Social Security

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 3

Social Security

Sir,—While the discussion between Messrs Anderson and Tom Bryce has been interesting, especially to those enjoying universal superannuation and the other benefits, both these gentlemen have overlooked one important fact. This fact is the advent of social security has put millions of pounds into the pockets of ordinary people of New Zealasd. Many of these people are able to enjoy the glories of the seaside and country in moderatepriced accommodation when they would otherwise be confined to monotonous surroundings of the cities. Then social security, like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, keeps the factory wheels moving. It has also eliminated unemployment which was chronic and widespread in the pre-Labour Government era. Well could the Labour Party arrange for wellplanned advertisements in the newspapers to bring home to all readers the wonders of Social Security—Yours, etc.,

RALPH S. WHEELER. Timaru, January 12, 1960.

Sir,—This act of Parliament is possibly the best man has known. Practically everyone has received some benefit from it. The act merely consolidated the ideas of the friendly societies and did away with the horrible charitable aid. The act was condemned by many at the time. The benefits are not free, they have been paid for by deductions from salaries and wages. The public should have more say in the working of the act or at least as much as civil servants and members of Parliament. One bad section is that age beneficiaries are the only persons to pay for their hospital treatment in this country. As soon as they enter hospital their superannuation is deducted. This is their own money contributed over the years. A retired civil servant can be in the next bed and receive no deductions even though his superannuation is being subsidised from the Consolidated Fund.—Yours, etc., RAKAIA ROCK. [Social security benefits are also heavily subsidised from general taxation. The tax on salaries and wages is not nearly sufficient to pay for the benefits.—Ed., "The Press.”]

Sir,—l continually read and hear criticism against social security. I would like the power of a magic want to wipe out for a definite period all social security and all social reforms in New Zealand and revert to the “good old days” of private enterprise and rugged individualism exploitation. The critics would be the first to form a socialist party to bring back the much despised reforms. The Labour Party was the first Government to Christianity into practice and to give every person a share of the national income. Yet we have people and newspapers scorning such Christian philosophy in practice while accepting every benefit.—Yours, etc., CONSISTENT. January 13, 1960.

Rejection Of Paintings

Sir,—Let “No Pretence” stop pretending. The majority of people in Christchurch are not interested in whether there is an art gallery here or not, and ■re equally indifferent to what

is hung on its walls. “No Pretence” ranges himself alongside the greater body of the public whose self-appointed spokesmen argued against the necessity for a town hall, and tried to abolish the National Orchestra, or at least force it to play “popular music.” If the public library considered the reading habits of the population as a whole, three-quarters of its shelves would be packed with comics and “sexy” paperbacks. As to contemporary paintings being meaningless, they will remain .so until the interested public is given a chance to refer to them continually, at first hand, in the city's gallery. —Yours, etc., R.H.F. January 13, 1960.