Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, December 12, 1925. GOVERNMENT’S FIRST DUTY

Grey River Argus, 12 December 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, December 12, 1925. GOVERNMENT’S FIRST DUTY

It was probably no surprise yesterday to the new Government wlien it was faced, on meeting: Parliament for the first time, with the problem of poverty. What might have come unexpectedly were the queries in this connection from members of the Reform Party. With them, it used to be quite another story, so that their present display of concern for the poor and the needy can be taken as an indication that, however silent in the past, they have nevertheless been aware of the growth of want and hardship in the country. It would almost appear that they are now ready to vic with the Labour Party in urging an extension of the pensions to wives with invalid husbands, to the guardians of orphans, and to those otherwise qualified who have, not been in the Dominion long enough to comply with the legal stipulation as to the residential term for the old age pen sion. This new attitude should go convincingly to prove the reasonableness of the stand long since taken by the Labour Party. The unemployment relief ques tion came also to the fore yesterday as a matter of course, and the indications .are that the new Administration will take a more humane view of the matter than did the former one. We believe that there have already been instructions given for more of the unemployed to be found work and that the rate of payment, is to be something more like a living wage, whilst the provision of a certain sum to tide the citi unemployed over the Christmas period shows a realisation that ■distress has to be recognised as a very real and serious faet today in New Zealand. The Minister of Public Works stated yesterday that the wages on relief works were regarded by the Government as a question of policy, prompting the conclusion that a starvation standard is unlikely to be retained any longer by the State. In such an event, the support of Labour can be relied upon by the Ministry. Mr Parry is urging an increase in the old age pension to 25s weekly increased pensions for the blind, the re moval of pension restrictions on old people who are unable to prove' their ages, and the extension of pension benefits to deserted families and those whose bread-winners are prevented by illness from earning, as well as legislation to enable Hospital Boards to increase the amount ot assistance given applicants lot relief. These requests represent the considered views of the Labour Party, and, as such, they are bound to receive the Government’s serious consideration. One of the first steps to a restoration of optimism and confidence in the countrv must be the relief of poverty It will be plain to the Government that a comparatively modest expenditure in that direction. not only on relief works, but bv wav of pensions and other assistance, is calculated to do 1; more good than many times o-reaier outlay in directions calculated to profit peop le who already are entirely free from the fear of want. The other Party Leaders complimented the Frame Minister upon his choice Qi a,

Cabinet, Mr Coates remarking that his Party would refrain from taking advantage of the situation for party ends, and Mr Holland assuring the Ministry that when it is in the right it can rely upon the support of the Labour Partj every time. The Reform Leader took an early opportunity, how-' ever, to try for a party score when he suggested that farming interests were not sufficiently represented in the Ministry, whereas it would be a fairer course to

avoid prejudice, and await the policy of ’the Government before criticising it on this point. The immediate consideration,, according to Sir Joseph Ward, is. what financial resources the Ministry has at its disposal, and the next sitting of the House to-morrow may reveal that a session early next year may not be. necessary. Undoubtedly the main con sideration in the meantime will be that of alleviating poverty and unemployment. If this is done, it must have a good effect on many industries, and on business generally. The result must be to improve our own market for many products. There would be a restoration of confidence in many directions, and a consequent increase of enterprise. The development policy as to settlement and communications which the Government has outlined should serve to facilitiate an economic recovery, and if it is begun in such a way as to spread the advantages among all classes, an< J particularly among those whose hard manual work is essential tor any scheme of development there is reasonable hope of good returns from the capital outlay Vast sums have during the last decade been laid out, without very much to show as. yet tor them, but a bolder policy m the interests of distributive justice is bound to give better results tor a smaller expenditure. It has. often been alleged that the Labour Party stands for merely class legislation, but its attitude is really a stand for fair play for. everybody, and against favountism any particular section. With the assurance, therefore of abo "’ support every time that it is right the United Government can o-o ahead confidently, if its ob ?eet is a restoration of. distributive justice both economically and socially.