NATIONAL PROVIDENT BILL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 2721, 21 November 1910, Page 3

NATIONAL PROVIDENT BILL.

SPEECH BY MR H. POLAND

The following is an extract from a speech in the House by Mr H. Poland, M.P., during the debate on the second reading of the National Provident Fund Bill:—I cannot allow this Bill to pass

its second reading without expressing my appreciation of the measure and congratulating the Prime Minister on

the fact that we have now, after three attempts, reached the second-reading stage of the Bill. To my mind this is the most important Bill we have had before us this session, and I regret we are not able, owing to the late hour, to discuss it and go into its details at the length to which I believe its importance warrants. At the same time, I want to deal with one or two vexed questions which have already been referred to by honourable members. There is in this measure an optional system by which those who are in receipt of an income not exceeding ,£2OO may obtain under certain conditions an annuity on reaching sixty years of age. During the period subseqnent to five years after joining the fund and up to the age of 60 years subscribers may under certain circumstances obtain sick benefits, and in the case of death their widows and children may also receive benefits. Now, all these are very excellent provisions, and to my mind they will be taken advantage of to a considerable

extent by young people of thrifty habits. But it js very doubtful as to the entent to which this Bill is going to benefit the

great body oi wage-earners. Of course, the object oi the Bill is to benefit the wage-earners. The Prime Minister, in moving the second reading, referred to the tact jthat we have now in the Civil Service of the country superannuation schemes guaranteed by the State, and I certainly agree that if the Civil Service,

—who are in receipt of regular pay, whether great or small, during the whole period practically of their service, subject to good conduct—are entitled to superannuation, assisted and guaranteed by the State, then certainly it is essential that the ordinary wage-earner, who

has to seek his employment wherever he can find it, and whose employment is intermittent, and who earns at the

best but a precarious living for himself and wife and family, should be provided with some means whereby he will feel that in old age or infirmity he will re-

ceive sufficient, at anyrate, to keep him

decent. And this is attempted to be provided in this Bill, and for a first attempt it is a good one.