Editing Michael Joseph Savage (section)

=== Prime minister ===
{{further|First Labour Government of New Zealand}}
[[File:Labour Cabinet, 1935.jpg|thumb|250px|Savage and his ministers in the first Labour Cabinet, photographed in the Old Parliament Building, {{circa|1935}}]]
During the [[Great Depression|depression]], Savage toured the country, and became an iconic figure. An excellent speaker, he became the most visible politician in the land, and led Labour to victory in the [[1935 New Zealand general election|1935 election]]. Along with the Premiership, he appointed himself to the posts of [[Department of Island Territories (New Zealand)#List of Ministers|Minister of External Affairs]] and Minister of Native Affairs.<ref>''New Zealand Parliamentary Debates'', Vols. 248–256 (1936–1939).</ref> In 1936 the ''Weekly News'' featured Spencer Digby's full page iconic photograph of Savage which was often to be seen framed in many New Zealand homes through the following years.<ref>'Portrait of Mr Savage', ''The New Zealand Herald'', 25 March 1936.</ref> Soon after its election the government gave a "Christmas bonus" of £270,000 to the unemployed and needy.{{sfn|Sinclair|1976|pp=121–2}} Savage's government also restored wage cuts, expanded pensions, guaranteed farmers' prices, and revalued the currency.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=184}}

In 1936 the government decided that broadcasting would be run by the state. As a result, a government [[Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media|minister in charge of Broadcasting]] was appointed and new legislation (the Broadcasting Act 1936) was passed that abolished the existing New Zealand Broadcasting Board and established the new National Broadcasting Service in its place. A Director of Broadcasting was appointed and a Broadcasting Advisory Council formed as a result of the act to advise the minister.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19360609.2.27.2 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] |page=5 |title=Control by Minister |volume=CXXI |issue=135 |date=9 June 1936 |access-date=26 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19360701.2.74 |work=[[Nelson Evening Mail]] |page=7 |title=Broadcasting Portfolio |volume=LXX |date=1 July 1936 |access-date=26 May 2020 }}</ref> The Labour Party had specifically sought to broadcast parliamentary debates via radio as a means of allowing the public to listen and make their own judgment of events, rather than relying solely on reporting the press, whom Labour were distrustful of.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|pp=193–4}} Savage appointed himself as the inaugural minister.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=117}}

In 1936 the government instituted major reform to industrial relations legislation. The [[Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894#1936 Amendment|Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act]] which established a statutory minimum wage, standardised the 40-hour week and made union membership compulsory. It also restored the power of the Arbitration Court and required the court to factor in the needs of wives and dependent children of workers when making general wage orders.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=185}}

While unemployment was consistently reducing the cabinet continued to spend for unemployment relief. To find a more permanent solution to the unemployment situation the government was promoting the development of secondary industries.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=185}} Likewise the government announced in May 1936 a three-year public works programme. This not only provided relief work for the unemployed but also restarted the [[Ministry of Works and Development|Public Works Department]] original function as the development arm of the state. Additionally, all relief workers were placed on standard £4 a week rate of pay.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=184}}

Despite questioning the necessity for [[Edward VIII]] to [[Edward VIII abdication crisis|abdicate]], Savage sailed to Britain in 1937 to attend the coronation of King [[George VI]], as well as the concurrent [[1937 Imperial Conference|Imperial Conference]]. While in London, Savage differentiated himself from the other Commonwealth prime ministers when he openly criticised Britain for weakening the [[League of Nations]] and argued that the dominions were not consulted with properly on foreign policy and defence issues. Savage's government (unlike Britain) was quick to condemn German rearmament, Japanese expansion in China and [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|Italy's conquest of Abyssinia]]. Savage criticised Britain's appeasement policies at the conference, saying "Is your policy peace at any price; if it is so I cannot accept it". [[Anthony Eden]] replied "No, not at any price, but peace at almost any price", to which Savage replied: "You can pay too high a price even for peace".<ref>{{cite book |last= Berendsen |first= Carl |title= Mr Ambassador: Memoirs of Sir Carl Berendsen |year= 2009 |publisher=Victoria University Press |location= Wellington |isbn= 9780864735843 |pages=128–9 }}</ref> Britain, Australia, Canada and the opposition [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] were critical of Savage for his stance.<ref name="DNZB Savage" />

