PENSIONS BILL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 8

PENSIONS BILL

Rates to be Increased Generally

“NOT THE LAST WORD”

National Superannuation Scheme Coming A Pensions Bill providing for increases in the existing rates of pensions and widening the scope of the system generally will be brought down in the House ot Representatives by the Government within the next few weeks. Thia was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), who at the same time indicated that preparations were being made for working out a much more comprehensive scheme. “We intend to increase pensions as we promised,” said the Prime Minister, “and to make those increases retrospective to July 1. All pensions will be covered by the increases. Provision will also be made for invalidity pensions. We have realised, of course, that this particular job was one of the most urgent, but we had to lay the foundation first, and for machinery reasons this pensions adjustment has been delayed. However, we will have it before the house very shortly.” The Prime Minister made it clear that the measures now being taken by no means represented the last word on the subject. Experts had already been instructed to start the investigations for a comprehensive national superannuation scheme which would embrace all the existing pensions legislation. The scheme would cover all persons in the country, and it was intended to have legislation ready for Parliament next yean Mr. Savage, asked If the basis of the scheme would be contributory, said that something of the kind would have to be adopted, but such questions and other details of importance were being looked into thoroughly by departmental experts who had special knowledge in that direction. It was too early yet to discuss the appointment of a Parliamentary Under-Secretary to take charge of the national superannuation scheme, but he considered that the scheme offered scope for such an appointment.