Topic: Compare and contrast the policies of government between 1911 and 1935, on the one hand, with the policies of the Labour government after 1935
Teacher’s Name: Stevan Eldred-Grigg
Date: 24th January, 2012
Word Count: 1170
A government policy is one of the government actions which the party in power makes some laws or acts to the country, and usually has extensive and far-reaching effects or consequences. Policy can be defined by “a set of plans or principles that are used as a basis for making decisions.” (Sinclair, 2005, p. 527) New Zealand government was governed by the Liberal Party and the Reform Party during 1911 to 1935 and also governed by the Labour Party after 1935. This essay will discuss several similarities of policies which in economic and social areas, and also will focus on differences of policies which have economy, society, house, education and health.
The similarities in the policies of governments can be divided into three different areas, which in economics, macroeconomic and social areas. Firstly, economic policies are one of the similarities of the government policy. State ownerships, for example, can see that the government intervention in the national economy. The postal system, roads and railways had belonged to the state during 1911 to 1935 (FNDN025: Unite 3, pp.43-51). However, when New Zealand government governed by the Labour Party was obtained telecoms, airlines, the coal industry, the electricity industry and other important industries after 1935 (FNDN025: Unite 3, pp.50-51). As we can see the government continues to expand their influence in the economy that means the most economy was controlled by the state and not by private capitalists. Secondly, social policies were another similarity of the government policy. Whether the Reform State or the Welfare State, both they published a policy was helping poor people. For instance, when the Reform party governed the government of New Zealand has published a policy called ‘Square Deal’ during 1911 to 1935. The state claimed that the ‘Square Deal’ was benefit to all social classes, nevertheless, socialists think this policy is bad for the working class, so they called it is ‘Square Steal’ policy (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.41). After 1935, the Labour Party published a policy called ‘cradle to grave.’ It was supported almost all citizens which benefit to all sick, unemployed and elderly people and all children (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.50). On the other hand, it was also helping needy people by reliance on the charity (Ball, 2004, p.42).
The third similarity is macroeconomic policy which is both states uses borrowed money invests in economic growth. The Jazz Age of the 1920s in New Zealand history, for example, the state develops the economy by borrowing money invests in economic areas (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.43). During the Great Depression in the early 1930s, New Zealand was one of the highest overseas debts in the world (Ball, 2004, p.42). Because amount of government’s income paid for the interest of debt, so the state invests in the economy was decreased. Finally, both the state policy was on the right that means they are the conservative state. The Reform Party was supported by landowners, farmers and the conservative middle class after 1911. In addition, the class war during 1912 to 1913 won by capitalists caused by their supported by the Reform state. Even if the Socialist Party which supported by labourers and skilled workers succeeded had one sit in the parliament of New Zealand in the 1911 election, the Reform state still hold most power of the state (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.41). The same situation has happened in the 1920s which the government was controlled by the Reform Party and the Liberal Party. Socialist policies were supported by only a few voters (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.43). In despite of the Welfare State, after 1935 have a ‘cradle to grave’ security system, the middle class and capitalist profited from exploiting of the working class (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.50).
As seen in the story, different the policies of governments could have some similarities in diverse areas, such as economic and social areas. In other words, the government policies also could have differences between different governments. Overall, next section will focus on the policies of governments between 1911 and 1935 to contrast with the policies of the Labour government after 1935 which in economic, social, housing, health and education areas.
The differences in the policies of governments can be separated into five areas, which have economic, social, housing, health and education policies. To begin with, one of the differences was between economic policies of governments. When the New Zealand government controlled by the Reform Party and the Liberal Party the Unemployment Act was introduced for men in 1930 by caused by the Great Depression made a lot of people unemployed during that time. People cannot get money until they did some work, such as road building and forests planting. After that, the Employment Promotion Act was published in 1936 which the Labour government abolished the Unemployment Act. The result was positive that sustenance and relief work rates were increased rapidly (Unemployment, Te Ara, 2009). Secondly, social policy was another difference between the governments. The Labour Party published the Social Security Act was introduced for all sick, unemployed, elderly people and all children in 1938 (Ball, 2004, p.42). Compared with other parties’ policies, the policy of the Labour Party was real benefit for almost all social classes. For instance, ‘Square Deal’ of the Reform Party’s policy was benefit for all social classed expect the working class.
Furthermore, housing policy was the third difference of the policies of governments. As previously said the Social Security Act of 1938, under the policy state housing was built in the Welfare State. The Labour Party built a lot of state houses by reason that helps low income people have a cheap and good quality house (FNDN025: Unite 3, p.50). In comparison with other government policies, the Labour Party help the poor people improve their living standards. Fourthly, health policy is the first time introduced to all citizens. The Labour Party established the Social Security Act which includes support free health services to all citizens after 1935(FNDN025: Unite 3, p.50). On the other hand, this policy is the first time the state provides free health services benefit to all social classes in New Zealand history. Finally, education policy was the last difference of the policies of governments. Under the Social Security Act of 1938, the state began to provide free secondary education for all citizens. Free primary education was begun in 1877 when the state passed the Education Act (Swarbrick, Te Ara, 2009). Compared with other government policies, the Welfare State controlled by the Labour Party was the first time support all citizens with free secondary education in national history.
This essay compares and contrasts the policies of governments between 1911 and 1935, and comparing with the policies of the Labour government after 1935 in different areas. As we can see, government’s policy usually introduced with the economic and social situation changes, and also the people of benefit from the policy changes. These policies, while significant individually, are have effect on all social groups. In other words, the policies of government need to all social classes are engaged.
References:
Sinclair, J. (2005). Collins Cobuild Student’s Dictionary (Eds). Policy. (3rd ed, p.527). Great Britain: Harper Collins Publishers.
Ball, G. (2004). Making Kiwis. Auckland: New House, pp. 40-41, 42-43.
FNDN 025 New Zealand History, Unit Three: Role of the State. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington, pp. 41-47, 49-52.
‘Unemployment’, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 23-Apr-09. Retrieved January 21st, 2012, from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/labour-department-of/3
Nancy Swarbrick. ‘Country schooling - Getting an education: 1800s’, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Mar-09. Retrieved January 21st, 2012, from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/country-schooling/1
