Tag Archives: social security

March 1940 – This month last century

29 March 2013 – 2.21pm

73 years ago Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage dies (27 March 1940)

Mickey Savage, as many New Zealanders fondly referred to him, was the country’s first Labour Prime Minister.

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown,compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown,compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Australian-born Savage had arrived in New Zealand in 1907. He became the Labour MP for Auckland Central electorate in 1919.

Labour’s win 16 years later was a response to the hardship of the Great Depression and the limitations of private charity. The party won 55 seats out of a total of 80 and, as its leader, Savage became Prime Minister.

Under Savage, Labour promised more humane policies – ‘applied Christianity’ – and the right to a decent standard of living for all. The means to this ‘cradle to grave’ welfare philosophy was realised through Social Security legislation. 

Shortly after it was introduced, in August 1938, Savage collapsed. Emergency surgery revealed cancer of the colon. In just 19 months, the 68-year-old had succumbed to the disease.

After lying in state in Wellington, Savage’s body was taken by train to Auckland; around 200,000 people lined the route up to his grave at Bastion Point.

Michael Joseph Savage was probably New Zealand’s most beloved Prime Minister. Many felt a deep personal connection to him. His memorial gained special significance for those who lived through the Depression and found hope in Savage’s vision of New Zealand.

Read more about Savage’s life on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Learn about the 1938 Social Security legislation

Go to the Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa exhibition website to see more about New Zealand governments and their social welfare policies

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

October 1935: This month last century

31 October 2012 – 11.36am

77 years ago the distribution of free milk to 5500 primary school children in Auckland begins (14 October 1935)

 This world first began as a temporary measure in Auckland for primary school children up to Standard 4 (year 6). The experiment, paid for the Auckland City Council, was closely watched by the government.

Initially, over 1500 litres of milk was distributed each day to 18 schools in the city.

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Milk bottle, unknown, New Zealand. Maker unknown. Gift of the Guard Family, 1993. Te Papa

Each child received half a pint (just under 300ml) of pasteurised milk in a glass bottle, like the one pictured above, with a cardboard lid. The lids had holes in them for drinking straws. Later the caps often carried promotional messages such as ‘Make a good start. Drink milk every morning’ and  ‘Full Marks to Pasteurised Milk’.

The free milk scheme was prompted by concerns about the low rate of consumption of milk, which meant that New Zealanders were degenerating into ‘a  B grade people’, according to Dr E B Gunson. Depression conditions and the associated poor diets and health of children were also causing anxiety.

This pilot scheme in Auckland was launched just before the election of the first Labour Government (led by Prime Minister Michael Savage, below), which became synonymous with the implementation of universal social security initiatives.

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, Roberts, Benjamin. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Concerned with creating equal access for New Zealanders to basic health, education and welfare, this government made free milk available to all New Zealand primary school children in 1937. This was complemented by other health measures for children such as free dental care at school dental clinics. School dental nurses continued to stress the importance of milk in children’s diets.

The school milk scheme continued under successful governments, both National and Labour, until October 1967.

Read more about the government’s involvement in children’s health, the Depression and social welfare measures on the Slice of Heaven website

See nzhistory.net.nz for more details about the school milk scheme

Read more about the beginning of the school dental clinics and nurse on previous Te Papa’s blog

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, Exhibitions, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

March 1940: This month last century

30 March 2012 – 1.38pm

72 years ago, Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage (1872-1940) dies from cancer (27 March 1940)

Michael Joseph Savage was New Zealand’s first Labour Prime Minister. He was born in Victoria, Australia, and arrived in New Zealand in 1907.

Savage was active as a trade unionist and socialist, and first stood for parliament in 1911. In 1919, he became the Labour MP for Auckland West.

In 1935, when voters elected Labour to rule the country, Savage became Prime Minister. Once the Labour party was in power, Savage was able to see that profound, ‘cradle to grave’ social security legislation was passed. This was a blessing for those who had endured the hardships and deprivation of the Great Depression.

Labour also won the general election in 1938, and Te Papa has an autograph album which contains photos and signatures of Labour MPs who were elected to parliament that year. Shown here is the page with ’Mickey’ Savage’s autograph. 

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

Autograph album, 1930s, New Zealand. Maker unknown, compiled by Benjamin Roberts. Gift of anonymous donors, 2007. Te Papa

New Zealanders felt closely connected to Savage, because of the impact his government’s policies made on their lives.  When he died at the age of 68, the Prime Minster was mourned across the country by many thousands.

Go to the Slice of Heaven exhibition website to read more about social security legislation.

Read about Savage’s life on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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