SOCIAL SECURITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25940, 5 September 1945, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY

NATIONAL PARTY INTENTIONS STRONG REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. The intention of the National Party to operate the social security benefits and to extend them was reiterated by Mr K. J. Holyoake (Oppn., Pahiatua) during the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr Holyoake said that on numerous occasions Labour members had asserted that the Opposition, if it became the Government, would not operate the social security benefits. Despite the constant denials of this assertion, they went on trying to frighten pensioners into retaining the Government in office. It was necessary again to nail this canard. Grossly untrue statements had been made by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in Christchurch last weekend. Following a point of order raised by the acting Leader of the House, Mr W. Nash, Mr Speaker ruled that it was out of order for one member to accuse another of saying untrue things either inside or outside the House. Mr Holyoake withdrew the expression. He said he would say that the Prime Minister had made a statement in Christchurch that was deliberately misleading and deliberately incorrect. It was a most reprehensible statement. The National Party had already made it clear that when it became the Government it intended- to continue all those benefits and planned to extend them, particularly assistance to mothers in the home, for the prevention of sickness and for the physical and moral training of the youth of the country.