NATIONAL'S SUPER. SCHEME Desperate bid to win election — Mr Tizard

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33881, 28 June 1975, Page 16

NATIONAL'S SUPER. SCHEME Desperate bid to win election — Mr Tizard

seu> Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 27.

The National Party ’s superannuation scheme was strongly attacked by the Government in Parliament today during the second reading debate on the Imprest Supply Bill.

The bill provides money for the Government while Budget measures are being passed.

Opening the debate, the Minister of Finance (Mr Tizard) said there would have to be a tax increase of 23 to 24 per cent to give equity to all under the proposed scheme.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Muldoon) had said the scneme wouia cost cx/u million a year, which to more than 10 per cent of the total amount collected in income tax.

Mr Muldoon had claimed that the money would come, out of inflation —but if in- 1 flation went up 10 per cent and taxation 10 per cent where would Mr Muldoon make the cut? Mr Tizard asked. The scheme was one of "total irresponsibility” and a desperate bid to Win the election regardless of the. cost to the country. Mr Muldoon repeated his ! claims that the scheme could i be financed without increasing tax over and above the natural increase through in-, flation. 87 per cent increase The $2400 million in tax which would be collected by the Government this year represented an increase of $lll5 million on the amount collected in the last year of; the National Government, or, an increase of 87 per cent.; "These astronomical figures are too high and there is no! place for them tn National; Party policies,” he said. I "Our proposals are better for every member of the; community, other than those; who are 12 years old today.” i People who retired now' would get nothing under* the Government scheme but no person who was over the age of 60 could lose from the Opposition's scheme. Younger people would also gam, if only because the administration cost of the National Party’s scheme was minimal. False The Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) called Mr Muldoon’s claims "demonstrably false.” The National Party had been the Government for 12 out of the last 20 years, and for six of those years Mr Muldoon had been Minister of Finance.

Yet, there had never been a whisper of such a scheme! and the position of pension-!

,;ers had gradually deteriorJated during that time. ,1 Mr Muldoon was now expressing a sudden concern ■ for pensioners.

There was the element of compulsion under the Oppo- ! sition scheme—the self employed and the fanner would make superannuation payments through increased tax, whether they liked it or not.

‘Nothing for women’ The Government superannuation scheme penalised I the non-working mother, the Opposition’s spokesman on women, Mr W. L. Young (Miramar), said. i Women gained nothing from the Government’s scheme unless they were paid members of the work force. The National Party’s superanuation scheme benefited all. It also had the advantage of being made operative imI mediately and being inflation I proof he said. "The National Party believes in a humanitarian policy. i “The Government’s superannuation scheme is an illconceived measure, hastily put together. “It is quite inadequate — the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Mr C. R. Mayson (Lab., Hastings) described the National Partv scheme as a confidence trick, j “On examination it is

proven to be a measure which could not have been at a worse time in economic ; terms,” he said. “It is callously indifferent to the economy. “It would mean economic suicide and disaster for New Zealand.” Mr Mayson accused the Opposition of being prepared to do anything to get back into power. The National Party believed that people who had worked all their lives were entitled to an adequate pension when they retired, Mr D. Thomson (Nat., Stratford) said. The National scheme provided a wage-related pension for everyone — not only for men but also for women. Dr M. E. R. Bassett (Lab., ; Waitemata) said it was obi vious the National Partv had a vested interest in high inflation. “If not. how are they going to get the money to pay for it?” he asked. It made nonsense of the Opposition’s claims that it had a “bold new policy” to fight inflation. After a notice of motion that the question be put, with Government members pointing out that so far only one subject had been discussed, the Speaker ruled that he would allow the debate to go on. The Opposition’s spokesman on defence, Mr A. McCready (Manawatu), criticised

the Government for accepting a tender from a British firm for the conversion of H.M.N.Z.S. Monowai to a hydrographic survey ship. He claimed that the conversion, which would cost about $l2 million, could have been done by a New Zealand firm. Sir John Marshall (Nat., Karori) called on the Government for immediate action to assist the cardio-thoracic surgical unit where the head of the unit, Sir Brian BarrattBoyes claimed patients were dying because of the lack of Government finance. Sir John said that an immediate allocation of funds should be made available to the unit and called on the Government to give authority for assistance to save the lives of those waiting for surgery at the unit. ■ The Government had been 'aware of the situation for some time and had clearly allowed the situation to drift, he said. Surprised In reply, Mr J. B. Munro (Lab., Invercargill) said that he was surprised at Sir John’s comments because although the situation was the concern of all New Zealanders it was the foremost responsibility of the Auckland Hospital Board. It was up to the board to determine how its money should be allocated, he said.

After two more motions from Government members that the question should be put. the Speaker accepted the motion.

i In a division. 37-17, the House decided the question should be put and then voted to give the Bill a second reading. During the committee stages of the Bill, the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Tizard), replying to a question from Mr Muldoon, said the Government had received no request for direct assistance to the cardio-thoracic surgical unit.