N.Z. LABOUR PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 170, 20 July 1910, Page 5

N.Z. LABOUR PARTY.

LABQUR CONFERENCE piSCUSStQIT At the Trades; and Labour Coftersnws yesterday afternoon the committee,', an? pointed .to • draw up a plarforni for the .New Zealand Labour party, submitted the; following planks, wnich were all ii: serted:— ' :.-;■"■ \ ; - .-_'; ' " ■Land Reform.—No, further sale' of Crowai;,lands. :' Leasehold , tenulre -with right of renewal, with periodical revaluation ; every 21 years, except for heavy bush; and, swamp lands. Tenant's, absolute right to. improve-: mcnts, Limitation of area/.based on value, to. ensure an equitable distribution of our lands., . .".-_. ...•,...., ; Resumption of native and other lands, for closer settlement, upon renewable lease. / ;" . Increment tax on all land sales, to secure to the .State, all socially created

land values.-. •-.-. ;_ • , Mn D, D. Sullivan, (Canterbury) moved that the following'should be inserted:—r ".The-retention and direction, of. operations.by the State of euificient land to meet the demands of a national,food supply." He. said that he found that in-.; stead of the people generally "geting advantage by the land for settlement, it was only those fortunate enough to get on the land that got the benefit. This matter had been before the House of Representatives •> twice, and on each ~oceasiosMiad received the support of .about 14' members. At the last general elec-

tion, also, Mr. T. E.Taylor made it ,a plank of his platform. ■ ■■ .. ; Mr. E. J. Carey (Wellington) and the Hon. J. T. Paul opposed the introduction of the'clause. 'Mr. Paul said it would be found that this plank was not stable. It had been found 'in. older countries that the small occupier' was ,the best, finally, on a division being taken the motion was inserted, by nine votes to eight. Currency.—Establishment of State : bank, -with sole right of note issue. ■■ Cessation of public borrowing, except for redemption of loans and completion of works already authorised by: Parliament. Taxation Ref orm.-r : GTaduated. income tax, , based on scientific principles, with a super-tax on unearned incomes, and a graduated absentee tax. ■. _- : . ■• ■."<:- . - Electoral Keform. —Abolition of: (a) Legislative Council;/. (b) Proportional representation on single transferable vote. Initiative referendum. . '~ Parliamentary' franchise to apply to the electors of all local bodies. Full political rights to. all : State employees. Industrial Keform. —- 1 Eight to work cm./ ■;;'; •;. .;•. ■. . ■;•■■:";, "" : \ ■ ; ; - As an' amendment to the last clause Mr.Sullivan moved: " The'establishment of a fund in connection' with, the public accounts, such fund to be devoted to the providing of work for the unemployed." Mr! T. Howard (East Coast) said that the whole position had been 1 clearly placed before the : delegates at. the last conference. He found there WB-s a consensus of opinion amongst the whole of the delegates that they \had ; a right, to demand work, and, demanding work, a right; to live. The report had said it was right for the .State to supply work for all. He had yet to learn if 'anything had transpired since the , last conference for them to;deviate .from the attitude . taken then. /:. . , : . . ■ : t Mr. E. J. Carey opposed the amend- . ment on the,.ground vthathe thpught.it . would be cumbersome.' The amendment' >'. was lost.i-: -. t : :-< . :.;' \ '■;..:, .. The Conference then adjourned till this morning with the idea > that the committee , were to further go into the matter of a platform for/the party. -•: The conference resumed this morning,; . and continued consideration of the,platform of • the. news Labour -party. The "f ol- ! lowing planks.were, on the recommendation of the sub-committee, added under , the heading," "Industrial. Reform"-.—ln-surance against'"unemployment; extension of State- Labour agencies; '. maximum eight-hour day, and a, six-day; week,, with, a. gradual reduction to forty ■hours; statutory preference of employment to unionists; equal pay for males and females-for.equal work; Amended, Arbitration,. Compensation for Acci- . dents, and .Workers' Accommodation Acts; prohibition, of labour, under contract. On Mr. Sullivan's motion, it.was : decided to add fA legislative minimum • wage.". ;., ; ■ ■. , .' • '.*.' '.; '.' ' State Control. —Immediate!,.national!-: sation of monopolies; establishment; of State ferry and State collieries; establishment of competitive State.factories. Education. —Maintenance of the present free,-secular, and compulsory, eji--tern from! primary- to University;' uni-, form school,books, printed by the Go v-' eminent, and supplied free of cost. Mr. CByrne wished to hare the.compulsory school age raised to 15, but this was; negatived. . .-; .; i Social Reform.—Pensions for widows and orphans, and- State assistance in maternity; the right' of the people : ' to' restrict or abolish-the lfijuor traffic by. bare majority at local and Dominion ' option polls. ' / .; .'.;" v. ■ • . "'. Under, "Land Reform," it; was agreed to add "graduated land tax." The committee was instructed to classify the planks, and have some copies printed. - ■... ' . ~...,.",',.' ; ' ... . Mr. Yoiing said it was necessary for the success of the new .'party-that they, have the support of. the unorganised workers .and all .progressive people. The trades unions, alone could not carry the thing to a successful issue. He. suggested calling a congress to consolidate the forces.; / . ....■ . .. '■ It was, however, decided at the suggestion of Mr. Carey, to hold the matter over, pending'a report from a committee as to the best means of carrying out' the platform adopted by the party.