IMPORTANT BILLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 231, 30 August 1937, Page 2

IMPORTANT BILLS

FOR COMING SESSION. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. '29. "The programme of legislation for the coming session will not be so extensive as last year, but it will contain several important Bills,” said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-day. "Ministers have been busy outlining the provisions of measures affecting their respective responsibilities, and the Law Draftsman has a fair amount of work in hand.

“It is too early yet to give details, but it can be said that, apart from a number of departmental machinery measures, several of the Bills will be of an amending nature, giving effect to my statements in the House last session that if any of the Government’s initial measures were, found in operation to have fallen short of their purpose or to have created anomalies, there' would he neither hesitation nor delay' in making the necessary adjustments. The question of repealing any of our legislation or of making any vital alteration in principle has not arisen.

"The Budget, the Estimates and the Public Works Statement will dominate the early part of the session, and there should be no- dearth of talking points for . the Government members as well as for the Opposition. The Minister of Finance has something substantial to show as the result of the Government’s policy of rebuilding New Zea ; land’s social structure, which was so badly fractured by the measures of our predecessors, the Coalition Government. "Later in the session, probably during the second part after the midsummer recess, the most important legislation in the Government’s immediate programme will be introduced. This will give effect to a comprehensive scheme of national health insurance and national superannuation. "It is our aim to give a far-reaching effect to the national superannuation plan so that it will be possible for every man and woman to spend their old' age in a reasonable standard of comfort. After all, if the actual and potential wealth of New Zealand cannot support that level of security for the aged, then all the commentators should stop talking about the country’s resources. It is intended that the scheme shall he universal in operation. „ HEALTH INSURANCE.

“A special committee has been collecting data and preparing a report during my absence, and that information is being considered by Cabinet. As for the establishment of a sound system of national health insurance, our scheme is by no means a rash experiment. Health insurance has been so well established in other countries that the scheme should have been in operation in New Zealand long ago, and would if there had not been something far wrong with previous Governments. , “I noticed recently that an editorial writer in a difficult effort to condemn the Government’s policy misused the old metaphor that instead of providing an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff the State should build a fence at the top. Well, the trouble is that so many people have already fallen over the cliff. The ambulance is more than fully occupied. We have to maintain not only an ambulance, 'but as soon ns possible erect a good, substantial fence.

"This country is far behind in respect of health insurance. Already no fewer than 23 countries have compulsory health insurance schemes in successful operation. These include Great Britain, the Irish Free State, France, Germany, Russia and Japan. Voluntary schemes operate in seven countries. In addition, social insurance schemes are proposed for 1-1 other countries, including* Australia, Canada', South Africa and India. Not since the movement began has the scheme been abandoned anywhere, and wherever there has been an alteration it has been to expand the benefits of the scheme. “Hitherto New Zealand has turned its Rack on the march of progress in respect of national health insurance. The present Government is determined at least to step into line. Further, we mean to take full advantage of the experience of other? countries and avoid the defects that are being put right elsewhere. A practical scheme for New Zealand at last is in sight”’