SOCIAL SECURITY PLANS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 189, 12 August 1938, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY PLANS

OPPOSITION MEMBERS ISSUE A STATEMENT ,

GOVERNMENT SCHEME CRITICISED

PRINCIPLE OF BETTER PENSIONS AND

SERVICES APPROVED

V Per Pr»«» Association. I WELLINGTON, Aug. II

Expressing an opinion that creased pensions and other social is one with which they heartily Opposition (Mr. S. G. Holland, F Kyle), who were members ot" the recently investigated the Gover posals. have issued a statement o bers concerned also express a vie posals the poor and needy will be surgical, laboratory, radiology, c( ing and other services than they , The statement says that its signatories are entirely in accord with the principle of superannuation. It is not only a duty devolving on all legislators, but it should also be their conBtant aim, first, to extend all possible tid to the aged, sick and infirm, who have insufficient means to provide for themselves, and. second, to encourage and assist thrift in the community toward the end of inducing a sense, Mnd securing the fact of, as great a degree of social security as is possible,” says the statement. “Any critical comments made in the statement should be construed as being actuated, not by opposition to such Social aims, but rather to an earnest desire that whatever methods are finally adopted should be the best, soundest and most equitable that the resources of the country can provide, ind should be founded on a reasonable assurance of ability of the country to I sustain the scheme at whatever levels I are determined.” Finance of the Scheme. Dealing with the question of finance ©f the scheme, the statement points ©ut that the Government proposes to levy a tax of Is in the pound on all I persons, and what was the emergency tax would become a permanent tax. with the rate increased by 50 per cent, trhe balance of the money required to finance the joint scheme must come from Consolidated Funds, presumably from general taxation. •Announcements by the Government, says the statement, “gave rise to anticipation that the superanuation proposals would provide for superannuation to become payable, as of right, to every person reaching an age of 60 years. In actual fact there were no proposals placed before the committee to pro-] tide for a universal superannuation ' Icheme. and it is a misuse of the word | Superannuation' to call the present proposals a ‘superannuation scheme ] it all. The only extent to which the , plan is universal is that every person; naving an income must contribute, by i both direct and indirect income, irre-! Bpective of whether he has already I made provision for his own security in old age or not. The benefits of the! icheme are restricted to those who; rive until they are 60 years of age. and I jvho can then comply with the quali-] fications regarding income and pro-1 perty when applying for the present ! pld age pension. The proposals, merely increase the old age pension from 22s 6d to 30s a week, and reduce I the qualifying age for men to that ob-: ;aining for women, namely 60 years.; Those who have made provision for their futures by way of life insurance, luperannuation schemes, or other means, are to be compelled to contribute towards the cost of the proposed lational scheme. Yet they will be debarred from receiving superannuation benefits because they have already made provision for themselves.*’ Disabilities of Young People. The statement also goes on to deal With the disabilities which young, people will suffer under the scheme, asi rill those subscribing to the existing] luperannuation schemes and proceeds, •a outline the existing facilities which ire being offered in the latter connection. Dealing with national health lervice proposals, the statement says lhe Government’s proposals claim to irovide for free general practitioner rrvice. free hospital treatment, free rental hospital treatment, free meditines and free maternity. . “No services which involve the ta.xng of those receiving benefits or serrices to the extent of three million bounds could be called free services.” fie statement says. It also complains 'hat the Government has steadfastly lec’ined to lay before the committee he working details of its proposals, as lould be necessary in a Bill, for inlance, or the methods proposed for aising money to finance the scheme. Method of Raising Funds. “We hold.” adds the statement “that t is imperative to know how it is proosed to raise the necessary funds beore a conclusion can be reached as to he practicability of the proposals, and re disagree with the Governments ©mention that the matter of how he money is to be raised is solely for he Government and not one for the ommittee to consider at ail.’’ After dealing with the evidence of fr. G. H. Maddex, the English actugry. the statement complains that the fork of the committee has been seritisly hampered by a refusal of a majority of the committee, including II the Government members present. d call witnesses. The signatories to he statement requested they should e called to disclose the methods proosed to raise the money necesasry to ftiance the scheme. It goes on to say hat it is clear that much essential service that is provided by general Medical practitioners will not be provided under the Government’s proposals. Difficulty in securing a large lanel in country districts is bound to Lsult in the best doctors coming to fie towns and in a more expensive tervice for country people, and the statement contends application of the theme is likely to result in the

the object of providing inservices for the poor and needy agree, three members of the lon. J. G. Cobbe, and .Mr. H. S. committee of the House which •riment’s superannuation pron the scheme. The three mem;w that under the medical prot in no better position to obtain msultant. specialist, home nursare at present (■elimination of existing specialist and consultant services. Co-operation of the B.M.A. With regard Io the attitude of the profession it states that the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association clearly indicated that it cannot promise its willing support and co-operation in the carrying out of the scheme. “There is no provision in the proposals for relieving either town or country ratepayers of the present burden of hospital rates, and the signatories are generally of the opinion lhe scheme provides a basis for regimentation and socialisation of the medical profession, and for the ultimate control of the entire medical service by State.” says the statement. “The weight of evidence was overwhelmingly opposed to the Government's [ health proposals in four directions I namely, that they would not improve the health of the people, the standard ! medical practice will decline, the cost .of the proposed State health service will be greatly increased without any improvement in public health, and no health scheme that deals exclusively with effects and ignores the causes is sound.” After dealing with the effects which the signatories consider the scheme will have on friendly societies, etc., and the increasing cost of the scheme as time progresses, the statement continues that the question of the ability of the country to carry the increased burden of taxation involved must receive lhe most careful consideration. “It would be disastrous,” it stales, “to establish a level of pensions, etc., that could not be maintained in the event of price fluctuations on the ! markets which absorb our surplus production and on which we so largeI ly depend for a great portion of our national income.” ! The signatories stress Aie fact that i they do not consider it wise to emj bark on these costly schemes in the ] absence of necessary information, but ; they recommend a complete health | service, without a charge, for the aged and infirm and those sections of ] the community which are unable to I bear the expense of serious illness in- ' voicing hospital treatment, operations [or specialist and consultant services. Prevention of Disease , The statement adds that the signai lories have been struck by the fact ' that there is a complete absence from I the Government's proposals of any provision for the prevention of disease, improvement of the health of the nation, or investigation into the causes of disease. “In our opinion.” the report adds, "provision should be made for a further extension of the health services I of the community in the direction or . preventing disease and removing its . causes, and a competent advisory body • should be set up to inform the Government on such matters as nutrition of the people, co-ordination of lhe (voluntary organisations and State acjtivities having for their objective the | improved health of the people, and i the best means of attacking the need- ' lessly high incidence of common ail- [ ments, such as dental decay, goitre, I etc.” Principal of Superannuation Supported In conclusion, the statement says: "Wp strongly support the . principle of superannuation, and recommend that a universal, com- ' pulsory superannuation scheme he inaugurated based on the following principles: That every person making direct contributions should be entitled to benefit without application of the means test, or other qualification, and that those persons, such as State employees and others in private superannuation schemes, who have made provision as adequate as that provided in the State scheme, should be exempt from any compulsion to subscribe to the State | scheme.”