NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23693, 28 December 1938, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

MR M. J. SAVAGE..? CHARACTER AND CAPACITY (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Nov. 24. The Railway Service Journal, in its current issue, remarks; — “At a time when the forces of reaction have triumphed on the Continent of Europe, the news of the sweeping victory gained by the Labour Government in the New Zealand elections comes as a tremendous encouragement to Socialists and Democrats everywhere. “This electoral success was due first to the splendid record of the Government, and secondly to the inspiring leadership of the Prime Minister. His visit to Great Britain last year enabled many members of the movement here to have the pleasure of personal contact with him. Universally there was a high appreciation of his character and capacity and complete assurance that his Government would continue to enjoy the confidence of the electorate. The further development of its programme will be watched with exceptional interest.” HARROW BEFORE REAPING

Mr Thomas Angus, formerly of Glasgow and now of Auckland, writes to Forward, a Glasgow journal:— •" “International penny postage and old age pensions were established in New Zealand 45 years before the ‘Old Ark’ ever dreamed of them. We are still advancing more under the progressive, new, and well-meaning Labour Government. The ‘old Government’ was a disgrace to any civilised country, and had many people in real want. . . . In past years Parliament House was only a club for making members rich. Now it is a busy workshop for turning out the ‘will’ of the people. Many are the plans outlined in the ‘New Pensions and Health Services.’

“ This present Government has raised the standard of living in many Respects; has made people far mom-re-spectable and stopped them crawling on their knees to so-called charity.” After briefly detailing the chief features of the new services, Mr Angus concludes:

“This is not written as an Invita(ation to you to come out to New Zealand. In a strange land a man has ‘no civil rights ’ and the: ‘new chum ’ would not be long enough hi the country to share many benefits. One must harrow in a country before one can expect to reap.” 1 v ’ “P.S.—Having lived 30 years in the most drunken city in the world —Glasgow—and 30 years in New. Zealand, I can write with some authority.”) PENSIONS-AT-60-CAMPAIGN

The Wigan Observer says: “A campaign, which, it is claimed, will be the biggest drive this country has ever known, ‘ to compel Parliament to make better provision for the aged worker,’ is being launched by the National Association for Pensions at Sixty, It is hoped that through various 1 organisations—trade union branches, friendly societies, and so on —something like 20,000 local speakers will take part, in addition to wellknown national men. Contributory pensions at 60, based Pn the New Zealand scheme, it is urged, could be introduced immediately,” EXTRAVAGANT PROGRAMME

The Times of India: “Even such promises as State loans to newly-weds with automatic debt reduction as offspring arrive, ■ which 1 were sponsored by the Nationalists, proved no adequate counter to the farreaching and wholesale programme of State Socialism to which the Labour Party are committed. It remains to be seen how they propose to finance this extravagant programme.” “LEADING THE WORLD”

Mrs F." J. Maldram, of Bath, has, received a letter from her sister, who lives at Auckland, and who writes: “I believe New. Zealand now leads the world in social legislation.” . , ■. f v ■ ...•

SECURE FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE In an address before members of; the Doncaster, Worksop, Scunthorpe and Retford Rotary Clubs, delivered at Doncaster, Mr W. J. Jordan referred to New Zealand as being in a state of comfort and security. Under the new social legislation they found in New Zealand to-day a people who, were secure from the cradle to the, grave, provided they proved themselves worthy citizens, In consequence there was a feeling of attachment between the manhood and womanhood of the country and the country itself. The country was in a , sound financial .position, and they hoped to welcome more of their own kith and kin from the Mother Country as well as their “fellow humans” from Europe to help them build a new “ down under.”