TAX.

UNIVERSAL SUPERANNUATION

The Social Security Act passed by the Labour Government will not be operated on the National party becoming the Government, but provision will be made for all peneione in existence prior to the passing of the Act, states the party's manifesto. In addition to existing pensions, provision will be made for:—A universal superannuation eehome. A complete health eervke for those who cannot pay. I'eneions for widows. Pensions for orphans. Kree maternity service. Liber* Heed family allowances. The effect of thie will be:—(a) Xo increase in wage tax, (b) women will not be required to register, (c) 16-year-olds will not have to register or pay wage tax, (d) domestics will be exempt from -wage tax. and (e) women having income other than wages not exceeding £2i")0 a year to be exempt from unemployment tax. * Health Scheme. "The Xational party will provide a full and complete health service without charge to that section of the community that ie unable to provide such service for itself," the manifesto continues. "Theee people will include the aged, the poor, those in necessitous circumstances, and those whose incomes make it imposeible 4o provide a medical eervice out of their own resource*.

"We believe that it is much more important to provide a complete medical service for those who need it and must have it, but onnnot afford it. than it is to provide a partial service for all the people, many of whom do not require it and do not want it. Protection and Co-operation. "Wγ acknowledge the splendid services being rendered by the friendly societies of New Zealand, and will protect them and co-operate with them in their, work.

"We will inaugurate a well-planned scheme to greatly increase the physical fitnees of the people, in , the confident belief that much of the sickness suffered to-day is preventable by more healthy living. We will set up a competent advisory body to study the problems and inform the Government on such matters ae the nutrition of the people and the best means of attacking the needlessly high incidence of common and preventable disorder* suffered by the people. No Means Test. "The National party strongly supports the principle of national superannuation, but holds, that the funds should be administered as a separate trust entirely independent of ordinary Government finances. The echeme should be financed by direct contributions from income, entitling every person to the benefits under the scheme on reaching the stipulated age, and without any other income or property means test whatever.

"Those persons, including State employees, and others in private superannuation schemes, who have made provision for their own security in old age— provision at least as adequate as provided in the State scheme—shall be exempt from any compulsion to subscribe to the State scheme, but they will be entitled to the benefits of the scheme if they subscribe voluntarily."..