BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1925, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

PENSIONS DEBATE. ..tiSTRA LZAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION BON DON, May IS. In the House uf Commons, the second reading of the Widows’. Orphans’, and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill, which gives effect tu the scheme announced by Mr W. Churchill in his budget speech, was moved by Mr Neville ('ha mberlain. He declared that the cost uf putting the Government’s scheme on a non-cunt rihutory basis, as was urged in some quarter-, would he thirty-one. instead uf seven and a-half millions fur five years, lie expressed the (million lhal. despite the cost to the employers, which was estimated at ten and a quarter million- annually, during the lir-t decade, the employers mu-t ailinn Dial the scheme would in-

crease the output, heeause of it- psychological ell eel upon contented work--15 eis. The -eheiee would reduce uueniv plovment. b\ enabling lour hundred '' thousand worker- over the age ol Go r to retire. The Hmerninenl e-timaled tha I a not her effeei w<hi It I lie a u immediate relief Iroie the rale- to the extent nl three millions sterling annually, as was foreshadowed ill the Poor s Laws Reform scheme of 1921, which would develop the Government's policy lit helping those willing to help themselves. 1 Mr Wheatley (Labour.! moved the rejection of the Bill in a rc-oulliun 1 which approved of the principle of the measure, hut condemned the method on the ground that the workers’ conlriInitorv provisions imposed additional burdens on industry, and on the ground 1 of the inadequacy of the allowance where a father in is incapacitated. ’ Mr Lloyd i George ridiculed the Lab--1 our view, lie supported the scheme lie favoured a contributory basis, in view of the demand on the public purse for other social reforms. He made various suggestions lor amendments, comparing the position ol a man ol lorly broken down in health and that ef a vigorous man of Go. He urged, the real test was not age. hut disablement. He adoveated compulsory insurance, and ten pounds sterling for funeral expenses, which would replace liej present voluntary payment- ol twentyfive millions annually, of which over half disappeared in administration expenses PENSIONS DEBATE ADJOFRXED. f ItgIJTKP.S TkLEOHAM.H.] /Received ibis day at 8 a.in.) LONDON. May 18. Ihe 1 eii.-ioiis debate in the Common- was adjourned. RTFS CREW I IO.N'oFR ED.

LONDON. .May 18. J>; the Hoti-v lit Commons. Sir San tiel lloare stated that's; ceial awards t : the I lew 111 the airship | { ; it } have bee 1 ap' roved, ill recognition of their cot spiciion- devotion to duty in circuit stances of exceptional difficulty an danger. The t fib i-ts would receive ,p (■orations. Flag Lieutenant Belli v. i receive a bar ti bis Air Force Cross and a suitably inscribed watch void, Is* presented to each other memb'-r o the crew.