SOCIAL SECURITY

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1938, Page 11

SOCIAL SECURITY

LOCAL BODY EMPLOYEES Views Stated WELLINGTON, April 30. A lengthy statement was presented to the committee by the New Zealand Counties Association, before the Parliamentary Select Committee this morning. Summed up, the main contentions are: “General—This organisation is io favour of the establishment of a social security scheme, spread over a number of years. Such a comprehensive scheme of social betterment warrants the establishment of a separate department, It is felt that the scheme should not be administered by several different agencies, perhaps with conflicting principles. “Health Services—The association is of opinion that the Government s health service proposal No, 1 should be undertaken at once and firmly established before tackling any of the others. The hospital rates of rural ratepayers should be substantially reduced partly by changing the basis of the levy to population. Some adjustment of the social security levxIs essential, seeing that rural ratepayers will be contributing to the national health scheme.

“Social Security Benefits.—This phase of the scheme should be postponed until the health services and superannuation phases have been established. The strictest supervision should be exercised over the granting of these benefits. A systematic and continuous attempt should be made by the department to find employment.

“Superannuation— This phase should not be undertaken until the health services have been established, but should be next in sequence. All permanent County Council employees who are at present not in any scheme should be compelled to join the National Provident Fund; all county employees who are at present in the group assurance scheme should remain in it and should not be asked to Join the State superannuation scheme These men should receive some adjustment of their social security levy, seeing that, they are contributing to their own superannuation.” That employees in the electrical supply industry would prefer to remain in their existing superannuation scheme and that they did not feel that the national health and superannuation scheme was in itself adequate to replace the benefits which they were now able to obtain under their existing schemes, were points made in a statement presented on behalf of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand.

“To sum up,” the statement says, “the industry is quite prepared to pay for services not now being provided under the existing nr proposed superannuation schemes, but asks that consideration be given by a reduction in the amount of the levy in respect of such services as are already provided under these schemes.” The committee received a letter appealing on behalf of the Christian Scientists of New Zealand for exemption from the provisions of the com i pulsory health insurance or, alternatively, that those desiring to do so might enjoy the right of calling upon the assistance of registered Christian Science practitioners. A request for' an opportunity of discussing the full aspects and details of an optical benefit at such time as a complete investigation is considered necessary was made in a statement presented to the committee by the Institute of Opticians of New Zealand.

“In the review of details of the administration and practical application of optical benefits,” the statement says, “we can foresee a large number of differential points which would require accurate definition and inves-. tigation in order that just and smooth working of the scheme would be instituted.”