BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

[UY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PENSIONS FOR EVERYBODY. LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE SCHEMES. LONDON, April 0. An interesting political development is the rivalry between the Conservatives and the Liberals in drawing up plans for an “all in” insurance scheme which threatens to anticipate Labour’s ideal oi a pension for everybody. Both plans ure based on an extension of the existing national schemes of compulsory insurance against sickness and unemployment to which the workers, the employers and the State contribute.

The Conservatives’ plan is to increase, the male workers weekly contributions to Is fid, women workers to Is, cniplovers 2 s fid for each worker and the State Is, producing a rovenuo of £“213,000,000. It is calculated that a surplus over distributions will result, building up in fifty years a fund oi three thousand millions, yielding 120 millions interest. When the plan is fully working all workers over sixtythree will bo pensioned, men receiving thirty shillings and women 20s weekly. A similar amount will be paid during sickness before the age of 03. It is calculated the plan will relieve unemployment, enabling a million younger women replacing the pensioners. It will also abolish the poor law system, thereby substantially reducing municipal rates.

The Liberals’ plan is less comprehensive. Tt provides pensions on a lower scale, beginning at £(>o and the weekly contributions of the workers, employers and State will he lower, the Liberals believing slight increases on existing contributions will be sufficient to build up a big insurance fund When industry revives and thousands more workers contribute to the scheme instead of draining it as at present. DEFEATED ON EVICTIONS BILL. [Reuters Telegrams.] ilfeneivcd ttis day at 3.30 a.m.) LONDON. April 7. The Government was defeated on the Evictions Bill by 221 votes to 212. EVICTIONS RILL DEFEAT. LONDON, April 7.

Mr MacDonald made it clear that ho does not contemplate his resignation as a eousec|iience of his defeat.