“Extravagant” Spending On Social Services

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 16

“Extravagant” Spending On Social Services

Social services were a tremendous problem in New Zealand, said the chairman of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries (Mr J. B. Nicoll) at the second South Island seminar of the institute held in Ashburton during the week-end. Mr Nicoll was asking one of the speakers, the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake), if it would be possible to take social services from political control. “They cannot be used as the football of politicians,” he said. Social services were the wish of the majority, said Mr Lake in reply, and he did not want to give the impression that he was against them, because he was not. "None of us would want to go back to the times experienced during the 19305,” he said. “But we are not entitled to be extravagant with them,” he added. In the past, he thought there had been some extravagance in this field, and it was his function to see that this extravagance did not occur in the future. "Not Going to be Lavish” But this did not mean the cutting out of any benefits, nor was he criticising the welfare state. “I ■ think, however, that we got a bit out of balance with what we are spending,” he commented. "We are not going to be lavish with increases we give, but we intend to expand our capital strength, increase production, and therefore, be better able to support the welfare state,” Mr Lake said. The theme of the seminar had been “Ten Years Hence." and Mr Lake spoke on New Zealand’s economic policy for the 1960’5. After wards, he answered questions put by the members of the institute.

In the next 10 years, there were good prospects for New Zealand manufacturing, and he thought every encouragement would be given to the manufacturer who was going to find a market outside New Zealand, he said. Addresses at Seminar Mr Lake was the first speaker at the seminar, which commenced on Saturday morning. Another speaker at the seminar was to be the editor of the Christchurch “Star” (Mr G. Burns), but he was unable to be present and his address was read by the paper’s commercial editor (Mr F. Bennett). Another speaker at the seminar was the manager of a Christchurch retail firm (Mr W. G. Fernie). Yesterday, members of the seminar visited Mr J. H Grigg’s property at Longbeach, and the seminar concluded early in the afternoon. It was the first time the seminar had been held in Ashburton, and only the second to be held in the South Island. Two years ago. one was held in Timaru Members of the institute came from all parts of New Zealand for the seminar.