HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1938, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SOCIAL SECURITY DEBATE OPENED THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Discussion took place in the House of Representatives last night on the report of the special Parliamentary committee which investigated the Government’s proposals for a national health service and superannuation scheme. The debate was opened by the chairman of the committee, the Rev A. H. Nordmeyer (Government, Oamaru), who gave a detailed analysis of the proposals, together with the committee’s conclusions and recommendations. The first Opposition speaker was Mr S. G. Holland (Christchurch North), who was one of the three Opposition members of Parliament on the committee. He defined their attitude to the proposals. The view was expressed by them that the weight of evidence was overwhelmingly opposed to the Government’s health proposals. It was contended that the proposals would have the effect of discouraging thrift and would, place a premium on improvidence at the expense of the self-reliant and thrifty. The Opposition advocated a universal superannuation scheme, with exemption from any compulsion to subscribe to the State scheme in cases of those who had already made adequate provision for themselves.