RUSH LEGISLATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 6

RUSH LEGISLATION

Superannuation Scheme for Parliamentarians

STRONG PROTEST EXPECTED

Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, Nov. 13

Although the Opposition approves of a contributory superannuation scheme for members of Parliament, for this was in the policy of the National Party submitted to the electors at the general election last November, it is known to have the strongest objection to legislation providing for such a scheme being introduced and rushed through the House of Representatives in the dying hours of the session. The Opposition is believed also to hold the view that the legislation required should take the form of a separate self-contained Bill and not be a section of the Superannuation Bill, dealing mainly with the various public service schemes which were introduced in the House early this morning.

The Bill provides for an annual retiring allowance of £250 for members of the House on completion of nine years’ service continuously, or, if not, on attaining the age of 50. For each year of his service in excess of nine years a member’s retiring allowance will increase by £25 annually to a maximum of £4OO a year. Superannuation contributions by members will be £SO a year, and if any person begins to receive a retiring allowance when his contributions total less than £250 he shall pay the amount of the deficiency into the Consolidated Fund within such time and in such a manner as the Minister of Finance may allow. If a person should cease to be a member after serving in the House for less than nine years he shall be entitled to a refund of his contributions. Any member who has served for nine years may elect, before accepting his first instalment of the retiring allowance, to receive a refund of his contributions. On the death of a member an annuity or a refund of contributions will be paid to the widow.' No Time for Consideration The Opposition has always held that legislation to establish a scheme' of superannuation' for members of Parliament should be introduced early in the session so that there would be ample time for its consideration by Parliament and the public. This point of view it has stressed at consultations on the proposal between representatives of the two parties. When the Superannuation Bill comes up for consideration in the House to-morrow it is expected that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, while approving ot superannuation in principle, will express his party’s uncompromising hostility to the introduction of the scheme amid the last-minute rush of legislation in the last few days of the Parliamentary session. The question of a superannuation scheme for members of Parliament was the subject of a report to the House last year by a special select committee of seven members. Its conclusions were as follows: That membership of the Legislature to-day in many cases means full-time duty and the giving up of other sources of income or employment which cannot be resumed on retirement from the Legislature; that membership of Parliament should not be confined to persons of independent means, but should be open to all citizens; that public servants generally throughout the Dominion have superannuation schemes providing bn retirement for their adequate maintenance and that of their dependants, and that the introduction of a contributory superannuation scheme for members of Parliament is necessary and desirable. , The committee recommended that legislation providing for such a scheme be introduced in the first session of the next Parliament. . ■