THE PREMIER’S TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1938, Page 9

THE PREMIER’S TOUR

WELCOME IN WANGANUI ASSURANCES OF GOOD HEALTH. SUPERANNUATION SCHEME DEFENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, June 15. A warm welcome was accorded the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage, and the Minister of Mines, the Hon P. C. Webb, at a civic reception given in Wanganui tonight. Mr Savage’s remarks were principally confined to the administration of the Railways Department. He said he did not intend to talk much about politics. The address was punctuated with remarks concerning criticism of the Government by newspapers and the actions of editors. Welcoming the Prime Minister, the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr W. J. Rogers, said that on his first official visit to Wanganui he wanted to extend to Mr Savage a very warm reception. He was held in high esteem and affection throughout the Dominion, and he hoped the Prime Minister would be able to visit Wanganui in the same capacity for many years. His arrival had been an eagerly-awaited event. Mr J. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui, addressing the Prime Minister, said reports had been heard in Wanganui that Mr Savage was dying of cancer, and this had caused some concern among the people. It was pleasing for them to be able to banish all fears when they- saw him fit and well. The people of Wanganui appreciated what the Government had been able to do to satisfy the needs of the city and its surrounding district. “I may be dying of old age, but not of cancer,” said Mr Savage in his address. He said he would reserve talking about politics for the open season. Before he left Wellington he had been told the people were against him, but the receptions he had received since he commenced his tour last Monday had surpassed anything he had expected. He felt quite sure he would be returning to Wanganui as Prime Minister for many more years. WAGES AND COSTS. Mr Savage referred to the increasing number of people who were now employed, and the high wages now being paid. The Opposition had said it did not intend to reduce wages, yet it wished to reduce expenses. The only way they could do this, apparently, was to decrease the number of people employed. The Labour Party had spent a whole life-time putting forward the principles which it was now making law. Mr Savage referred briefly to the national superannuation scheme. The Government intended to go forward with the scheme, which would ensure £3 a week for every man and wife and would provide security that would be without equal in any country in the world. The Government believed 80 per cent of the people would benefit from the scheme. The other 20 per cent would not need it —“and good luck to them if they don’t,” said Mr Savage. When this legislation was passed the Government believed it would still be in a position to extend it to other sections of the community. Concern had been expressed to him before the last election that he did not have the men behind him to carry out the work. He had said then and still said it that the men in the Labour Cabinet were more qualified to hold their positions than those in the last Government. He instanced the Minister of Finance, the Hon W. Nash, who had had a commercial training and knew more about finance than did his predecessor, and the Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser. Every man in the Cabinet, if he had not had actual experience in the direction he was representing, had studied the profession thoroughly during the years he was in Parliament and before he became a Cabinet Minister. At the conclusion of the meeting there were cries for Mr Webb to speak, but he did not do so.