IN PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 2

IN PARLIAMENT

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE. G OVERNMENT STONEWALL. Something in the nature of a Government stonewall developed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, when the second reading debate on the Social Security Bill drew to a dose. Tho supply of Opposition speakers on the Bill was exhausted last week, and although the debate was set down for resumption yesterday, the Government manifestly desired to have'the main part of the reply by the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) delivered at a time when most people would be listening to the Parliamentary broadcast. Accordingly four Government speakers carried on the debate for half an hour each, and the Minister began his lcply to the debate shortly before 5 o’clock. MAGNIFICENT HELP. ,“I want to pay a tribute to the splendid way in which the Eriendly Societies met the Government while tins scheme was being prepared,” said the Minister. “They gave us magnificenthelp and information.” At two conferences, said Mr Nash, Friendly Society representatives were of the greatest assistance, particularly their information on the running of the Friendly Society machinery and on the Friendly Society dispensaries. The Government had set out in detail at these conferences its scheme for helping the Friendly Societies and for using the machinery that already existed. REORGANISED SUPERANNUATION The intention of the Government to reorganise the Public Service superannuation schemes next year with the object of removing anomalies was announced by Mr Nash. He denied that these schemes would disappear in consequence of the universal superannuation scheme envisaged in the Bilk After referring to the position of civil servants and others in superannuation schemes, the Minister said the Government had decided to introduce universal superannuation at the age of 65. The Leader of tho Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton) : Does that- mean that tho Public Service superannuation schemes will ultimately go out? ' Mr Nash: No. 1 have no idea of any of these schemes being discontinued. The Government has in mind, however, tlio reorganisation of the schemes next year with the object of removing some anomalies that exist. GOVERNMENT’S JOB. “There should not be any need in this country for many long years to dream of any lack of production of the tilings which _ are necessary in life,” Mr Nash said. “There is more to be considered than just the production of goods. Our standard of living is _ not entirely conditioned or determined by the raw materials which we produce.” Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes: The price we get for them has something to do with it. “That is not a determining factor,” said Mr Nash. “The job of a Government is to ensure that there is no need for anyone to worry about material things.” . PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY. There had been a suggestion, said Mr Nash, that the Dominion could not hope to increase production from the land. During the decade ended 1934 primary production had doubled and still the limit hadnot been reached. Mr W. J. Poison : Why has there been a drop in the production of butter ? Mr Nash: There has been a drop of 7 per cent, in butter ancU3 per cent, in cheese, but there was a reason for that. Mr H. S. S. Kyle : What about wool ? “The returns from wool fell because wo did not sell, the wool,” said Mr Nash. “Opposition members admit that we have not reached saturation point, and if that is so production must continue to increase.”

Mr Poison: If the lion, gentleman overloads us with taxation, production must fall. WAGES TAX REMAINS.

The Minister of Finance stated that the Leader of the Opposition had said he would finance the scheme without the w.ages tax. That meant the money would have to come from some other source. The wages tax was at present producing £5,000,000. and the social security tax was expected to provide £8,000,000.- - It would be interesting to know where the Leader of the Opposition proposed to obtain that money. Hon. A. Hamilton: What the country wants to know is how you propose to finance the scheme. • “The Opposition talks about abolishing the w.ages tax, but I am certain that cannot be done,” said Mr Nash. “Benefits cannot be given without making provision for them.’ PUZZLE FOR MEMBER,

Mr H. S. S. Kyle opened the discussion in committee by attempting to examine the Government’s proposals for financing the health and superannuation services and was promptly: ruled out of order hv the chairman. He asked if he would be allowed to quoteclauses from the Maddex report. The chairman: That is not in the Bill. , . . . ■ rt Mr Kyle: I am wondering what is in the Bill. MOTOR DRIVERS’ DISABILITIES, i Mr W. J. Lyon gave notice to ask the Minister of'Transport whether the Minister had noticed that in recent accident eases some drivers ot motor vehicles had been shown to be suffering- from physical disability likely to impair their driving efficiency and whether lie -would consider that licenses should only be granted to drivers physically capable of dealing with any emergency. , .