SOCIAL SECURITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 177, 27 June 1938, Page 11

SOCIAL SECURITY.

SCOPE OF LEGISLATION. PREMIER’S INDICATION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 26. “There will be no delay in bringing before Parliament this session the Bill giving effect to the Government’s social security proposals,” said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview on Saturday. Extensions of the original scheme, which had become desirable in the light of evidence brought before the Special Parliamentary Committee, were being finally shaped, the Prime Minister added, ana excellent progress was being made with the drafting of the actual legislation. “I do not think it wise to discuss details too much until the Bill itself appears,” Mr Savage 6aid, “but I can. definitely say we are taking steps to improve the position as far as civil servants and contributors to private superannuation schemes are concerned. As a result, the scope of the Government’s proposals will bo even wider than when they were originally announced.

“The first proposal was to pav to a man and his wife at the age of 60 years 30s a week each and to make no deductions on account of joint additional income of £1 a week. This would have allowed a total income for a superannuated married couple of £2OB per year. The necessity for widening the scope has arisen because of the fact that, under the original scheme, lowerpaid contributors to existing superannuation schemes would have been required to pay the social security contribution hut, owing to income limitations, would not have received the full benefits. Accordinely, we have decided to increase the allowable income on a sliding scale, so that in cases such as I have mentioned there will be an annual income, including the State superannuation. of £312.” / Mr Savage said that full details of rates of payment to supevannuitants would be included in tlie Bill to come before Parliament, and he himself was satisfied that the new proposals were an appreciable step nearer to the ultimate goal of universal superannuation. There would be graduation of benefits above £2OB in certain cases, but the contributions would not he graduated. They would bo made at a flat rate' of Is in the £l.

“Attention is also being given to The health side of the , prop ns.a Is,” Mr Savaee added, “and the scheme is being shaped for the payment of sickness benefits in tlie event of a short illness. I am more confident than ever that the whole scheme will represent a greater measure of social security for the people than New Zealand has previously known.” Tlie Prime Min’ster stated that in all probability a fair amount of authority would b'e given to Commissioners or departmental beads , appointed under the legislation to deal with certain individual cases' on their merits.