POLICY PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22489, 5 August 1936, Page 15

POLICY PLANS

EDUCATION SYSTEM HEALTH SERVICES MINISTER'S STATEMENT PROVISION FOR 5000 HOUSES [fft TELEGRAPH- —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Reference to the extraordinary difficulties which primary producers had encountered owing to the fall in prices and consequential over-mortgaged land prior to the Government assuming office in November last was made bv the Minister of' Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives this evening. These conditions, he said, were associated with cuts in salaries and pensions, and reduced votes for education, health and other social services, together with unprecedented unemployment. Mr. Nash said the aim of the Government as expressed in its election manifesto was, and still was, "to organise an internal economy that would distribute the production and services of the Dominion in a way that would guarantee to every person able and willing to work an income sufficient to provide him and his dependents with everything necessary to make a home and "home life in the best sense of the meaning of thoso terms." After describing what the Government had done in increasing wages, Mr. Nash declared it was the Government's intention to reorganise the Dominion's school, college and university svstems to provide the maximum facilities for all children from the kindergarten to the university. That policy would not ; be worth while, however, unless the physical needs of the child and the adult were fully provided for on the same basis as were the needs of the mind. Health services should be made 'as freely available as educational service. "That is why the Government intends to organise a system of public health services, including full medical, maternity and dental care, which will stress the prevention rather than the cure of illness," continued Mr. Nash. "This system will be extended to all our people in both rural and urban areas. The Government has already taken the initial steps for the organisation of a complete health insurance, invalidity and old-age superannuation schcnio. The objective is to provide superannuation by right during sickness or old a ge, without a means test. "The preliminary organisation has been .established under which negotiations will be inaugurated with all bodies associated- with the carc of the aged and the sick. The organisation of the friendly societies, the National Provident Fund, the Public Service superannuation schemes, the pensions system, the Government Life Insurance Office, and the Health Department will ail be used to determine the most efficient financial" and service procedure necessary to provide for accident, invalidity, sickness and old age. In the intervening period while the constructive work is proceeding, steps are being taken to introduce pensions for invalids and to raise the general standard of a 'l pensioners." Provision was made in the estimates tor the appointment of additional officers for the school medical service and a considerable expansion of the dental service. To permit of these services being mrtde available in all districts, approximately double the probo»t number of trained dental nurses were needed, but by taking immediate

steps to increase the number of trainees it was anticipated that staff requirements would be fully met within a few years. A properly equipped training school for the training of students was to be established in Wellington.

A daily supply of milk for children at school was another matter receiving attention, and provision was made on the estimates for the inauguration of this important service. Owing to the varying circumstances it would probably be necessary to deal with each centre separately, but by next year the service should be fairly general throughout the Dominion. Grants to the Plunket Society had been restored to the former level. The Government was also concerned in raising the standard of health of the Maori, and for this purpose seven additional nurses and six additional inspectors were being appointed to the Maori hygiene service. Increased requirements of hospital boards were reflected in an increase of approximately £78,000 in subsidies payable under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. The chief factors in the increase, apart from restoration of salary and wage cuts, were improvements in the staff conditions and hours of duty and better and more extensive facilities for treatment on the institutional side. These and other items have increased the Health Department's vote by £146,000. Mr. Nash gave details of measures relating to the Reserve Bank and the Mortgage Corporation the_ Government had brought into force in order to carry out its election policy. Dealing with the Housing Act, he said that plans were in course of preparation to provide for the construction of some 0000 houses at a cost of approximately £.'3.000,000. It was hoped to erect about 900 houses before the end of the financial year. Finance would be available to local authorities for house building and full details of procedure would be sent to inquiring local bodies within the next few weeks. Those who saved to buy land upon which to erect their own homes could bftrrow a large proportion of the total cost at special low rates of interest —the interest and principal being repaid by small quarterly instalments spread over a period tip to 40 years. An extensive public works programme was outlined by the Minister. LANDS IMPROVEMENT DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION SETTLING UNEMPLOYED MEN fnv TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Drainage of swamp and other lands, irrigation works, flood prevention and protection and reclamation of land from tlie sea in suitable localities, on which the net capital expenditure Inst year was £136,245, were provided for by an allocation of £320,000, augmented by a substantial provision from the Consolidated Fund for such works as were not considered justifiable projects for the expenditure of loan money only, said the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in his Budget address to-night. The extension of irrigation works in Canterbury was being pursued steadily, and care was being taken to ensure that the revenue from this work for the benefit of private lands would repay the interest nud other annual costs. Substantial provision would also be made for general land development and for the settlement of unemployed workers on the land, and also for Continuance of the policy of establishing natives on suitable land, ho said. Greater activity in afforestation would be met from an increased vote for the State Forests Account. Sundry other works included the extension of telegraph and telephone systems, for which £360,000 would be allocated in the capital expenditure programme, and also lighthouses, harbour works in more remote localities and additions to tourist resorts.