SEPARATE SCHEMES?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 5

SEPARATE SCHEMES?

Our Own CorreBpondent.)

.... n w ■ m 'I 1 • 1 Health-Insurance And Superannuation POSSIBILITY HINTED

(From

WELLINGTON, This Day. An indication that the Gavernment might pqssibly prpceed with its national superannuation scheme as & separate undertaking quite apart from the health scheme was giyen by tiro Primq * Minister, the Rt, Hon, M. J. Savage, when diseussing plans for the second part of the session in an interview last night. "A good many people have the idea that the two schemes will be einbodied in one Bill, ' ' Mr, Savage said, "but I would not care to say definitely tliat that will be the case. I &m not married to the belief that the tWO schemes must be inseparable. The national superannuation scheme is hndoubtedly the more urgent, and if it ia found that both proposals cannot be satisfactorily proceeded svith during the second part of this session we shall not allow superannuation to be held back by the health insurance scheme." A national health serviee was in cperation now to a certain extent, Mr, Savage added, although undoubtediy it was capable of being improved to a considerable degree. This would enable the superannuation scheme to be proceeded with soparately if it were found to be necessary. The Prime Minister said he had not seen any further reports from the committee which has been investlgating the proposals for some time. He knew, however, that the "'eommittee's work had been accelerated recently, and that during t"he past week or two particularly the meiubers had had an extfemely busy time. Discussions were still being held with people Avho specialised in various branqkes of superannuation and health-insurance. "Even after the committee has completed its deliberations and has actually decidcd on the form the proposals are to take, and after Cabinet has made its decision, there will be a great deal of work in the drafting of the legislation," Mr. Savage said. "We want to ensure the best possible proposals are brought forward, and we will burn all the 'midnight oil' that is necessary to reach that end. "