SECURITY SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1938, Page 12

SECURITY SCHEME

GENERAL OUTLINE

INCOME LIMIT OF £312

Amplifying his statement last week that the scope of the Government's . social security proposals would be even wider than when they were originally announced, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon M. J. Savage) said on Saturday that the first intention had w been to.pay to a man and his wife at th the age of 60 years 30s a week each Pi and to make no deductions on account Li of a joint additional income of £1 a b< week. This would have allowed a total te income for a superannuated married hi couple of £208 a year. _ a "The necessity for widening the scope has arisen because of the fact that under the original scheme lower- st paid contributory to existing superan- pi nuation schemes would have been required to pay the social security contribution but, owing to income limitations, would not have received Ml se benefits," Mr. Savage continued. Ac- 0 J cordingly we have decided to increase a] the allowable income on a slidin Q scale so that in cases such as I have mentioned there will be an annual in- ci come, including State superannuation, of £312." U STEP NEARER THE GOAL. d Full details of the rates of payment w to superannuitants would be included y in the Bill to come before Parliament, d and he himself was satisfied that the new proposals were an appreciable step nearer to the ultimate goal of u universal superannuation. There a would be a graduation of benefits n above £208 in certain cases, but contributions - would not be graduated. « They would be made at a flat rate of & Is in the £. ■ n "Attention is also being given to the health side ,of the proposals," Mr. Savage added, "and a scheme is being P shaped for the payment of sickness benefits in the event Of short illnesses. S( I am more confident than ever that the whole scheme will represent a greater measure of social security for d the people than New Zealand has pre- t! viously known." , t The Prime Minister stated that in all probability a fair amount of 1 authority would be given to commis- v sioners or Departmental heads apt, pointed under the legislation to deal g with certain individual cases on their ( merits. , There would be no delay in bringing t the Bill before Parliament this session.The extensions of the orignal scheme were being shaped, and excellent progress was being made with the T drafting of the actual legislation. c . c MR. NASH TO HANDLE BILL £ . ( When the Government's legislation e dealing with national superannuation t and health insurance come.; before J Parliament shortly it will be in the s hands of the Minister of Finance (the \ Hon. W. Nash), states the Christchurch - "Press." The Minister has supervised 1 most of the detailed work ; in the pre- i paration of the plan and "is fully ac- 1 quainted with the financial implica- 1 tions. Mr. Nash said in an interview yes- < terday with the "Press" that the Social Security Bill would be brought • down in the House as soon as the ' Budget was disposed of. The Bill was J considered as the major measure of • the session, and the Government was anxious to have it dealt with as soon j ■ as possible.' The Social Security Bill will be the j ■ only major legislative, measure with i which Mr. Nash will have to deal dur- ; ■ ing this session. He said that he had j one or two small/ financial Bills to 1 bring down and the usual routine . : measures, but' nothing of great import- : i ance 'other than the Budget and the ■ ! Social Security Bill.