SOCIAL SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 12

SOCIAL SERVICES

CUTS NOT CONSIDERED ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ■ ■ PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISIONS NUTRITION RESEARCH PLANS By Telesrraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless Nov. 8 The suspicions expressed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, concerning the Government's attitude to social services, were referred to by the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, during his speech in the House of Common's. He drew a distinction between feeling in the position, at the same time as they were incurring enormous expenditure on armaments, to embark on vast new projects of social improvement, and contemplating cuts in existing social services.

Mr. Chamberlain said there was no foundation for any suggestion that the Government was contemplating such cutn. On the contrary, the King's Speech showed that the Government was: still planning further provisions for public health, and he thought all parties would welcome the announcement that the Government was going to submit proposals for earlier and more effective treatment of cancer. Gomprohensive Inquiries „ In connection with nutrition, the Ministry of Health was engaged in more far-reaching and comprehensive inquiries into food habits of the people than ever before in this or any other country. Ono of the earliest measures in tho new session would deal with milk, and its main principle would be to encourage consumption of liquid milk in the interests both of the farmer and national health. Another agricultural bill would contain the Government's proposals for the assistance of the poultry industry. Mr. Chamberlain, concluding, amused the House by accusing Mr. Attlee of trailing a > coat before him in relation to a possibility of tho appeal to the country, and saying that ho declined to istep on it. Government Indicted The leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Archibald Sinclair, while paying a new tribute to Mr. Chamberlain's sincere devotion to peace, said the Liberals indicted before history the Government which, having been given tho instrument of the League of Nations, had failed to use it for„ lack of courage, faith, foresight and skill.

It was vital to achieve national unity on foreign policy, but the absence of reference in the King's Speech to ibhe League hardly encouraged hopo that the Government's policy was one which would secure the firm and unreserved support of the country as a whole. ...

Political Liberties Sir Archibald regretted that there was no promise jin the speech to establish a Ministry of Supply. He added that the Government needed to reassure the country that it intended to preserve and protect its liberties, and he criticised the recent uses of the Official Secrets Act against journalists and. others, and gave instances of unofficial censorship of news films. "There is another interference with our political liberties to which I wish to draw attention," said Sir Archibald. "It is interference of the head of a foreign State in our domestic policy. I hope Mr. Chamberlain will take an .early opportunity of repudiating that interference."

Mr. Thomas Johnston. Labour member for the western division of Stirling and Clackmannan, argued that all colonial territories should bo placed under an international trust, on which Germany should have equality with other Powers, thus overcoming difficulties of prestige.