SUPERANNUATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1938, Page 8

SUPERANNUATION

PRELIMINARY MEETING OF COMMITTEE EVIDENCE TO BE HEARD ON PROPOSALS. PROMISE OF AN ACTUARIAL' REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Rev A. H. Nordmeyer was elected chairman of the Parliamentary committee on national health and superannuation, on the motion of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon M. J. Savage. The Hon W. Nash (Minister of Finance) said representatives from the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association would be in Wellington this week to give evidence. Representatives of insurance companies would be heard later and Friendly Societies had also asked to be heard. Those were the three major bodies that had approached the Government to give evidence. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) asked when the committee would receive the actuarial report. Mr Nash said the actuary was working on the proposals and this report would be available later, with all evidence regarding costs. The Rev A. H. Nordmeyer said he was sure it would meet the wishes of the committee to have reports that the committee might wish to study, but particularly the actuary’s report and the report he presumed the Treasury would make. Mr Savage said the committee was entitled to have any information available and it would be the job of the Government to provide the information sought. “Within reason, of course,” he added. “We cannot be expected to tell what is happening in Greenland or Timbuctoo.” The Government would produce evidence to show on what the proposals were founded and it was up to anyone who opposed those proposals to show where they were wrong.

At the request of the chairman, Mr A. G. Shrimpton, Honorary Secretary of the' Dominion Friendly Societies’ Council, said he considered at least ten days would be required for the council to prepare its evidence. Mr Savage: “I am-bound to say that if everyone wants ten days breathing space we may as well go home.” In reply to the chairman, who asked if the evidence of individuals was to be taken, Mr-Savage said his opinion was that evidence should come from organised bodies. He moved that individuals could express evidence in writing to the committee, which would decide whether or not the witness should be heard. If a witness were allowed to appear, he would have to do so at his own expense. This motion was carried.

Mr Savage then moved that the committee should be supplied with the evidence taken by the Health Committee last year earlier in the proceedings. Mr Nash announced that the Minister of Health, the Hon P. Fraser, proposed to make this report available to the committee, and then adjourn until tomorrow.

The committee then adjourned.