“LEAD THE WORLD”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 224, 2 September 1936, Page 6

“LEAD THE WORLD”

HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION.

CARE OF AGED PEOPLE Government Congratulated On Pensions Bill. REMOVE ANOMALIES. Press Association —Copyright. Wellington September 1. The debate on the second reading of the Pensions Amendment Bill, which was moved by the Minister in charge of the Pensions Department, the Hoh. W. E. Parry, was begun in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Parry claimed that when tire Bill was passed New Zealand would again lead the world in humanitarian legislation. Other members who spoke welcomed the Bill, the debate on which was adjourned when the House rose.

Mr. Parry referred to the services of the aged people of the community in j building up a developing country. Elderly people did not like to think they were being kept by the younger section and the Bill would overcome that feeling. Mr. Parry paid a tribute to Mr. Seddon and his associates for the introduction of humanitarian . principles into legislation. That legislation made it easier for the Government to-day. The Bill would go a long way to removing anomalies that had been experienced in the past. It would not go ais far as the Government would like to see it go, but it would go as far as the Government had been able to go in the time. Provision would be made for more than 23,000 pensioners, and the Bill' would remove many hardships. It did not do all the Government desired and what the Government had in view fpr the next two years. When the Bill was passed New Zealand would again lead the'world in pension systems. Removal of the fear of want in old age \yas one of the finest tilings they could aim at. ! : ; Invalidity Pensions. Mr. Parry dealt with the Bill clause by clause. Little publicity had been given to invalidity pensions, he said, and as far as the House went only references to it Were piade by Government members, it had been said the. Government was pensioning off the city at the expense of the country,' but' that was most unfair. He referred, to several farmers who would benefit under the Bill. Regarding the repeal of disqualification because of imprisonment Mr. Parry said that if a person had suffered imprisonment he had pu.d the penalty for his offenpp and snuuld not be debarred from the benefits under the Bill.

Dealing with reciprocal pensions Mr. Parry said that in 1930 certain legislation was passed by the New Zealand Parliament covering an agreement between the New Zealand and' Australian Governments, but Australia passed no such legislation. Several attempts had been made to induce Australia to enter into a reciprocal agreement,' Imt they had been unsuccessful. However, the Government would endeavour to come to such an agreement with Australia and with Britain. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W; Nash, when he went to Britain, would pndeayour to open negotiations, and at a lat.er' stage he migjfit. endeavour to' malc<| a- similar arrangement ‘wffh Australia, fiacre a Parliamentary delegation shortly coming to itfew Zealand from Australia and he' would discuss the matter with the Federal Minisc ter of Pensions to see if the problem, which he did not regard as very difficult, could be overcome.

The cost of the Bill would run int 6 £1,700,000, Mr. Parry concluded, and it gave him pleasure to say the Bill would enable tyew Zealand to lead the world in humanitarian legislation,"' ’

.. Benefit Many, Mr. R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) said he did not think any one political party more than another was entitled to credit for improving the position of pensioners. He did not think anyone could complain about the distance the Bill had gone, and no doubt the Government would go farther in future. He supported the Bill and said he believed the Government would receive from the people of ' New Zealand the thanks it really deserved. The Government had thp good fortune to'cqime' into power when times' were improving, but bethought the Government must have stretched the position to go as far as it had in the Bill. He congratulated the Government on bringing in the Bill and said it would benefit a great' many people.

Dr. D. G. McMillan (Govt., Dunedin West) said no one would suggest the present Bill was the last word in the Government’s social legislation.' It was merely a measure to tide them over till the major measure of next year. The Bill marked the reawakening of the Government’s obligations to its fellows. It was merely the beginning and would lay the foundation of social insurance which the Government would extend in future.

He was looking forward, said Dr. McMillan, to the time when old age pensions would be sufficient to enable old 1 people to live in comfort instead of havj ing to end their days in old | homes. The Bill laid the foundation t-J a I system of national superannuation winch would be introduced later‘in the life of the Government, to which everyone would contribute and from which everyone would benefit, irrespective of income. Referring to widow’s pensions Dr, McMillan suggested that when the Government did pay a widow a pension it would be found advantageous if. when she remarried,, it should grant her a dowry equivalent to several years’ pen sion, because then she became more attractive to prospective suitors and when she remarried the State was relieved of the liability.