SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1939, Page 10

SOCIAL SECURITY

IN OPERATION TODAY

MR. SAVAGE'S SATISFACTION

WISE INVESTMENT

"Today the New Zealand Government brings into operation the best system of social security in the world. I cannot say adequately how deeply I feel concerning the inauguration of <his scheme," said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) today. "I have thought about it and hoped about it for as many years as I have been connected with public life, and I must say it gives me great satisfaction to feel that the Labour Government has brought New Zealand well into line with the most progressive civilised countries in the world. "As a result of our first term of office we have diminished unemployment, we have increased wages and purchasing power, and we have widened the scope of -the social services," continued Mr. Savage. "No one can deny that the worker and his family today were assured of better health, better physique, and better security against the many, hazards of life. As everyone knows, nobody is immune from natural misfortunes, but it will mean « lot to know that everybody can now insure himself or herself against the economic hardships that would otherwise follow from such natural misfortunes. In other words, the people as a whole are now going to get the security to which they are entitled. They are going to get the monetary benefits in the shape of pensions in old age, in widowhood, when they are invalids or unemployed, or if they are orphans, and they are also going to have the added protection of a system of medical; and hospital and other related benefits.

"There is no heed at this stage for me to describe the various benefits in detail nor to defena their introduction. They are essential for the improvement of the* well-being of the community, and ; I know of no wiser investment than this expenditure on the social services which will increase the efficiency.of the country. At any rate, this step today represents a landmark in our history.-

"No one will claim," concluded the Prime Minister, "that the -social security provisions now being made represent the ultimate possible achievement, but they do represent a great advance on what we have had; and they do take us a big step further towards the goal of universal security. I wish the Social Security administration every success."