THE ESTIMATES

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 27

THE ESTIMATES

DEBATE ON PENSIONS VOTE INCREASED BY £3,000,000 [Pej> United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 12. The House continued discussion of the pensions vote when it resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr Bodkin drew attention to the gratuities paid to widows of ex-Members of the House, and hoped that when the Government brought down its superannuation scheme, the services of these ex-members would be recognised. Mr Cobbe said he did not think there would be much opposition to the passing of the pensions vote, but he drew attention to the fact that the vote was £3,000,000 more than that for 1935-36. He noticed that 187 more miners were receiving pensions than formerly. The Minister in Charge of Pensions, Mr Parry, explained that the increased number of pensions paid to miners was due to the widened provisions of the Act. Mr Coates asked for wider application of pensions for men suffering from war disabilities, a plea which was supported by Mr Lyons, who also asked for greater provision for pensions for the widows <jf men who died as the result of war disabilities. Mr Smith asked if provision would be made for a system of pensions for all widows who could not earn their own livings. Mr Hargest also made a plea for increased soldiers’ pensions. Mr Parry pointed out that since the present Government had come into power, pensions payments had been increased by over three millions, and he was sure there would be further increases in the future. Speaking of invalidity pensions the Minister said one of the chief difficulties experienced had been determination of complete invalidity. The question of widows’ pensions would require consideration, he said, and referring to Mr Smith’s proposal, he pointed out that there were young widows with no children. Concerning special annuities for widows of ex-Members of Parliament he said he had considered the matter, and a report on the subject was under consideration by the Government at the present time. The Minister in Charge of War Pensions, Mr Jones, contended that the returned soldiers had had a very fair deal with regard to war pensions, and were receiving very sympathetic consideration from the War Pensions Appeal Board. He said he hoped that under the Government’s new legislation, to be introduced next year, all classes of the community would be covered, not only war pensioners; and he hoped they would be able to overcome many of the anomalies existing at the present time. War pensions in New Zealand were increasing, he said, whereas in Britain they had decreased, showing that the Government was looking after the interests of the returned soldier. New Zealand’s war pension rates were the highest in the world. Mr Hargest said that before the present Government came into office New Zealand’s pensions policy was still the best in the world.

FISHING. INDUSTRY PROBLEM. When the Marine Department’s vote of £158,987 was under consideration Mr Cobbo asked if something could be done in the direction of further expenditure ou the whitebait spawning grounds, and ho also asked if the Government would introduce quinnat salmon into the Rangitikei River, which was more suitable for the purpose than the Wanganui. Mr Hamilton expressed concern at the depletion of supplies on the New Zealand fishing grounds, and said if the Minister would give some more information about what was being done in connection with the whitebait spawning grounds the public might assist in preserving this class of fish._ Mr Hargest, in advocating that there should be an open season for the taking of seals on the south coast of Stewart Island and in the West Coast Sounds, said the fishermen of these districts asserted that there had been a good deal of poaching going on among seals in those areas by boats which did not trade at New Zealand ports. He also drew attention to the destruction of fish by seals, and asked for a survey of the oyster beds in Foycaux Strait. The Minister of Marine (Mr Fraser) said the problems of the fishing industry were not easy, and before dealing with them one had to have the facts. A commission had been set up, and had dealt with the matter in a very satisfactory manner. - Its report would soon be brought down, and he hoped it would settle the different problems in the fishing industry in a permanent and satisfactory manner. The Minister added that the Government steamer Matai would visit the seal rookeries in the south when opportunity presented itself. Mr Endean suggested that something might be done about the Australian trawlers visiting New Zealand waters and depleting tne Dominion’s fish supplies. The Minister replied that an investigation was being made into the matter, but certain legal difficulties still remained to be cleared up. The vote was passed. POLICE VOTE. Speaking on the Police Department vote of £bU),IXX), Mr Hamilton asked if there were still plenty of applicants coming forward for enrolment in the Police Force. The vote was passed with practically no •discussion, as was the vote of £121,505 for the National Provident and Friendly Societies’ Department. LABOUR VOTE. Speaking ou the Department of Labour vote of £120,964, Mr Hamilton said it was refreshing to see a departmental vote reduced, but the reason for that reduction was a grant of £200,000 from the Unemployment Promotion Fund. He complained that they had not seen a statement of the financial position of the Unemployment Fund for some considerable time. He thought a statement on this fund should be published at regular intervals. It vvas information which the Xiublic was entitled to know. The Minister of Labour, Mr Armstrong, stated that the cash position of the fund was published in the ‘ Gazette ’ every three months. The vote was passed, and the House rose at 5.25 p.m., after having passed six classes of Estimates, the total sum involved being £8,237,294.