Social Security

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 45, 19 August 1943, Page 3

Social Security

New Zealand Leads the World Over 200.000 Beneficiaries essive fads about the of Nov. Zealand's system Security were given by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser during his speech at Kaitaia last Tuesday night. Claiming that New Zealand again led the world in social welfare legislation Mr. Fraser said that other countries of the United Nations were now planning to establish social security systems on the New Zealand plan . Indeed, the historic Atlantic Charter—the post-war Magna Carta for the whole world—included in its four Freedoms the great principle of “Freedom from Want.” This had been in practice in New Zealand under the Labour Government since 1938. “Here is what the Leaders of the United Kingdom and the United States have said about social security. Mr. Winston Churchill discussing post-war policy on March 21 this year said : “You must rank me and my colleagues as strong partisans of national compulsory insurance for all classes for all purposes from the cradle to the grave.” President Roosevelt in a letter to Congress accompanying the American equivalent of the Beveridge Plan, said : “Work, fair pay and social security after the war must be firmly established for the American people.” “These principles and projects are in substantial and successful practice throughout New Zealand, and have been part and parcel of the Government’s policy since before the outbreak of the present war,” Mr. Fraser said. “I am proud of the fact and it is for the people to say at the General Election next month whether or not they desire to retain the best system of social security in the world.” Discussing the range of Social Security benefits in contrast with the pensions system under the Nationalists before the advent of the Labour Government the Prime Minister said that there were now over 200,000 people receiving benefits. In round figures 99,600 men and women obtained the age benefits as compared with 42,200 in 1935; over 10,000 widows were now saved from poveity (in 1935 the total widows’ pensions was 4300); more than 12,000 invalids had been rescued from unhappy dependence; in 1935 only 500 blind people received pensions, other invalids being left to the kindness of relatives and friends. Under previous Governments, orphans received no cash benefits and there were none for emergency cases of distress or sickness.