PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1938, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

DEBATE CONTINUES ON SOCIAL SECURITY BILL, ; ’ 1 (Per Press Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, August 26. The debate on the second reading of the Social Security Bill was continued throughout the afternoon in the House. . Rev. Carr said he considered the Bill to he justified on Ihe grounds, both r.f ethics and economics. Government had found a way of saving the people’s money and providing them with benefits wherein all could share. '

• Hon. J. 0. Coates said the Opposition was willing, ready and keen to evolve a system that would help those who needed it, both in sickness, and when old age overtook them, but it was important that the financial foundation of such a scheme'should he carefully laid. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) said there had been a lot of talk about financial soundness, but the; existing superannuation schemes had been shaky during the depression years. The Opposition had said it, was monstrous for persons, of sixteen years of nge : to make a contribution to the scheme, hut the young people received, as a .'result .of the Government’s legislation, VfiV fifty per cent, increase in .wages and were in a position to pay the contributions they* were asked for.

Mr Hblyoake .that the financial side of the '/scheme had been laid on optimism, and that flip cost would not be 1/- in the pound as indicated, \but more like 2/6 in the' pound. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30 n.m., but was continued throughout the evening. The Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) said the Government was determined to provide for all the needs of! the people in this country, and would let nothing stand in its viay in attaining this objective. Mr Holland said the Opposition not opposed, to gid, being given to- the sick and needy, and he would stgte unequivocfihiy that if the Opposition were returned to office at next election it' would cut neither pensions nor wages. * The Government’s: outlook ns outlined in the Social Security Bill, appeared to be “spend vour monev and live on r the pdnsicin.” Government’ members/ he saidhad called the scheme, “annlied Christianity.” but. he would call it anplied lunacy, to subsidise to any scheme until its finances were assured. ; ■■ \ \ Mr ,T. A; Lee contended that the government proposed to live on the production of the country and not on investments. Tf production increased in the future. Government was'entitled to buil(! on the foundation laid by the Bill. A person who did ' not ( assume that New Zealand’s production, would increase in the years ahead‘had no vision for the future. The debate was continued by Mr TfprnnE nn,l Mr Sextnn. »"<1 terruptecl by the adjournment at 10.3 U p.m. v ,

TO-DAY’S SITTING. . AVELLTNGTOX; August' 26. The House met at 9.30 a.m. The Arbitration Amendment Rill was put thmneq the committee stages and. read a third time and passed without discussion. , The House then proceeded with consideration of the estimates, the first item to he the vote of £339,000 for the Justice and Prisons Department. The Attorney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason), replying to various points raised by the Opposition, said he had received verv few complaints regarding competition bv prison I’ftfdhstripswith outside industries. In fact difficulties were being in carrying on prison industries, through 1 lack of prisoners. ■The Justice and Prisons Department vote was passed and a vote of £828? for the Crown Law Office passed without discussion. On the Internal Affairs Department estimate of £481,456, the Minister (Mr Parry) replying to Opposition comments, said the distribution of art union funds had been carried out as equitably as possible, and all applications for funds received fair and careful consideration from bis Department. Dealing with the destruction of deer,, Mr Parry said increasingly valuable work was being done each year. In 1931, a total of 8988 deer had been destroyed, while in 1937-38 some 39,000 animals had been destroyed, including deer, goats, pigs, wapiti, etc.

The House adjourned at 1 p.m. for luncheon.