William Beveridge in New Zealand: Social Security and World Security

Abstract

In 1948 William Beveridge, one of the architects of Britain’s welfare state, visited New Zealand and gave public addresses focused in particular on two themes: social security and world security. In the former, Beveridge outlined his welfare philosophy which he used to critique the New Zealand Labour government’s policies. In the latter, Beveridge proposed the re-ordering of world affairs to ensure no further wars and to resist Soviet totalitarianism. For Beveridge, social security and world security were indissolubly linked: it was pointless having the former unless the latter could be guaranteed, and moreover, it was liberal societies of the type he proposed that were best equipped to promote harmonious international relations. In all of his speeches, Beveridge emphasized New Zealand’s essentially British nature. Both countries were members of the same “family” and so had common cause as well as a shared history in social and world affairs.