Social and Humanitarian Services.

Following this preliminary exposition of policy Mr. Nash set forth in a simple and lucid summary the general aims of the Government. The efforts of the new Ministry, he said, were directed towards organising an internal economy that would distribute the production and services of the Dominion in such a way as to guarantee to every person able and willing to work an income sufficient to provide him and his dependants with everything necessary for a full life. To this end the Government had raised the allowances to the unemployed, provided increased rates of pay on the public works, had instituted a 40-hour week for industry, and had raised the wages of young people on a graduated scale so that when reaching adulthood they would automatically secure a basic wage.

On the side of education it is the Government's intention to reorganise the school, college and university system to provide the maximum facilities for all children. This, however, will not be worth while unless the physical needs of child and adult are fully provided for on the same basis as the needs of the mind.

Health services in turn should be made as freely available as the educational service. That, Mr. Nash wrote, is why the Government intends to organise a system of public health services, including full medical, maternity and dental care which will stress prevention rather than cure. The system will be extended to all the people. In addition a national superannuation scheme is to be launched to provide for the years when people are retired from active work, and for inyalidity pensions.