First Labour Government of New Zealand
| First Labour Government | |
|---|---|
| ministries of New Zealand | |
| 1935–1949 | |
| Date formed | 6 December 1935 |
| Date dissolved | 13 December 1949 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of government |
Michael Joseph Savage (1935-40) Peter Fraser (1940-49) |
| Deputy head of government | Peter Fraser (1935-40) Walter Nash (1940-49) |
| Head of state |
George V Edward VIII George VI |
| Member party | Labour Party |
| Opposition party |
United-Reform Coalition (1935-1936) National Party (1936-1949) |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election(s) | |
| Predecessor | United–Reform coalition Government of New Zealand |
| Successor | First National Government of New Zealand |
The First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. Responsible for the realisation of a wide range of progressive social reforms during its time in office, it set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention. The government came to power towards the end of, and as a result of, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and also governed the country throughout World War II.
In the 1930s, Labour was a supporter of the League of Nations (a forerunner to the United Nations), seeing the League as the best way to prevent another major war. However the League proved to be ineffectual, and was unable to prevent the Japanese invasion of Manchuria or the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. Under Labour, the New Zealand representative in the League spoke strongly against appeasement of aggressors, particularly the Italian invasion of Abyssinia and the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. When World War II broke out, New Zealand immediately declared war on Germany, with Savage saying that 'where Britain goes, we go'. During the war, conscription was introduced. This led some to accuse Labour of hypocrisy, as it had strongly opposed conscription in World War I. The government argued that while the First World War had been an unnecessary imperialist scuffle, the Second World War was a just war against fascist aggressors. Following the war, Fraser became involved in the setting up of the United Nations, and was especially concerned that small countries not be marginalised by the great powers. Peacetime conscription was introduced in 1949, which proved to be an unpopular decision.
...
Wikipedia