HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1938, Page 5

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

FIRST ESSENTIALS TOWARDS PROSPERITY. (By Teiegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Support for the Government’s National health and social security superannuation scheme was impressed in a statement presented by Mr. J. Roberts, on behalf of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, before the Parliamentary Select Committee. “I would say that as the years go by this scheme will be looked upon as beneficial, not only to those who receive assistance, but to the nation as a whole,” the statement said, “for, in my opinion, social security and national health are the first essentials towards real prosperity and the well-being of the people of New Zealand.”

Mr. Roberts summarised his statement as follows : “Healthy people are the best asset a nation can acquire, and a free health service will assist materially in preventing disease in the first and curing many of the ills which people suffer to-da}', In a country like New Zealand tiis the responsibility of the community to provide the necessaries of life for those rvho are unable to provide for themselves, such as invalids, widows, orphans, or those who are laid off work through accident or illness. The scheme makes provision that this shall be done and I dc not know' of one New Zealander who would object to providing sufficient food, clothing and shelter for these people. Mentally afflicted persons are entitled to our fullest sympathy and consideration.

“I have never met u man or woman in Xew Zealand who would object to paying his or her contribution towards the proper care, treatment and general well-being of these men, women and children. In making proper provision for these people, the Government is, I submit, only implementing the desire of 99 per cent, of the people of this country. For some years State superannuation has applied to State servants and others, and why should it not now be extended to those employed in other productive, distributive and general services activities. I submit that no logical reason can be advanced why it should not. The worker who is employed by private enterprise undertakings and those engaged in distributive businesses and the many men and women avlio are employed in other occupations through the Dominion, are rendering just as valuable a service to the community as State servants and there should be no discrimination.”