SHOULD PENSIONS BE INCREASED?

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7321, 3 September 1930, Page 6

SHOULD PENSIONS BE INCREASED?

Labour Amendment Against Government

NOT A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION!

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night

When tho report of tho Pensions Department was presented in the House to-day, Mr. A. M. Samuel moved that it be referred back to tho Government for consideration. Ho urged that tho miners’ phthisis petitions should bo given more favourable treatment.

Mr. W. E. Parry moved as an amendment that tho report be referred back as an indication that old ago pensions and pensions for tho blind should bo increased.

Hon. J. G. Coates asked what wan tho Government’s attitudo towards tho amendment. Did it intend to regard it as a no-confidcucc motion 1

Tho leader of the Labour Party (Mr. 11. E. Holland) said tho amendment was a mere expression of opinion and it was quite open for members to vote for it without expressing no-confidenco in tho Government. Mr. Coßtcs had almost pleaded with the Government to treat it as a matter of no-confidenco, so that tho Reform party could avoid voting with the Labour party. Hon. E. A. Ransom said ho hoped members would tako tho whole position into consideration when the amendment Vent to the vote. They should consider tho cost to the country that would lie involved and whether tho present time was an opportune one to increase pensions. The amendment would not be treated as a no-confidence motion, but merely as an indication of tho feeling of the House on the subject of pensions. On the other hand it did not follow that members voting against the amendment were not in sympathy with ’ placing pensions on a more favourable basis. It merely showed that they were taking into consideration the present ' financial situation. He hoped the Govj eminent in the near future would be able to consider placing pension legislation on a better footing, especially in regard to the present restrictions on the earning powers of pensioners. Even j if the amendment were carried it would j be impossible under the circumstances for the Government to put tho recommendations into operation at once. With respect to the miners’ phthisis petitions, he said the Government would bo agreeable to all cases being reviewed.

Hon. Downio Stewart said Mr. Parry’s amendment was merely an idle gesture to the country. The Labour party had agreed with tho utmost reluctance to the Government’s taxation proposals because of the stringent financial position of the country. They were now asking for increases in pensions that would involve extra expenditure, but they did not indicate how the necessary money was to be obtained or what additional taxation they proposed. He had no hesitation in deciding which way he would vote in view of the financial conditions of the day. The motion and amendment were “talked out,’’ the House adjourning at 5.30.