NEW LEGISLATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 77, 28 February 1938, Page 9

NEW LEGISLATION

GOVERNMENT’S PLANS. THE PENSIONS SYSTEM. Per Press. Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 28. All sections of the public interested in the superannuation and national health insurance proposals of the Government will have an opportunity of giving evidence at an inquiry to be held during the recess of Parliament by a special Parliamentary Committee. This statement was made to-day by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), after his arrival from Wel- ■ lington for the opening of the Catholic Centenary. Mr Savage said that the order of reference would be made wide enough .-[to cover every phase of the problem. After the conclusion of the inquiry the committee would prepare its report without delay, so that the neces- ' sary legislation could be framed by the law draftsman in time to enable an adequate discussion to be held during the final sesison of Parliament. ■‘The prospective legislation will be put on the Statute Rook during the life of the present Parliament,’’ Mr Savage said. The Premier reiterated that in the meantime the pensions system would be liberalised by reducing the residential limit from 20 years to ten years, and said that the change would operate from the date of the passing of the Bill dealing with this. It was expected that several thousand people would benefit as a result of this change. The scale of pensions would be the same as that now applying for old age pensioners.