[[File:Michael Joseph Savage Rugby League.jpg|thumb|left|Savage demonstrates his common touch, attending a [[rugby league]] match between New Zealand and Australia at Auckland, 1937]]
In April 1938 Savage and his Finance Minister, [[Walter Nash]], began planning Labour's proposals on social security, in-line with their 1935 election promises. Responding to a suggestion from the Reverend [[W. H. A. Vickery]], mayor of [[Kaiapoi]], Savage began to use the term "applied Christianity" to describe the government's scheme.<ref name="history-nz">{{cite web|last1=Whitmore|first1=Robbie|title=Michael Joseph Savage – New Zealand in History|url=http://history-nz.org/savage.html|website=history-nz.org|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref> The [[Social Security Act 1938|Social Security Bill]] put forward by the government boasted an unemployment benefit payable to people 16 years and over; a universal free health system extending to general practitioners, public hospitals and maternity care; a means-tested old-age pension of 30 shillings a week for men and women at age 60; and universal superannuation from age 65.<ref name="history-nz" />

The social security scheme was a collaborative effort, with the detailed negotiations and drafting of the legislation carried out by committees of MPs and public servants. However, Savage's personal involvement was pivotal, as he decided on the basic scheme, helped resolve deep divisions of opinion within the Labour [[caucus]] over principles and detail, made many of the major public pronouncements and guarantees, and astutely responded to opposition from the [[New Zealand Treasury|Treasury]], the New Zealand branch of the [[British Medical Association]], and the National Party.<ref name="DNZB Savage"/> It was also Savage who insisted that the Act contain a provision that it would not come into force until 1 April 1939, thereby giving National the opportunity to revoke it if they won the [[1938 New Zealand general election|1938 general election]].<ref name="DNZB Savage"/> The First Labour Government proved popular and easily won the election, with an increased popular mandate. The Social Security Act was eventually passed, establishing the first ever social security system in the western world.<ref name="DNZB Savage" />

Following the 1938 election, at the first Labour caucus on 3 November, Labour under-secretary [[John A. Lee]], a critic of Savage who was bitter about being excluded from the cabinet,<ref name="DNZB Savage" /> attempted a [[caucus revolt]]. He moved a proposal that caucus elect a new cabinet rather than endorse either the existing one or one nominated by Savage. After a bitter debate amongst MPs the proposal was successful 26 votes to 23. However, Savage over-ruled the vote and proceeded to inform the press that cabinet would remain unchanged.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|pp=106–7}} In December 1938 the infamous "Lee Letter" appeared. It contained many attacks on the financial orthodoxy and over-cautiousness of the Labour leadership. It received wide publicity and led many in the public to question Labour's unanimity.{{sfn|Brown|1962|pp=202–3}} Lee was eventually [[The Lee Affair|expelled from the party]] by the annual conference.<ref name="DNZB Savage" />

====Second World War====
Savage led the country into the Second World War, officially declaring war on [[Nazi Germany]] on 3 September 1939, just hours after Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/second-world-war/fighting-for-britain|title=Fighting for Britain – NZ and the Second World War|publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage (New Zealand)|Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]|date=2 September 2008}}</ref> Unlike Australia, which felt obligated to declare war, as it also had not ratified the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]],{{clarify|date=July 2021}} New Zealand did so as a sign of allegiance to Britain, and in recognition of Britain's abandoning its former [[Appeasement of Hitler|appeasement]] of the dictators, a policy that New Zealand had opposed. This led to Prime Minister Savage declaring (from his sick bed) two days later:<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime minister declares New Zealand's support for Britain |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/pm-declares-new-zealands-support-for-britain-in-famous-radio-broadcast |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand History |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Both with gratitude for the past and confidence in the future, we range ourselves without fear beside Britain. Where she goes, we go. Where she stands, we stand. We are only a small and young nation, but we are one and all a band of brothers and we march forward with union of hearts and wills to a common destiny.}}