CHANGES PROPOSED IN PROVIDENT FUND.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1931, Page 13

CHANGES PROPOSED IN PROVIDENT FUND.

PROVISION NECESSARY OWING TO SALARY CUTS. Fei* Press Association. WELLINGTON. August 5. Moving the second reading of the : National Provident Fund Act Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives the Hon J. B. Donald explained '. its provisions on the lines of his pre- ; vious statement. He said the Bill j ■would place contributors to the fund ; on the same basis as Civil Servants, this provision having been made necessary as a result of salary cuts. There was also provision that claims for in- ! capacity and maternity benefit had to * be made within twelve months. Mr Hamilton (Reform, Wallace) said he considered the scheme could be extended materially to the benefit of a large number of people. Mr Savage (Labour, Auckland West) said he would like an assurance that , contributors were left in the same . position as formerly. The Hon J. B. Donald: That is so.' The local authority has the decision as to whether contributors should continue at the higher rate or not. The Bill was read a second time. ( Bank of New Zealand. Mr F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino), moving the second reading of the Bank of New Zealand Act Amend- I

ment Bill, said it aimed at conferring on directors of the bank appointed by the. Government the same powers as those enjoyed by directors representing the shareholders. It also provided that directors appointed by the Government should not be connected with other banking, commercial, insurance or other financial concerns. The Prime Minister said it would be difficult to obtain men with the necessary qualifications for appointment who were not connected with institutions of the kind to which Mr Langstone had referred. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 5.30 p.m. Introduction of Bills. The Hon J. B. Donald gave notice of lu's intention to introduce the Auckland War Memorial and Museum Act Amendment Bill. The South Wairarapa River Board Empowering Bill (Colonel M’Donald) and Petone Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr W. Nash) were introduced and read a first time. . The Reprint of Statutes Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed.