EVENING UP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 6

EVENING UP

GOVERNMENT'S AIM

EVERYONE BROUGHT IN

Continuing the debate, the Rev. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru) said the Opposition was fond of saying that the new legislation would nullify the benefits of the present old-age pension system. They could be reminded that "time marches on and time makes previous good uncouth." It was the claim, of the Government that its new proposals were superior to. those embodied in any legislation dealing with pensions that had previously been placed on the Statute Book. The Opposition had also declared the Government to be playing the role j of a modern Robin Hood, with a philosophy of robbing the rich to pay the poor. That was a favourite topic with the Opposition, but could not be substantiated by an examination of the \ Government's activities. "We have the Biblical, story of the prince who was told to sell his goods and give to the poor if he wished to find riches in Heaven," went on Mr. Carr.- - ■■_- '/..."' '■■■-/: .. Mr. W^ J. Poison (National, Stratford); You propose to make that compulsory. Mr. Garr: I was just going to point out that this Bill is the negation of the principle. .It brings everybody in and makes everyone pay his share. Mr Carr said he considered the Bill to be justified on grounds of both ethics and economics. The present system of individual saving was unsound, grasping, and selfish. Community saving was a sound, sane, and kindly way of providing for the future. A system which forced one person to save at the expense of others was demoralising for the individual and impoverishing to the community. The Government had found a way of saving the people's money and of providing them with benefits in which all could share.

£150,000,000. It was important that the country should know the Minister's reasons for the increase, because the scheme was based on finance and the House had a responsibility to see that the basis was sound. "It has been said," remarked Mr. Coates, "that the members on this side of the House have a 'depression complex,' but it will pay us to be par- ( ticularly careful of our expenditure at the present time." Mr. Coates concluded by asking if the medical men would come in, and said that he was certain they would be prepared to do so if they were I certain that the scheme could be carried through.