LABOUR CAUCUS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19555, 10 February 1938, Page 6

LABOUR CAUCUS

IMPORTANT PROBLEMS NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN SU.I'KI JANNUATION SCHEME ADVICE TO THE CABINET (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The health of the Prime Minister, Mr. M. J. Savage, continues to improve and he was able to get up today, although it was not expected that he would attend the party caucus which opened to-day under the chairmanship of the Hon. P. Fraser. This gathering is fully attended and is regarded as the most important caucus of the year. It will consider not only the legislative programme, but the general political situation and the aprpoaching general election. Several committees of the party met on Wednesday to prepare reports for the caucus. There is a very active campaigning programme in prospect prior to the coming session.

The caucus will receive information from the Cabinet regarding the national health scheme and the universal superannuation plan. One suggestion published is that the Government aims at a minimum superannuation of £3 weekly on a contributory basis. This was brought under the notice cf Mr. Fraser as Minister of Health, but he declined to comment.

The actual position at the mom .at is in such a fluid state that no basis exists for the prediction, excepting the expressed ideals of prominent members of the Cabinet. These would create the belief that the joint pension of a married couple would be £3 weekly as the minimum, but there is the financial limitation to consider. Members of the party expect to hear details of a number of alternative proposals and to give indications to the Cabinet which should be helpful in the final preparation of the health and pensions schemes. The caucus is expected to last two days.