BRAKES APPLIED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 150, 22 March 1938, Page 10

BRAKES APPLIED

Superannuation And Health Schemes “TERRIBLE MUDDLE” Comment By Leader Of Opposition By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 21. "Tlie recent session of Parliament has been comparatively barren in important legislation, and many of us can be forgiven if. we regard it as sometiling close to muddling by the Government,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Adam Hamilton, in a review to-day of the Parliamentary activities during the session -which ended last week. "However,” continued Mr. Hamilton, “in several directions there had been welcome indications that the old policy of 'onward and upward with the brakes off’ is being modified. The task of the Government is a mighty complicated matter, and the Labour Party, it seems, is coining to realise that no good purpose can be served by rushing its fences.”

Mr. Hamilton said that the members of the Opposition in common with the people generally had expected to see the Government's proposal for national superannuation aud health insurance placed before them during the resumed session. That had been the main reason for calling Parliament together early in the new year. On the - very eve of the resumption the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. ,L Savage, bad announced that a special Parliamentary committee would be set up to investigate the social insurance proposals which, as a result, would not be discussed in the House until the final session later in the year. “The whole business seems to us to be a terrible muddle,” Mr. Hamilton continued, "(Parliament is an expensive institution to run, aud the 11 days which we have just spent in dealing with matters of little importance will cost the country a fairly large sum. However, if it means a pause for reflection before embarking on ambitions and expensive schemes it will be all to the good. The Opposition has no quarrel with the principles of national superannuation and health insurance. Indeed, past Governments long before, the Labour Party came to power conducted searching investigations into the various questions involved. But such schemes require finance on a large scale, and no matter what-'the money theorists in the present Government may say, it is always necessary to count the cost and to consider the effect ol a general scheme on individual interests. Irresponsible Statement. "During last election we were given to understand that the Labour Party had a plan for social insurance which could be put into operation in a flash. That wijs obviously an irresponsible statement, and it is a good thing that power generally brings responsibility. The Labour Party now sees difficulties in the way of a scheme which may appear excellent on paper, but which cannot stand the test of practical application. "in any question of this sort,” said Mr. Hamilton, "it is necessary to weigh prqsept benefit against future pos.-j bilities. It may be that the people would sooner have free pensions ’of 22/6 a week, paid for-out of general taxation, than superannuation allowances of 30/- a week for which they would have to pay throughout their lives'by special contributions. It may be, too, that they would sooner have the present hospital system, which is virtually free and a model for the world as far as finance is concerned than a complicated insurance system in which the expense might appear to outweigh the benefits. "I do not say that extensions in our pensions and health- systems are not necessary and desirable.” Mr. Hamilton added. “Health services in particular can be improved by the introduction of graduated hospital fees and extended’ home nursing and medical services- However, these are factors which can* well be discussed more fully in the future.” - Further evidence of the abandonment by the Government of its niore precipitate methods, said Mr. Hamilton, was provided by its decision to introduce several Bills purely for circulation and public information. That was the right and proper course. In far too many cases during the past two years the Government had refused to take the people into its confidence. "The fact that an election is ’to be held at the end of the year may be responsible for this partial application of the brakes,” Mr. Hamilton concluded. “In spite of that the march toward Socialism is still being continued, and for the preservation of our country's freedom it must be opposed.”