INVALIDS’ PENSIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 16

INVALIDS’ PENSIONS

BILL HAS SYMPATHY OF MEMBERS GOVERNMENT UNABLE TO HELP Press Association AVELLINGTON, Wednesday. The second reading of the Invalid Pensions Bill was moved in the House of Representatives today by Mr. J. O’Brien (Labour—Westland). Mr. O’Brien said he realised the measure would not get far as a private member’s Bill because it an appropriation. He stated, however, that the Bill bridged a little gap in the pensions legislation, and if adopted it would complete New Zealand’s claims to the most progressive social legislation in the world. There were already pensions for the blind and for widows, but when a man was incapacitated but still alive, he and his dependants were deprived of the advantages of any pension. He pleaded with the Government to take the matter up, and if it could not do anything this session, to bring clown a Bill on similar lines next year. Mr. A. HtJfemuel (Reform —Thames) said ho did not think any taxpayer would cavil at paying a little more to provide an allowance for people who would be assisted by the Bill. He urged the Government to take the mcasere up. The Minister of Pensions, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, said he was sure the proposals in the Bill had the sympathy of every member of the House. It was unfortunate, however, that at a time of financial stress like the present it was impossible for the Government to do anything this year that would involve so much additional expenditure. He hoped it would be possible to do something when conditions improved. Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West) said the cost of putting the proposals into operation would be a matter of transferring rather than increasing taxation. The burden on hospital boards would be transferred to the general taxpayer. Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform—Wellington Suburbs) said the Bill seemed to have been carefully drawn, and it safeguarded the country against imposition He agreed that all parties were in favour of some measure of the kind. The Bill was read a second time.