FAMILY BENEFIT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22671, 26 August 1943, Page 4

FAMILY BENEFIT

Plea For Extension Council Turns Deaf Ear I N.Z.P.A, > WELLINGTON. Aug. 25. A plea for the extension of the family benefits to all children irrespective of the parents’ income was made by the Hon. T. Bloodworth in the Legislative Council to-day on the second reading debate of the Social Security Amendment Bill, under which the family allowance Is fixed at 7 6 a week for each child provided the parents’ income is not more than £5 '5 - a week. Everyone, he said, realised the importance of increasing the size of families. There should be no means test for the family allowance. The superannuation benefit was universal and it was more important to make provision for the benefit at the beginning of life also universal.

The Hon. M. Connelly said he would oppose working people being taxed to provide a family allowance for wealthy people. The Bill was passed without amendment.

The Council also passed without amendment the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill, the Appropriation Bill and the Age Benefits and Invalids Benefits (Reciprocity with Australia) Bill. «

Speaking on the second reading of the Statutes Amendment Bill, the Hon. B. Martin described as a flagrant breach of the stabilisation regulations the clause enabling the annual allowance to the president of the Municipal Association to be increased from £lOO to £2OO.

The Hon. T. F. Doyle agreed, saying the work of the president was not a very big job. Tlie Leader of the Council, the Hon. D. Wilson, said the man concerned lived in Masterton and frequently came to Wellington for work connected with the war, in which he had been most helpful. He was worth £2OO. but the Minister said he would inquire if the proposal had been before the Stabilisation Committee.

The Council passed without amendment the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill, the Statutes Amendment Bill and the Local Legislation Bill and adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.