The Waikato Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937 WHAT TO EXPECT

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20389, 4 January 1938, Page 6

The Waikato Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937 WHAT TO EXPECT

With a Labour Government now entered on its third year of office the policy placed before the electors in 1935 should shortly be completed, and the results of the earlier legislation should be made more clear. It takes time for effects to make themselves felt, and it probably would be correct to say that in many instances three years is not a sufficiently long period. What may seem suitable and successful, in days when the national revenue is buoyant and overseas prices are at an economic level, may fail when internal adjustments have to be made to meet changing conditions. A reasonable period must be allowed before the real value of national plans can be assessed accurately. Naturally the most optimistic with regard to the outcome have been those who sponsored the plans, and perhaps they led some people to expect too much and to expect it too soon. In at least one respect the hopes of the Government have not been realised. In August, 1936, a deputation waited on the Prime Minister and discussed serious social problems. Mr. Savage, in the course of a sympathetic reply, said: ‘‘l am hoping by this time next year that there will be a considerable alteration in the taxing system in New Zealand. I am hoping that every person in New Zealand will be able to receive a pension that will place him beyond the reach of poverty, and without a means test.” Those hopes have not been fulfilled, but possibly the legislation to be brought down early this year will make the changes Mr. Savage mentioned. It will be noted that the scheme he evidently had in mind was to be national in its application, for there has been a suggestion from unofficial quarters that the superannuation plan may be limited in its scope. That is not what was promised, and certainly is not what is expected. The Labour leader mentioned “every person in New Zealand” and for that reason a national plan is anticipated. It may have been with this important social legislation in mind that the Prime Minister spoke so optimistically when he replied to a civic reception in Dunedin early last year. The report read: “In his concluding remarks Mr. Savage said that before two years had passed there would be a transformation in New Zealand that even the most optimistic among them had never dreamt of in the days that had gone.” The first half of the term has passed and it could not be said that the blissful state predicted has been reached. It is difficult to imagine on what Mr. Savage based his confident prediction. In days gone some very prosperous periods were enjoyed, due for the most part to a succession of years of rising prices overseas. An improvement in that respect last year was quickly reflected in the general conditions of the country, but the “transformation” mentioned by Mr. Savage is among the things that have to be expected.