SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION

Southland Times, Issue 24879, 20 October 1942, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION

Proposed Amendments Two proposed amendments to the Social Security legislation have recently occupied the attention of the Southland Trades Council. One is that any amounts earned by way of overtime should not be taken into consideration when family benefits are being assessed, and the other is that a cost of living bonus should be paid to people in receipt of sickness benefit. Representations on both points have been made to the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister in charge of Social Security. With reference to the first Mr Parry stated that he regretted that the proposal could not be put into effect without an amendment to the Social Security legislation. As for the second he said that the representations had been noted and would not be lost sight of when the Social Security legislation was again under review. The replies from the Minister were received at a meeting of the Trades Council on Saturday. A sub-committee which had been appointed to look into cases of financial assistance to soldiers reported that on the whole the soldiers were not unfavourably treated. It was reported that arrangements had now been made for expectant mothers to get coupons for extra clothing through maternity homes or maternity nurses. The secretary, Mr D. W. Stalker, reported on his recent visit to Wellington on business connected with the industrial emergency regulations, .which are being brought up to date and consolidated. He also reported on the question of the guaranteed rates of pay for workers in essential industries who are at a disadvantage in that they are not allowed to leave their jobs to better themselves. Mr M. W. Grantham gave an address on the work of the Industrial Appeal Board.