PREMIER ADDRESSES 4,000

Evening Star, Issue 23083, 8 October 1938, Page 14

PREMIER ADDRESSES 4,000

CHEERED ID THE ECHO [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Oct. 7. One of the largest political meetings ever held at New Plymouth was addressed to-night by the Prime Minister tMr IVI. J. Savage), between 3000 and 4000 people in three halls and the street listening to his outline of the Government’s policy. Mr Savage visited both the overflow meetings and both there and at the main assembly he was cheered to the echo. The meeting terminated with a vote of confidence, and a crowd gathered outside the hall and at Mr Savage’s hotel to cheer him again. Thousands of people lined the streets while Mr Savage was driving from hall to hall. Mr Savage discussed the application of the Social Security Act at some length, referring to the National Parly's concern about the girl between 16 and 20 years. He said that under the National Government she was paid IDs a week, and now she was getting 17s a week, so that even with the social security contribution she was belter off. The National Party did not mention the benefits she would receive —los a week while unemployed. 10s a week while off work through sickness, and free hospital and medical treatment, to say nothing of the benefits she would get in later life if she needed them, such as increased unemployment and sick benefits, the invalidity pension and the widow's pension, In addition, she might be contributing to pensions for her own parents. If Labour was not returned, Mr Savage said, the Act would not be operated. The result would be that the old-age pensioners would get 7s 6d less than proposed, widows 5s less, Invalids 10s and miners ss, and nobody would get hospital or sick benefits.

Dealing with increased spending. Mr Savage said that that was part of the Government’s policy of expansion If a commercial house expanded its business it would spent more, possibly on putting on another traveller. A foolish story was being circulated that the Government was going to wreck the public service superannuation funds. It was untrue. The Government’s job was to put the funds on a sounder basis and remove anomalies. In ■ this it would co-operate with the nublic service.

A reply to Mr S. G. Smith’s assertion, that pensioners under the social secur ity scheme were, according to the Act, liable for the payment of the social security contribution amounting to Is 6d on the weekly payment of 30s was made by the Prime Minister, “ Even if there were nothing in the Act,” Mr Savage said, "I, as Prime Minister, have said that they will not have to pay a shilling in the pound, ano t am not going to say one thing and turn round and do another.”

Section IJI of the Act, continuoo the Prime Minister, gave power for exemptions where necessary. Mr Smith knew there were any amount of Acts with that same clause in them. !t was not possible to include every last de tail in an Act. but that provision was there to cover the position, not only of old-age pensioners but also oi any other cases where exemption might be necessary.

“The Minister has taken power to make exemptions and he will make them,” Mr Savage said. “I wIJ see to that. What did we take that authority for if we did not intei.d to use it? ”

NO TAX ON BENEFITS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. A denial that the benefits under the Social Security Act would be subject to the shilling in the pound tax as suggested by Mr S. G. Smith in a broadcast at New Plymouth was issued by the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash), speaking at Woburn, tonight. Mr Nash quoted from one of his speeches in the House as reported In Hansard in which he had stated that it was possible for a wife to pay five shillings a year registration fee and yet receive 30s a week at the age of 60 years, and at 65 years receive 30s a week by right. Mr Smith had interjected “ less one and six tax,” and Mr Nash , said ho had made it quite clear then that the benefits would not be subject to tax.

That point, the Minister added, had been made abundantly clear in the committee stage of the Social Security Bill and a dozen times during the debate on the Bill, yet Mr Smith had tried to deceive the people by saying three times in his broadcast that the benefits would be taxed. It was a lastminute move to try to deceive widows and old age pensioners.

DUNEDIN CENTRAL

MR MEADE'S CAMPAIGN Mr W. J. Meade, National candidate for Dunedin Central, was given an excellent hearing in the St. Hilda Town Hall last night, about 350 being present. At the conclusion of the address Mr Meade was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, there being enthusiastic ajvplause and no dissentient voices. Tlie Mayor of St. Kilda (Mr J. J. Marlow) presided. The candidate compared the two policies of Socialism and private enterprise and freedom, and criticised the Government's legislation as it affected the transport industry, housing, and taxation. He also discussed the social security proposals, and submitted the National Party’s alternative scheme, and dealt briefly with the statements made by members of the Government that New Zealand could he insulated from the effects of another depression.

MR HEILSOM AT TOMAHAWK

When Mr P. Neilson, the Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, commenced liis address at 8.10 last evening in the .Glencairn Hall. Tomahawk, there was an audience of 12. people. By 10 o’clock, however, the number had increased to 40. Throughout his address he was accorded a most attentive hearing, and at the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence in him and the Labour Party was carried by acclamation. Mr G. Simon was the chairman.

Mr Xeilson delivered a comprehensive outline of Labour’s achievements, and gave a full explanation of the benefits to be derived from the national health scheme. He contrasted the conditions of unemployed workers in New South Wales with those in New Zealand, and spent some time in criticising the statements contained in pamphlets issued by the National Party. The meeting was entirely free from interjections, the audience showing their approval of the speaker’s remarks by frequent applause.