STATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 12

STATE HEALTH INSURANCE

COMMITTEE TO MEET ON APRIL 5

EVIDENCE TO BE HEARD ALSO ON SUPERANNUATION

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.!

WELLINGTON, March 22

An announcement that the first meeting of the special Parliamentary committee which is to examine the Government’s proposals for national superannuation and health insurance would be held on April 5 was made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting this evening.

Members of the committee are Mr H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson), Mr D. Barnes (Government, Waitaki), Mr J. G. Cobbe (National, Oroua), Mr S. G. Holland (National, Christchurch North), Mr H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton), the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (Government, Oamaru), Mr*J. O’Brien Government, Westland), Mr A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill), Mr J. Robertson (Government, Masterton), and Mr Savage. The motion passed in the House a fortnight ago calls on the committee to examine the Government’s proposals for the establishment of a national health service for ensuring to all persons ordinarily resident in New Zealand adequate medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, dental, hospital, nursing or other treatment necessary to maintain sound physical and mental health and to assist recovery in the event of sickness. The committee is also required to examine the Government’s plans for establishing national superannuation with the aim of making provision so that all persons ordinarily resident in New Zealand will be assured of adequate income to maintain them in reasonable comfort when they become unable to support themselves by reason of old age, sickness, infirmity or other disability or on account of widowhood or other special conditions. The order of reference given to the committee, provides that its report is to be presented to the House of Representatives within 28 days of the start of the next session of Parliament. It is expected that the deliberations of the committee will last continuously until well on towards next session, which will begin early in June. The proceedings of the committee are to be open to the press.

PLAN FOR RECIPROCAL PENSIONS

POSTPONEMENT BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

(Received March 23, 12.30 a.m.)

CANBERRA, March 22

It was learned to-day that the Government has postponed consideration of the New Zealand Government’s request for a reciprocal pensions scheme until the Commonwealth national health and pensions insurance scheme has taken definite form.

It is intended to incorporate a reciprocal pensions scheme in the legislation establishing national insurance throughout Australia, provided certain difficulties can be overcome. These difficulties include the question of determining.the proportionate pensions to be paid, in view of the differing rates applying in each Dominion, and the definition of an adequate residential qualification. The Commonwealth Government intends to introduce, its national insurance legislation during the session beginning on April 27.

midnight, double time and a quarter between midnight and 8 a.m. Also stated to be a new principle was the claim for an annual holiday, which asked that the holiday be equivalent to one and a half days for each complete month of employment, provided that a worker leaving before 12 months should be paid a proportionate amount as for each complete month of employment. The worker^-case was not fin: at the close of the sitting. The employers’ case will be preisented to-morrow.

FURNITURE TRADES DISPUTE

PARTIAL AGREEMENT MADE

WELLINGTON, March 22. The furniture trades dispute was before Conciliation Council to-day. The employers are seeking wages on the of the Court’s rate of 2s 9d an hour for skilled workers. When the subject of allowing the industry to meet the market was raised, an employees’ representative said that there had been no appreciable imports of furniture for years. The argument of outside competition was worn threadba Agreement was reached on a 40-hour five-day week, funeral directors to be able to employ workers on Saturdays without overtime if the hours did not exceed. 40 for the week. The wages for skilled workers were settled at 2s 9d an hour and for improvers at £4 10s to £5 a week. Other wages were not settled. Nearly all the clauses governing general conditions were agreed to. The council will resume at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

SHIPS’ STEWARDS AND COOKS

COMPLETE AGREEMENT IN CONCILIATION

WELLINGTON 1 , March 22. Complete agreement was reached today in Conciliation Council in the dispute between the Cooks’ and Stewards’ Industrial Association ofWorkers and the various coastal shipping companies in troth islands., • : The’agreement will go to the Court of Arbitration to be made idtb an award.