N.Z. RECIPROCITY IN PENSIONS WITH BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 13 November 1948, Page 2

N.Z. RECIPROCITY IN PENSIONS WITH BRITAIN

PA WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. “This is something we dreamed of thirty odd years ago,” said Hon. W. E. Parry, in the House of Represen- i tatives in moving the second reading of the Family Benefits Reciprocity with Great Britain Bill,' and of a similar Bill giving reciprocity with Northern Ireland. He said the establishment of reciprocity with Britain in family benefits served to emphasise anew the understanding and sympathetic feeling between, the Mother Country and New Zealand. Negotiations were still going on for an extension of reciprocity to other benefits, and he hoped it would not be long before full reciprocity with Britain was achieved in regard to the various forms of pensions obtaining in the two countries. Mr. Parry said tnat negotiations with Australia for an extension of reciprocity were also proceeding. Mr. G. P. Anderson (Nat., New Plymouth), expressed the Opposition’s approval of the Bill. He hoped a day would come when reciprocity of pension would become international. He thought that under the present 1 Bill New Zealand would face a greater expense than would Britain, for immigration would bring to New Zealand more children fom Britain than would emigrate from this country to Britain. However, this would be to New Zealand’s ultimate 1 advantage. The Bill was a welcome measure. Rt. Hon. W. Nash said the Bill showed that New Zealand was keen to do something for Great Britain. The Bill would cost the New Zealanl people much more than it would cost the people of Britain. It would cost us double, treble, and four or live times as greatly as it would cost, the Old Country. • . The following Bills were then put through the committee stages, and passed: Rangitikei Land Drainage Amendment Bill; Swamp Drainage Amendment Bill; Forest and Rural Fires Amendment Bill; Family Benefits Reciprocity with Great Britain Bill; Family ' Benefits Reciprocity with Great Britain Bill.