UPPER HOUSE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 13

UPPER HOUSE

PENSIONS BILL DEBATED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 10. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day.— The Greymouth Harbour Board Reconstitution Bill was passed. In moving the second reading of the Pensions Amendment Bill, the Leader of the Council, the Hon. M. Fagan, explained the purposes of the measure in terms similar to those used by the Minister in the House. The Hon. V. Ward supported the measure and congratulated the Government on keeping up the tradition that New Zealand Government’s always attended to the first duty of helping the weak. The second duty of the Government was to encourage the strong, he added, and by doing that the weak were also helped because it was the strong and successful who provided the finance to pay pensions. The third duty of the Government was to keep finance on a sound basis. The fourth important duty of the Government was to see that the country was defended, and he expressed the opinion that a sound financial system would enable more defence measures to be taken. He appealed to the Government to do something for widows who reared families and were left late in life without a pension. The Hon. J. McLeod referred to the case of a man, now an invalid, who because he had resided in the Cook Islands for three years could not get a pension. The Hon. C. G. Carrington supported the measure, but said he did so with misgivings, because he was afraid when values dropped overseas it would be impossible to maintain the pensions bill. The Hon. J. Cotter said he believed it would always be possible to provide for pensioners. Apparently Mr Carrington believed that because prices fell overseas New Zealanders should sit down beside the food they produce and starve. Mr Fagan, in reply, said the Government had considered providing for the widows mentioned by Mr Ward, bu had not acted because national superannuation would be in operation in a few months. He agreed with Mr Cotter that New Zealand would always be able to feed her own people. The second reading was carried and the Council adjourned.