MONETARY BENEFITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 10

MONETARY BENEFITS

TO BEGIN ON APRIL 1

MINISTER REVIEWS ACT

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Aspects of the Social Security Act, including the reasons for its introduction and its benefits, were reviewed by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in an address at a luncheon meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Business Executives yesterday.

"For many years it was the boast of New Zealand that she led the world in social legislation," the Minister said. "From modest beginnings in 1898 with an old age pension of 7s a week there has been developed the system of pensions that exists today. We have found, however, that in the last twenty years we have not only lost our lead in world. progress, but in our lack of sickness and health insurance we lagged behind almost the whole of the civilised world.

STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY.

"The need for social security has occupied the attention of legislators throughout the world in the period following the Great War, and next to the fear of another war it is the most urgent problem of today. In a modern democracy our citizens are not content that charity and non-contributory pensions should be the.only resort of v those who have been struck down by misfortune. The community should undertake at least some of the burden now borne by the unfortunate minority whose only qualification for their disability is sheer bad luck. "Death, accident, and sickness are causing, every day, tragedies that no individual thrift could provide against," Mr. Nash continued. "The disasters fall only on the few, but on them they fall so heavily that no normal provision could be adequate. Only the community as a whole is strong enough to undertake the burden of the financial loss to individual families."

Mr. Nash said that on reaching the age of 60 years nearly 50 per cent, of the citizens of New Zealand had insufficient means to support them, apart from pensions. The Social Security Act would, on April 1, enable the Government to bring into operation the procedure to ensure a continuing income to those whose income had been taken away by sickness, widowhood, orphanhood, advancing age, and unemployment, and to provide the fullest possible health services and hospital facilities in illness and maternity.

"The monetary benefits will commence on April 1," the Minister said. He quoted in detail the increases in pensions, and said that existing pensioners would not need to make application for the increases, as the Social Security Department would automatically make the adjustment on April 1. The, organisation of the Department was well under way, and the machinery would be ready on the due date.

"Although we have had several conferences with the groups concerned with the health benefits, we have not yet reached finality," Mr. Nash continued. "The health section is entirely new and a vast amount of preparation is necessary to ensure that the scheme will work efficiently and that all legitimate interests are adequately safeguarded.

THE MINISTER'S ASSURANCE

"We are determined that nothing shall be allowed to hinder the essential personal relationship between doctor and patient, free choice of doctor for all contributors and the right oi every doctor to participate if he wishes. We recognise that every person who renders service is entitled to adequate payment for his services'and we have in mind that the remuneration of doctors should, at least, not be less than they are receiving at present. The same principles apply in the case of all chemists, midwives, and nurses who participate." The Government was anxious to safeguard the position of friendly societies, medical institutes, and all similar bodies that had rendered wonderful service in the past, Mr. Nash added. Consultations with them must be completed before the detailed plans were brought into operation. The Government would make the medical sections of the Act available as soon as possible after April 1.