PLEA FOR RESPECT FOR PUBLIC OPINION

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1947, Page 6

PLEA FOR RESPECT FOR PUBLIC OPINION

Press Association /

Opposition Opposes Pensions For Parliamentarians

xPer

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. "YYlien tlic House resumed. discussion in committee on the Superaunuation Bill, Mr. Holiand speaking to Section 5, which deals vvitii superannuation for members of Parliament, , said that, in the absence of any Governmeift annouucement that it would drop this part of the Bill, lie presumed they intended to proceed with it and j-mt it to the vote. Mr. Holiand reiterated the attitude he took last week that the Opposition would not agree to any scheme of this nature being put through in the dying hours of the session. His party, he said, would oppose this section entirely. There was need for greater care and respect for public opinion in enactihg legislation atfecting members of Parliament theiniseives than in dealing with any other legislation. The public must be given every possibie opportnnity to scrutinise such measures. it had aiways been a condition oi the Opposition 's support for the super annuatiou scheme that it be introduced early in the session, and not rushed through as was now being done. Mr. Holiand said he had taken this attitude ever since the House increased members' salaries. He had not taken such au attitude on that occasion, but had since realised that he • was mistaken tlicn. Mr. Xordtneyer asked if the Opposition would be free to vote as ind.ividuals on the question. Mr. T. P. Eliand (Marlborough): Don't worry about that. Mr. A. Bodkin (Otago Central) said he wished to place 011 record again that he accepted his share of the responsibility for the introduction of the measure. It was a thousand pities, he said, that provisiou for members' superannuatitrn had been iticluded in the general Superannuation Bill. That aloue was responsible for its introduction at such a late hour. Mr. Eraser: There is no late hour. We will sit for six months, if neeessary. To talk about late hours is a dislionest subterfuge. Mr. Eraser iiumediately afterward witlulrevv this term. Mr. Bodkin said that uiaiiy Opposition m.einbers had agreed to support the scheme only if it was introduced ' early' in the session. Mr. Holiand said that- the House must do nothing all'ecting members personally unless it liad tlie fullest public support, and he was not satisfied that the public woilld approve of any stfperanuuation scheme. There were the clearest indit'atious of widespread public. opinion against any superannuatioii jirovisfion , .for members,' and this opl.nibn hui! betm Uggravukul because ihe public hud been misinforiued

on the niatter. In the eyes of many people, Social fSecurity should be suifi-ci-ent for inembers of Parliament, That being so there must be a tremendous change in public opinion before m'Ginbers copld legislate to provide superannuation for themselves. He eonfessed with some disappointment that there had been no indications of general support for the scheme as introduced, and he thought this was due to the fact that the case for members' superannuation had not been properly presentred to the public. "We must be fair and frank and say that there is widespread opposition to this measure, and we on this side of the House must therefore oppose the passage of any such Bill," said Mr. Holiand. "We have no right to disregard puhlic opinion." Mr. Holiand repeated that the Opposition 's support had aiways been conditional 011 the introduction of the measure early in the session. Mr. A." G. Osborne (Onehunga) : There was no such thing. Mr. P. G. Conuollv ' (Dunedin Central ) : In the lirst session. Mr. Holiand: If there is any disagreement about what I liave said, 1 will produce it iu writing. Mr. Holiand said that the ►Speeeh from the Throue made no reference to members' supeannuatioii, and there was widespread opposition now to this portion of the Bill. Mr. T. E. Skinner (Tamaki): Outside pressure. Mr. ILollaud asked if it was the decent thing to do to put the scheme through at this stage. His party was 'tmcomproinisingly opposed to doing so. Withdrawal Termed Indbcent The Actiiig-Minister of Finance (Mr. Xordmeyer), wlio is in charge of the Bill, said tiiat he spoke "more in sorrow -than in anger". If there had been any understanding between the parties that the scheme would be introduced only at the beginniug of the session, the leader of ■ the Opposition should luive refused to take part iu the discussious that had been held during the last tew months. (toverninent voices: He 's backpeddliug — just cray fishing. llr. Xordmeyer asked whether it was decent for the Opposition to withdraw at tliis stage from a scheme wliich it had undoubtedly supported. There were a feu Opposition members wlio did not vvant the supenuinuation provision, and wlio might be finaneially embatiassetl ,by it, but most of tliem wauted it. It' I there were souietMug wrong with introiduciiig the scheme at this__ stage, that I should have been. (poi ntetT out to; the Government before' iiow. -Mr. Holiand I was not justified- in aycepting as

public opinion those representations he' / had received. , ■ .... Mr. Xordmeyer said that not one of his 14,Ut)U electors had comm.unicated to him any opinion, either for or against the scheme, and many Govern- .- rnent members were in the same po'sition. It was neeessary to keep'-a sense of proportipn as to what was public . opinion. Mr. Eraser said.he sympathised withthe member for Central Otagq. for his being compelled to" do somethipg by a rigid paVty discipline which had never been seen in the House before. - Mr. Ii. Macdonald (Ponsonby): Ereedom! Mr. Eraser said- there had ' been members wlio came to him after he last spoke in the ' debate thaxiking Mm for what. he "had said. ' ' Tliis is the „most abject retreat I have ever known in Parliament. Who are they retreating from? — a lot oi anouymous letter writers. Mr. M. H. Oram (Alanawatu) :", No! Mr. Praser said that part of the Bill under discussion had heen postponed fof a week to allow people to make what representations they desired, but ■ no one had appeared. The scheme they were adopting was more the Opposition' s scheme than the Government's. The leader. of the Opposition had expressed his pride in " the superannuation scheme being included in the National Party' s manifesto, but even though it was left out Opposition members: Inadvertently? Mr. Fraser: The Government will support it. The Opposition, he said" had beer; f'orced baek to the miserable subterfugeof retveat by claiming that the Bill wa3 being introduced in the dying hours of the session. The Government had waited six months for -tlie Opposition to make up its mind. Mr. Eraser said the Governmeni would stand by the scheme and go through with it. • " Even if the Opposition has not kept its pact, we will. The Government has never ruu a\\ ay and never will run away. " A divisiou was called for 011 the maia clause dealing with superannuation for ' members of Parliament. The division showed ;i,S .for the clause and 32 against. Mr. E. Langstone (Eoskill) said he ^ could not* understand tlie attitude oi the Opposition. He had never seen a divisiou takou and the Opposition so happv about the result. He could sec 011 tlie faces of members of the Opposi- " tion tlie colouv of reluctauce as they walked into the lobbv. Mr. W. Nullivan (Bay of Plenty) : That is not correct. Within live minutes after the Housfe' resumed after the luncheon adjoumment, tlie contentious portion', of -thp Bill was put through the comniitt.ee; stages, the reiuaimng portion bf "the'i Bill similarl y, and the' measure was passed. Tlie only proteSt ca'me- from ; tlie Opposition who, wiien the, lasi\ chtuse dealing with members' .s'p'per; i aunuation was committed, raised JeridS j of • '-Xo ' ' '