PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1563, 11 July 1882, Page 3

PARLIAM ENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wklmnuton, Last Night. The House met at 7.30. After the usual preliminary business, NATIONAL A.SSURANCE. Major Atkinson* moved the resolution on the subject of national insurance. He ■aid it was the most important subject he had ever introduced to the notice ol the House, and lie felt the responsibility of introducing it to very great. He would try and show the practicability of the scheme, which, however, was not original, but due to an English clergyman. It was an antidote for poverty, and he was glad to be able to proclaim it to the colony. He had altered the Rev. Mr Blockley's scheme in certain respects to suit the circumstances of the colony. He proposed that every-onc should pay the insurance, instead of only the poor drawing it. This, of couisc, rendered it necessary for laiger conti ibutions from all. He spoke at length, first on the necessity of the proposal and its practicability. He reviewed at length the causes of pauperism. His proposal was that every young man and young woman in the colony should, between the ages of 10 and 23, or 18 and 23, contribute a sum of £41 17s Id. This, if it commenced at 16 would be 2s 3d per week, or if IS, then 3s 3d per week. If paid down at 16, a sum of £38 7s would suffice. This A\ould provide the sick and old age benefits proposed, but to provide further for orphans an additional sum of 2s a week for four years would be required. If the scheme were adopted it would only apply to persons under 23 years of age. He would, to provide for the existing population, compel all per sons above that age to provide by payments not above €(i per annum for a certain number of years, but would not include females, and would leave out males over 50, or who were already provided for by means of friendly societies. Persons over 65 years would be provided for out of the consolidated revenue. Immigrants under 23 would have to contribute, and those over that he treated as existing persons over that age. He thought the Crown lands rents might be brought into the aid of providing insurance of the kind suggested, but this was really apart from his schemes. He then described the machinery necessary to work the scheme. He proceeded to answer a number of objections which he had heard raised, and deprecated the idea that the scheme was in opposition toj or would not when understood receive the hearty assistance of the friendly societies. It did not compete with them in any way. The State would have to pay the contributions for lunatics, &c. After speaking an hour and a. half he assured lion, members he had not brought forward any propositions to which he had not given great thought, or which he was not quite convicted was quite practicable. He knew the difficulties of inducing such an assembly to take a new departure ot this kind, but now was the time to do it if they wished to avoid the poverty and distress of older counties. ,He hoped members would deal with the question once and for ever. Mr Montgomery bore witness to the evident earnestness of Major Atkinson, and the attention he had evidently given to a most importahtsubject. He deserved the thanks of the House for introducing the subject, and for his speech. He himself had also read and thought on the subject, and it was not in a feeling of party opposition that he. felt bound to put forward the objections which existed. These had not been sufficiently regard by Major Atkinson.. There w*re many youth» who had to support a mother brothers and sisters. : < Major Atkinson ; They are provided fohin^tbe.achenie. ' , , t %? Mq^toombry h,ad ( not'BO,tmder~-,; stood it. " These youths could,, not .afford to contribute. It would .also >be impossible ,to enforce contribution, from the, idle, tlie l dissolute, and the ' viqioi^s., , Y^et tlyss&jjte.Bß,, 4UP«B^pJe^^^j^tei4ihSU l necessity for charitable aid ? , In 1972 a , tßW]£vQnirai«Jsi6ii; jn 'Eu^ati'd^d^re. no ■ Government, could undsr»ke sick, .pay distribution dndi^royide flgf^Ynjau^erih'g,' -t The «ell^&>OHJd. Qtwite. a high central department, which

would destroy the principle of self reliance in the community. He did not think it necessary to impose such a heavy poll tax on the community in order to lighten the burden on property. Still the proposal was well worth discussing. ,' Sir G. Grey ia now speaking. [Left sitting.]