HOUSE RESUMES ON TUESDAY

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 6

HOUSE RESUMES ON TUESDAY

Superannuation And Health Insurance MAJOR LEGISLATION FOR PARLIAMENT GOVERNMENT SATISFIED WITH PROGRESS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 24. The Government’s proposals for national health insurance and superannuation are - expected to constitute the most important question to come before Parliament during the balance of the second session which is to be resumed next Tuesday. However, although the Government is satisfied with the progress made in shaping the health and superannuation schemes the questions involved ’ are so complex that in some well-informed circles it is believed that legislation giving effect to the Government’s- considered policy may be only introduced this session and not proceeded with until Parliament meets later in the year for the final round of business before the general election. There are several factors which support the belief that the Government does not wish to rush its fences in dealing with such highly-important matters of social legislation. For one thing, the illness of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) has meant his absence from many Cabinet meetings and as leader of the Government he must, of course, give personal attention to the framing of the legislation to which he himself is personally pledged. It is understood that the superannuation proposals are well advanced, but that various important points of policy have still to be settled in shaping the health insurance scheme.

TESTING PUBLIC REACTION If both superannuation and health insurance are to be financed through a combined tax or levy it seems reasonable to assume that one scheme cannot proceed without tire other. It is also stated that the Government is anxious to place concrete proposals before the country so that it can study the general public reaction. General expectation is that the health and insurance schemes -can be financed only by contributions by way of levy or taxation, and the belief is freely held that the Government would be acting wisely if it gave the people sufficient time to study the full details of its proposals before it proceeds to put them into operation. If all the matters involved in health insurance and superannuation are brought to finality within the next month or two the Government could then introduce a Bill covering the schemes and leave it for public examination and comment with a view to reshaping it in detail if necessary when Parliament meets for its final session later in the year. At the moment there is no great activity in Parliament Buildings, although messengers and others who are employed elsewhere during the recess are filtering back to work in the corridors and lobbies. Mr Savage himself is still keeping curtailed hours in his attendance at his office. He was present at a meeting of the Cabinet this morning, but when the meeting was resumed this afternoon the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) took charge of proceedings. However, the Prime Minister’s health is rapidly improving and he is firm in his intention to attend the Labour Party meeting at Featherston on Saturday and to visit Auckland for the opening of the Catholic centenary celebrations early next week.

MINISTERS RETURNING Various other Ministers have been away from Wellington at intervals during the past week, but they are gradually reassembling. A caucus of the Government party is bound to be held soon, but because the Prime Minister will leave for Auckland on Sunday night the actual date has not'yet been fixed. In any case, it is expected that when Parliament resumes on Tuesday tributes will be paid to the memories of former legislators who have died during the recess and the House of Representatives will then adjourn until Wednesday. One Government Bill of some importance, the Health Amendment Bill, is still on the Order Paper and in addition there is a motion for the ratification of conventions adopted by the International Labour Office at Geneva. These two matters, together with formal business, will probably occupy the House for at least a week.