THE STATE AM THE WORKER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 8

THE STATE AM THE WORKER

(Fbou Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Speaking on a motion by the Hon. Mr Carncross in the Legislative Council today that there should bo a system of surrender value for the benefit of contributors in connection with private superannuation schemes, Dr Findlay pointed out that it was not the men ivho received largo salaries who were in need of superannuation. There were in New Zealand some 300,000 people who were wage-earners. The great bulk of tlieso workers were in private employ, and in tho case of a vast majority of them no provision was made for superannuation. It was true, as Mr George had slid, that various institutions contributed very generously towards the superannuation funds for their officers. If the Legislature was going to introduce the coercive hand of legislation into schemes of the kind it might well have the- effect of arresting the creation of such funds. While'public sentiment favoured the creation of these funds it would be itnwi&c to givo institutions any colour for saying that owing to improper interference oil the part of tho law they would not establish superannuation funds. But there was a wider consideration in connection with tho mailer. It was the duty of the Government to provide a superannuation fund for every working mail. The Government had so far recognised this duty that it hoped io pass this year a National Annuities Bill. Under the measure every man not in receipt of more than £200 a year might, as'a result of., his own contribution, supplemented in a large measure by the State, receive later in life a sufficient allowance to keep him from want. The amount of the allowance would in a considerable measure depend upon the amount of the contributions by the contributor. Then, again, when a contributor suffered incapacity through accident or sickness he, his wife, and children would in a large measure be protected from want. That principle, whether it saw tho Statute Book this session or not, was going to bo the law of this country sooner or latei. The people of New Zealand were past the day when a man should be allowed to work out his working days for nothing hut provender. Such a state of things had disfigured civilisation too long, and, as far as New Zealand was concerned, was not going to be tolerated any longer, liven if it did call on the resources of the State to rectify matters, ■let it do 60. It was the only way to protect old age and these who'had done their best in the industrial world, and until it was done the people could not the title of a. Christian people. After some discussion, the motion was agreed to on the voices, the Hon. Mr George being the only dissentient.