First Government (1935–1949) and opposition New Zealand Labour Party
members of first labour government, on steps of parliamentary library, wellington michael joseph savage, leader of party, became prime minister on 6 december 1935, marking beginning of labour s first term in office. new government set implementing number of significant reforms, including reorganisation of social welfare system , creation of state housing scheme. workers benefited introduction of forty hour week, , legislation making easier unions negotiate on behalf. savage himself highly popular working classes, , portrait found on walls of many houses around country. @ time labour party pursued alliance māori rātana movement. the opposition, meanwhile, attacked labour party s more left-wing policies, , accused of undermining free enterprise , hard work. year after labour s first win, reform party , united party took coalition next step, agreeing merge each other. combined organisation named national party, , labour s main rival in future years. labour faced opposition within ranks. w...