SPECULATIVE FIGURES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 17

SPECULATIVE FIGURES

ACTUARY'S ESTIMATE WIDER BENEFITS LTtGED (I'cr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Reference to the cost of social security was made by Mr. J. Roberts in a statement on behalf of the Federation of Labour to the Parliamentary Committee investigating the superannuation and health insurance scheme.

"While I do not intend to challenge the figures of the actuary, Mr. Madclex," the statement says, "the fact remains that his conception of cost can be regarded as purely speculative, for no one can foretell, with any decree of accuracy, what is going to happen in live or 10 years from now, and certainty not in 40 years' time.

"The cost, after all. is a relative ciueslion. The cost of social security must be paid for by the production of the people of the nation. Personally, I have no doubt that if the workers are allowed access to the natural resources of New Zealand and the agencies of production generally, they can nroducc goods and render services" that will enable the State to make provision for all benefits proposed by the scheme.

Benefits for All "1 do not know whether the Government contemplates extending these benefits to all the people of New Zealand, but 1 consider that, if economic conditions permit it, it would be advisable to do so. 1 would be in favour of a scheme that would give all the people of this country free health services and the other benefits I have already enumerated and, finally, superannuation at the age of 60.

"The needs of to-day are, however, for the people who are not in receipt of an income which will enable them to provide for old age and infirmity, but there appears to me to be no reason why this should not be extended to all contributors.

Had to Live on Credit Replving to fie Prime .Minister, i the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, at the conclusion of his statement, Mr. Roberts said a man who had a family could not put anything away. In many cases, where there was a break in employment, the workers had to , live on credit, and when the working days came back again, they had to nay their debts He did not think there'were many petiole who could make provision for sickness, uncm- , ployment or the birth of their child- j ren.

In reply to a question by the Hon. W. Nash,'Mr. Roberts said he did not think the average man would object to making a contribution in order to obtain social security.

Mr. H. Almore: Do you think there should be a further reduction in the working hours in New Zealand?

Mr. Roberts: I think we have gone far enough in that direction in the meantime. I would like to see an earlier retiring age.

Abolition of Fund A request that the committee should consider carefully the Question of providing legislation to enable a local authority and its employees, which arc placed in a position such as that obtaining in the case of the Buller County, to abolish its superannuation fund, 'arid thus allow all its employees the benefits of the State superannuation fund, was made by the Buller County Council, in a statement put before the committee. The statement pointed out that the Buller County's fund was a small one, and authority had been sought from time to time to abolish it. Legislation, however, would have to be enacted to do this.