Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-11
Security Plan PIeoses
New ZeuIunders
Writer ExpIoins How Plan
For Stote Help to People
Operates in Far Dominion
BIZ Blair BolleS.

By Blair Bolles.
The enthusiasm about the Beverage
social security report in Great Britain
probably has been understood better in
distant New Zealand than In any other
part Of the world. That small British
commonwealth, where American soldiers
now are billeted, provides the model for
social security. There the scheme of
public benefits has long history and
there the beneficiaries receive more
services than other governments offer.
The Scandinavian countries often are
considered the fountains Of the sort OF
more abundant life, . democracy -capi-
talism style, which social security has
come to typify. But Scandinavian soci-
ologists often have made the long trip
to Wellington in the Antipodes to get
ideas from the New Zealanders. And the
Beveridge report itself stressed the ex-
emplary value of New Zealands accom-
plishments.
Social security in New Zealand is part
Of scheme of government control over
economic and social existence which has
been extended more broadly than in
most other countries outside the totali-
tartan catalogue. Some critics have
suspected that in such extensive social
security perhaps lies ultimate state
bankruptcy. Yet the fact remains that
the standard of living in New Zealand
is high and the population vigorously
supports the scheme of benefits.
The development OF the state program
for security in New Zealand at times
has run a difficult political course. The
question was raised a few years ago
whether New Zealand would not benefit
more in the long run II the government
used public funds to build iron and steel
works rather than dental clinics. 1t was
argued that the steel works would make
income for individuals who from 1t could
afford to pay private dentists. These
are perplexing questions, but New
Zealand people have insisted on the
security program.
The New Zealand social security expe-
rience had It's inception in the 1905, or
about so years after the islands were
annexed to Great Britain as a colony.
The New Zealand Institute OF Interna-
tional Affairs explains the countrys
early work in this direction:
From the very beginnings Of colon
ization the demands Of education and
social services generally have been mat
tiers OF public interest. In default Of
voluntary community organizations able
and willing to undertake humanitarian
works the provision Of these services
developed upon the state. Hospitals, for
example, despite the tradition OF indi-
vidualism supplemented by charity
which the colonists brought from Brit
ain, were soon nationaliZed. The trend
toward naturalization arose sooner in
New Zealand than in most countries
because of the lack Of private organiza-
ton in a new community
1t was the period OF the 1906, how
ever. that gave the greatest impetus to
social security in New Zealand, just as
1t did in the New Deal United States
The early legislation provided benefits
for special depressed classes The law
Of 1888 aimed toward security benefits
for all, especially in the category Of
approximation" All men and women
over go are entitled to a minimum pen
sion Of rs pounds year.
The New Zealand pound in worth 1928
in exchange, but experience indicates
that in actual purchasing power the
pount comes to about $3.50 in our money.
The IS pounds, in other words, is worth
about $685.. This is less than the sum a
beneficiary Of the United States old-age
pension scheme might obtain, but the
New zealander is helped from the cradle
to the grave by payments from the state.
The age benefits and the invalids'
benefits were increased last Nav l by a
per cent cost-of- living bonus, because
the inflationary spiral has been at work
In wartime New Zealand just as 1t has
in wartime United States The five per-
cent was added also to the widows bene-
fits, the orphans benefits. the miners
benefits and the special BENEFITS which
go to the Maoris-the descendants Of tho
New Zealand aborigines.
New Zealand provides sickness bene-
hts, emergency benefits and unemploy-
NM