Mr. Savage At Invercargill

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1938, Page 3

Mr. Savage At Invercargill

[Per Press Association. Copyright.'] INVERCARGILL, This Day.

The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, was given an enthusiastic reception by 3COO people when he gave an address at Invercargill last evening. After, ,a complete rest during the week-end, he said he was now feeling very fit. Mr Savage devoted most of his address to the Social Security Act, and the development of pensions schemes.

Concerning Pensions.

In 1898, said Mi* Savage, the Liberal Party, after a long and difficult fight, established old-age pensions of 7/- a week, and they had taken more than 20 years to bring the. amount lo 17/6 a week. It had been reduced by the National Government to 15/9 a week, but the Labour Party had taken less than 40 weeks to raise the amount to £1 2/6 a week.

Under the Social

Security Act it would be increased to £1 10/- a week. Mr S. G. Smith, in his broadcast speech, had said pensioners would not get £1 10/-' per week; they would only get £1 8/6 a week, because the Government would deduct 1/6 in tax. This was incorrect. Pensioners would receive £1 10/- a week clear, ,and Mr Smith knew this.

“The hearts of the National Party bleed for women, particularly girls from 16 to 20 year's of age, and they are going to exempt them from taxation,” Mr Savage said. “They do not tell- them, however, that they are going to exempt them also from the benefits of the Social Security Act.”

Protection From Cradle To Grave.

Tlie Social Security Act would ensure the individual almost from the cradle to the grave, Mr Savage added. He traced the benefits to be obtained by girls and women during their lifetime under the Act, covering sickness, invalidity, unemployment, maternity, and family payments. . Figures to show that New Zealand had developed under the Labour Government were quoted. Since March, 1936, there had been an increase of £11,000,000 in taxation, but since then the national income had increased by £4|,000,000, leaving the taxpayer with a credit of £34,000^,600. There had been slight increases in thb income fax. rate, arid in the graduated land tax, but nothing like the increase shown by the figure he had quoted. No Long Faces, “I am not going to split straws about the figure,” Mr Savage said, “but I’ll '-take anyone out of the audience, walk him along the street, and he won’t see .one long face.” were happy because of what the Goverrynent was doing for them, and the speaker was receiving rousing receptions because he was the leader of the Government, but not because of any personal attraction. At the election, the people could decide whether they would have another depression, or go on, as in the past three years, making progress all the time. Increase of Business. Discussing the sales tax, Mr Savage said this was one yf the election pledges he was said to have broken. The people who said that were the people who had been responsible for putting the sales tax legislation on the Statute Book. However, there had been ,an increase of £454,000 in sales tax. That was because business had increased, because more things were sold.

“Why has business increased?” Mr Savage .asked. “Because wages were higher. That’s why. Excuse me talking in this ABC language, but I am trying to educate the Nationalists.” The meeting passed a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Savage, the Labour Party and Mr W. C. Denham, Labour candidate for Invercargill.