MR SAVAGE WELCOMED

Inangahua Times, 29 March 1934, Page 2

MR SAVAGE WELCOMED

ADDRESSES MEETING, policy EXPOUNDED. (Per United Press Assn.) O AMARU, Last Night. Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, concluded his tour of Otago by addressing a large gathering in the Opera House here to-night. Mr Savage was given a welcome by the Mayor, Mr F. Cooney. He dealt fully with the Labour Party platform, on lines similar to those as in the other centres. The new aspect touched on by Mr Savage was the fear of poverty and general superannuation. “The fear of poverty in old age or invalidity, was probably the worst of all the causes of worry, said Mr ISavage, ending in sickness of body and mind and even death. . Under the present conditions, there was a security for anyone. The comparatively well-to-do person of today might be a pauper to-morrow, after having spent htis lifetime in attempting to prepare for old age. Able bodied citizens below the age of say 60 years, should be prepared with the aid of science to accept the responsibility of providing everything that goes to make life worth living for all. This would mean superannuation sufficient to provide a high standard of living for all citizens of sixty years, or, who through validity, were unable to provide for themselves. Sixty years of age or invalidity should be a test for all citizens, for superannuation sufficient to place them beyond the reach of poverty. Wealth was already produced in sufficient quantities to provide for such a policy and increasing productivity should mean increasing standards of living. It was a matter of organisation of production and equitable distribution of the product. A vote of confidence in the Labour Party and in Mr Savage as Leader, t was carried. .Mr Savage will return to Christchurch for the Labour Conference at Easter, then will visit the West Coast.