BURDEN OF LIABILITIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 6

BURDEN OF LIABILITIES

SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

INDEPENDENT'S WARNING

(PnrJiumontary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day

Warning the Government not to undertake liabilities under its social security scheme which the country might not be able to carry, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (fnd., Egmont) reminded the .House of Representatives that many States in America made promise's to pay pensions which were utterly beyond their capacity and they could'not meet the obligations. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. .1. Savage: Tell us one of them. Mr. Wilkinson: f can quote a dozen of them. I have the papers here.

Answering Labour interjections, Mr. Wilkinson asked when he made a statement if he was to be contradicted. He contended that he could prove what he said to any member who consulted him. What, he continued, was the use of Labour Party candidates going around New Zealand making all sorts of foolish promises?

What had happened in some American States was that 99 old people out of 100 were on the pension roll and some had wealthy sons and daughters. The Federal Government had refused to make payments as it had become a scandal. The system could be abused here too. It was all very well for Labour to say: "See what we are going to give you in pensions," when the country could only pay according to its capacity. Ife wanted to see the sick, the blind, and the aged looked after in common humanity. They must always do their utmost for them, and as conditions improved the payments could be extended.