WEAKNESS IN BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 60, 8 September 1938, Page 10

WEAKNESS IN BILL

NO SECURITY

MEASURE SHOULD BE POSTPONED

Mr. P. E. Pattrick, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who presided, said that it was gratifying to see such a large and representative meeting. It was quite evident that the business community was alive to the fact that the Social Security Bill, if it became law, would seriously militate against the welfare of the Dominion. "This meeting has been convened jointly by the Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers' Association, and also includes official representatives from the Stock Exchange, Employers' Association, United Kingdom Manufacturers' Associations and Retailers' Association, as well, as exporters and the business community generally," he said. "I wish ,to emphasise two facts: first, that none of the organisations represented at this meeting are political—one may add that they are actually non-political—and, second, that there is. no suggestion that they are opposed to social security legislation. Moreover, I am confident that each organisation and person present would readily support any extension of our social security legislation, provided t"hat such extension is equitable and sound financially and economically. "I do not propose to deal with any special features of the Bill, apart from stating that the provisions of the Bill fail to relate'benefits to contributions, as is provided in the British and Australian schemes. Moreover, we have no grounds for believing that the proposals can be carried out. It would be interesting to know why in such a* huge experiment the Government allowed the British actuary to return to Great Britain before , the Bill was framed, or, having dispensed with Mr. Maddex's services, the New Zealand Government Actuary has ' not been asked for a report on the practicability of the measure. •>• "I feel we cannot too strongly emphasise that any scheme of social security which is not founded upon economic and financial security is no security at all, and if this Bill becomes law, the last state will be worse than the first." Mr. Pattrick moved the following resolution:— . That this meeting of Wellington business men, including representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers* Association, Stock Exchange, exporters and importers, Employers' Association, United Kingdom Manufacturers' Association, and Wellington Drapers, Clothiers, Mercers, and Footwear Retailers' Association, while approving of the principle of the development of social security legislation along sound lines, is convinced that the provisions of the Social Security Bill now before Parliament are in many essentials both inequitable and impracticable, and therefore not in the best interests of the Dominion; and this meeting accordingly, urges the Government to hold over the Bill until such further consideration has been given as is necessary to ensure that the prospective legislation will be economically and financially sound and equitable in its operation.