SOCIAL SERVICES IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26078, 3 April 1950, Page 6

SOCIAL SERVICES IN N.Z.

THRJSJS MAIN PERIODS PR DEVELOPMENT ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR D. C. MARSH

There were three main periods during which New Zealand’s social services were developed, said Professor D. C. M ar sh, who is in charge of the School of Social Work at Victoria University College, in an address to the Canterbury Council of Social Services on Saturday.

Tfle first period was approximately between 1860 and 1870, when many of the basic services which were known to-day caipe into being. Hospital, educational, and charitable services were begpn as ■well as some protective and reformative services. These services were mainly under provincial administration qnd it was Understandable that they varied from province to province. On the whole the South Island, which was much more prosperous than the North Islgnd and was free from Maori wars, had the more effective social legislation in this period. The second peripd, from 1890 to 1900. was in the main one of consolidation of those services already established; but jt was also a period of innovation, professor Marsh’said. New Zealand’ B fame from social services sprung from this s'ection. In 1898 the Old Age Pensions Act—the first in any British-speaking country and probably about the third in the world—laid the foundation for the establishment of social security services. The period was also nbfable for the introduction of industrial'services. . The pinpoint of the third period dating toughly from 1930 was the Social Security Act, 1938. Obviously apart from the statutory

services established, a number of voluntary organisations had afso been foundefi in these periods, said Professor Marsh. They came info being for humanitarian grounds arid because they were needed, he said. He thought it was -true to Say that there was not any clear social planning when these organisations were founded. Professor Marsh said that he found it a defect that co-ordination between voluntary and statutory organisations was lacking. He wondered 7 why administrative machinery was not set up to deal with social services; so often the services were borne sectionally and had no relationship to each other, he said. There was a tendency to run a social service after it had been embodied in an act of Parliament as a department of State, which might well administer the act, and do it effectively; bpt that was riot providing a social service. Special social administration. specialised machinery, and a staff of social workers were needed. Professor March saw a failure to appreciate the need for checking sricial services to see if they were providing the services they ought to be providing. “I suggest that we ought to know as taxpayers, to see that we are not being ‘fleeced’ as it were." he said. Professor Marsh suggested the setting up of advisory committee s composed of unpaid officials. Professor Marsh’s lecture enejed a short course for social workers iri Christchurch. Lectures during the course were attended by youth workers from the Child Welfare branch of the pep&rtment of Education, fhe Vocational Guidance Centre, and other Government departriients concerned, and church anfi other organisations.