SOCIAL LEGISLATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 76, 26 February 1938, Page 8

SOCIAL LEGISLATION

SUPERANNUATION AND HEALTH. EVIDENCE TO BE TAKEN. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) FEATHERSTON, Feb. 26. Brief but important reference to the coming national superannuation and health schemes of the Government was made this afternoon by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M J- Savage), addressing a gathering at Featherston. Ho disposed of some published forecasts by showing that they are not based on definite facts, as the scheme has to be investigated by a special select committee of the House of Representatives to take evidence and report to Parliament before legislation is drafted. The Prime Minister devoted a considerable portion of his speech to a survey of the Government’s achievements since taking office less than three years ago, demonstrating that there had been a great advance in social welfare. ■> “As regards future social legislation,” he continued, “much more has to be dona It will be done as soon as possible.” “New Zealand,” Mr Savage went on, “lags behind in respect of health insurance, but it will not be kept there much longer. Throughout the world social insurance schemes proved their-, value during the slump, and emerged with added strength. Now is the time for New Zealand to step into line with other nations. It is also the policy of the Government to establish a scheme of national superannuation on a sound basis. Before the necessary legislation is put through the House, full consideration will be given_ to all the interests concerned. “We propose to refer the subject to a special committee of Parliament so as to give all persons interested in, or associated with superannuation systems, an opportunity to be heard. The committee’s proceedings will be open to the Press. A lot of evidence has been collected already, and several reports have been submitted. The Government has its own ideas as to a practicable plan, but in view of the multiplicity of the interests involved it has been decided to have the whole information analysed by a Parliamentary committee. The exact date for beginning the committee’s work has not yet been fixed, but it will be necessary to speed up the hearing so that its report can be dealt with to enable the law draftsman to prepare legislation for the last session of the present Parliament, which will open some time in June.” EXTENDED PENSIONS

The Prim© Minister declared that no one would suffer through this procedure. “In fact,’’ he added, “we are going to liberalise the existing pensions schemes in cetrain directions, particularly in making the old-age pension applicable to those of the statutory age who have had ten years’ residence in New Zealand. This concession, however, will apply only to old people of pension age who are now in Zealand, and not to those who may later come into the country. The proposed alteration to the residential limit will bring considerably more people under the old-age pensions system, and it will give temporary relief to poorer people until the national superannuation system has been brought into operation.”