The Times SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. Charity or Self Kelp?

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 222, 18 September 1943, Page 4

The Times SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. Charity or Self Kelp?

Of several big issues to be pronounced Upon by citizens at this election none is of greater consequence than the judgment to be given on a matter of basic philosophy—a decision as to whether charity or self-help is to be the paramount feature of o*ur future national life. The Government stands for the principle of charity whilst the Opposition propounds that of self-help. This Government’s philosophy is in keeping with its materialism as exemplified in so many other ways, for the Labour Party appears to have adopted the Marxism concept that man is ruled by his stomach.

The National Party fundamentally believes that whilst the stomach is quite an important organ, the heart and the head are of infinitely greater consequence, believing that “man does not live by bread alone.” From a political viewpoint the Government’s policy of putting all the people as far as possible under an obligation for charities received has a great deal to commend it. The founder of modern Social Security, Prussia’s “Iron Chancellor” Bismarck, brought into being this feature of government for the express purpose of holding control over the masses. There is reason to regard the New Zealand Labour Government as having a like appreciation of the political value of Social Security. That would indeed seem evident from the emphasis placed upon these benefits in this election campaign. x\nd undoubtedly the appeal, and the gratitude to be gained from the unthinking, must be very considerable as a political asset. People become used to taxation, even onerously high taxation. The New Zealand wageearner carries a tax load unparalleled in any civilised State and while he may grouse about that, the fact is that he has become rather Used to it. The Government must be placing considerable reliance upon that forgetfulness of the people. It is from Labour’s point of view rather unfortunate that people are being now reminded of the great burden they bear—by opposition parties. The fact of the matter is that governments never give anything. Any benefits that may be received from a Government are in reality self-provided. The State must first take away before it can give. It acts simply as a distributing agent. For example, a New Zealand worker on £5 a week is taxed at 2s 6d in the £— 12s 6d a week. Then because he has only £4 7s 6d weekly, he receives as a charity 7s 6d a week child’s allowance—getting some of his own money back. Yet the Government expects him to be most grateful and to say fervently: Thank you so much. Those with a wide experience who have closely studied the problems of charitable aid have almost Universally arrived at certain conclusions. Notably that outright charity is souldestroying, causing much loss of self-respect. In realisation of this all modern schemes of benefaction aim to assist people to help themselves. Finally, it is to be recorded that worthy people, however humble their circumstances may be, hate being the objects of charity. They prefer to be assisted in some way, and only to such a degree that they can help themselves. The world-acclaimed Beveridge Plan clearly recognises the distinction between charity and other forms of assistance to the needy. Thus Sir William Beveridge makes the whole format of his great plan an insurance one, definitely not one of charitable aid. Election statements have made it quite clear that the National Party on being returned as a Government plans to maintain the machinery of Social Security in this Dominion. But to those who have studied its manifestoes, it is equally clear that the party’s philosophy would bring an entirely new spirit into Social Security as we now have it. The policy would be changed from one of charity to one of insurance and amended to promote self-help rather than charitable aid. For the future of our people such a change is eminently to be desired —desired above all that New Zealanders may forever maintain their self-respect and self-reliance, and not gradually descend into a supine, spineless race. From a politician’s viewpoint the promotion of tfuch a policy as the National Party proposes may be bad business but it is statesmanship.

Sausage Skins Supplies of sausage skins in Now Zealand are practically exhausted. Normally, the Dominion imports 120 tons of sausage casings yearly from the United Kingdom and the United States. These are stated by Ministry of Supply authorities to be no longer available, as all supplies overseas are being absorbed by the military forces. Casings produced in New Zealand, it is stated, provide but a very small part of the skins needed for the millions of sausages consumed each year. They are a by-product of the pig industry, in which killings will not be resumed on any large scale, 1 ill the middle of October.

Awarding Damages Directing a special jury in Auckland on a claim for £9OO general damages, Mr. Justice Callan made the comment that if that amount was awarded then a great many other claimants, if they knew the circumstances, would feed they had not had the right jury. The right jury would have been the one Hitting that day. He considered such remarks not improper because it was of the greatest importance that these law Courts should command the respect and confidence of the community, and that in awarding damages juries throughout ;Jie country should have some kind of coherence and consistency.