SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY

NO ONE MISSED

MRS. STEWART'S CLAIM

Although there were no women in Parliament, the Labour Government had proved that it understood the needs of the workers of the country, Mrs. C. S. Stewart, Labour candidate for Wellington West, said when speaking at the Aro Street Mission Hall last evening. Provision had been made in the Social Security Act for. all, and everyone would help to pay for the services that were to be provided. The Government had not let the people down, and it would do the greatest good possible for all of/the people. The hall was well filled, and Mrs. Stewart was given an attentive hearing throughout, applause being frequent. Mr. L. A. Plackett presided. It could not be denied that the Labour Government had done a great deal during its term of office, Mrs. Stewart said, and it would be impossible to discuss all of its legislation in one evening. The most outstanding measure passed was the Social Security Bill, and the Government's opponents had declared that they would leave it inoperative if they were returned to office. If the Government was returned at the elections every person of 60 in New Zealand would qualify for 30s a week after April 1 next if assistance was necessary. Those who had no income or only a small income would qualify. An income of £1 a week was allowed without deduction.

Many persons were concerned about the qualifying age of wives who were under 60 and whose husbands were 60 or over, Mrs. Stewart said, but the Labour Government would see that provision was made for them.1 There were many things still to be done and they would be done

Discussing widdws' pensions, Mrs. Stewart referred to the case of a widow who was deprived of her pension because all of her children were grown up. In the past such women often were left without a pension at an age when they could not get work and before their children could help them. In the future provision would be made for them and also for childless widows. MOTHERS AND CHILDREN. Provision was made for mothers and children if the breadwinner had to go into a mental hospital, Mrs. Stewart said, and more suitable provision was to be made for orphans. In the past children had been taken to institutions because relatives could not afford to care for them, but provision was made so that such children could have real home life i» the future. ■ "'7 /•■ '. . ;.■ ■■" '"; :: . Invalids had also been remembered by the Government, Mrs. Stewart continued, and the indignity of charity was removed from them. Invalidity pensions were provided but additional income was allowed so that invalids who could do a little work were encouraged to do so. In cases where help was necessary provision could be made for additional financial assistance. Blind persons were allowed to earn up to £2 10s a week without pension reduction. That was a splendid thing. She knew of a case of a working man whose wife was blind and the provisions would enable him to provide domestic help.

The unemployment benefit rose to a maximum of £4 a week, Mrs. Stewart said. The Government had shown an understanding of the needs of the working people to an amazing extent in compiling the Bill. Provision was made for the man who had lost his wife and had to employ a housekeeper; in fact, it was surprising that all the provisions had been made, although there were no women members of Parliament. >.

It was almost unbelievable that health, services should always have been balanced against £ s. d., said Mrs. Stewart. It almost appeared that Governments of the past considered the workers had no right to be sick. Actually they were not able to keep well. For several years many people had been short of food and some were still suffering from the results of malnutrition during that period. The Labour Government, through raising the standard of living, had laid the foundation-stone for better health, but there was still a great deal of leeway to be made up to correct the losses of the past. Real medical services would be the right of every individual under the Labour Government. Medical treatment would not be given as charity but because all the people had combined to pay for it. No Britisher wanted charity and all would be prepared to pay for what they were to gel.

After Mrs. Stewart had concluded, Mr. H. J. Underwood, chairman of the Labour Committee in Wellington West, addressed the meeting on the aims of the Labour Government.

The speakers were accorded a vote of thanks, and confidence in the Labour Party was expressed.