H.—3o.

1935. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIONAL COMPULSORY SUPERANNUATION AND HEALTH INSURANCE (REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

To the Right Honourable J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance. Sir, — NATIONAL COMPULSORY SUPERANNUATION AND HEALTH INSURANCE.* The Committee appointed to investigate and report on— (a) A national compulsory contributory pensions scheme; and (b) A national compulsory health insurance scheme — have the honour to report — Part I of this report deals with the question of a national compulsory contributory pensions scheme. Part II deals with the question of a compulsory contributory scheme of insurance to provide medical and hospital attention and subsidiary benefits. The statement which follows is in the nature of a preliminary report, giving a reasonably accurate estimate of the costs involved. Detailed recommendations relating to national compulsory contributory pensions would require a decision by the Government on such matters as the scale of benefits to be adopted, the distribution of contributions between employer, employee, and the State, and the amount of the annual contribution which the State is able to make. The formulation of a comprehensive scheme of health and hospital insurance would require to be preceded by an investigation by a committee taking evidence from various interested parties.

* Sources of information on schemes operating in other countries include the following :— Compulsory Sickness Insurance : 1.L.0. Studies and Reports, Series M. 6, 1927. Compulsory Pension Insurance : 1.L.0. Studies and Reports, Series M. 10, 1933. Insecurity : A Challenge to America, by Abraham Epstein. Pensions and Superannuation Funds, by Bernard Robertson and H. Samuels. Railway Superannuation Funds (Departmental Committee). Cd. 5349. Social Work and Legislation in Sweden : Survey published by Order of the Swedish Government, 1928. Social Insurance—The Swedish Act: International Labour, April-June, 1921. Pension Insurance in Sweden : 1.L.0. Industrial and Labour Information, January 28, 1935. British National Health Insurance : Report of Royal Commission, 1926. _ Cmd. 2596. National Health Insurance : Report of Executive Hospital Boards' Association, 1935. Medicine and the State, by Sir A. Newsholme, and also information regarding two proposed schemes. Minutes of Evidence and Reports and Recommendations of Royal Commission, Draft National Insurance Bill, and second-reading speech by Dr. Earle Page. Commonwealth of Australia, 1925-1928. A Plan of Health Insurance for British Columbia, 1935,

I—H. 30,