COUNTRY QUOTA

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 23, 27 July 1945, Page 8

COUNTRY QUOTA

MR. FRASER'S PROMISE

WARTIME GOVERNMENTS

"The Government, realising what happens to wartime Governments, might have a different view about the country quota," suggested the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) this morning, to the accompaniment of laughter from Government members, when he renewed his request for more information about the Government's legislative programme.

"I want to assure the Leader of the Opposition that I will endeavour to put him out of his misery of doubt as soon as possible," laughingly replied the Prime Minister.

Mr. Holland said that the country quota question was worrying the people and they would really like to know what was going to be done, and he thought they were entitled to such information.

The Prime Minister said he would give some indication on Wednesday when the Bank of New Zealand Bill and other matters were likely to come before the House. It was necessary that the Budget should be introduced first in regard to the minimum family income proposals, and so forth. He could assure the Leader of the Opposition that Fate did overtake Governments. He had seen some evidence of that recently, but he had the idea that it depended upon the type of Government. (Government hear, hears.)

RECIPROCAL EVIDENCE

A further reference to the British election results was contained in a notice of question given by Mr. A. G. Osborne (Government, Onehunga), in association with other Auckland members. He asked the Minister of Social Security (Mr. Parry) whether, in view of the change in the Government of the United Kingdom, he would consider making renewed efforts towards establishing reciprocity in pension benefits.

Mr. Parry: It is well on the way,

Although, stated a note to the question, the Government had reduced the residential qualification in New Zealand from 20 years to 10 years, there were still many aged people not eligible for social security benefits because they had not resided long enough in New Zealand. Reciprocity with the United Kingdom would meet such cases.

Mr. Parry: We will do the same as we did with Australia.