THE GOVERNMENT POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY.

CO-OPERATIVE SETTLEMENT. ,TKE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.

The Land Settlement Finance BiU promised by the Government was introduced on Friday night. The measure is practically the same as that introduced last session, its purpose being to promote the closer settlement of land by enabling groups of purchasers to buy an estate for subdivision among them, and to raise the pur chase money by means of a loan guaranteed by the Government.

For this purpose any five or more persons may liy agreement form an incorporated land settlement! association, and muy purchase in die name of that association any estate consisting of wit Jess than two hundred and fifty aeros, The agreement of purchase must comprise a scheme for the subdivision of the estate into allotments not less than tifty acres in extent, for the allocation of each of those allotments to one of the purchasers at a fixed price, Purchasers must comply with the condit.ions of the LanTt Act regarding tho ir.nvimum area of land held hv one individual, and until at least one-third of the purchase money has been paid oft", a purehascr'imist reside on his albtment, and has no power to alienate or change it. TO EXCOURACE THRIFT, NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND BILL.

The establishment of a National Provident Fund guaranteed bv the Government on lines similar to the Public Service_ Superannuation Fund, is provided for in a measure introduced by Governor's Message. All persons may become contributors who are resident in New Zealand and are between sixteen and forty-five years of age, and whose income does not excee.l £2OO a year.

The contributions to the fund are weekly payments, the amount of which depends (1) on the age at which the contributor first joins the fund, and (2) on the amount of the pension for whi-h h.' elects to contribute. Thus. fo r a pension of 10s a week the wecklv payment varies from !)d a week at tie. a"« ui seventeen to 4s lid a week at the age of forty-live. Provisions are made for the payment of contributions by ],.,„,, sums in advance, and for Ihe benefit of contributors who fall into arrears. Benefit-; secured by contributions arc the fob loiung:—

i'l) A pension at 'the U "c of si x | v varying in amount lrom 10s a week to «s a week according to tho rate of contribution.

(2) Widows- and Orphans* Pensions: It any contributor dies, after he has been a contributor for not less than five years, leaving children under the of fourteen years, a sum of 7s (Id a weekis payable to each child under the n.'e of fourteen, and also to the widow fi olo,"g as she has anv child under fourteen dependent upon Tier. (M Sickness and Accident Insurance: if miv contributor Womes, after five -ears incapacitated by sickness or accimonths while he is nndcr the a«c of I, ■>ears and has children under fourteu, dependent upon him. he receives anallow n „ecof7s(ld,Mveekforeacl o tno ch> dren during the sute nu c „ P'riod of his incapacity. """I" 01 "-