LABOUR PARTY'S AIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 246, 17 October 1928, Page 8

LABOUR PARTY'S AIMS.

MANIFESTO ISSUED.

XAND SETTLEMENT FIRST.

"MINIMUM OF BORROWING."

FARMING AND HOUSING LOANS.

"The Labour party appeals with confidence to all those who desire to build up a more stable "order in which the perpetual conflicts 1 of to-day will be avoided, and the; relationship of those engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the goods necessary for the Dominion's progress will be tiiat of cooperation and mutual service," say the president, the. Rev. J. K-. Archer, and the Parliamentary., leader, Mr. H. E. Holland, in a/manifesto issued to-day. "The programme of the party is organised) to - achieve these ends. The party stands for the development of tl\e DominWn {-oil; sound and progressive

lines, the -fostering ,of closer relationships between the countries of the British yorilmoriweaith, and: the fullest co-operation with, and supportof the League of Nations.', The Dominion is one of the most favoured lands in the world, and given a progressive Government which: will organise its productive resources, promote land settlement, make just industrial laws, place taxation, v?here_it creates no hardship, and distribute its wealth as far as possible iu proportion, to .service, it will once more ,take its place in the van of the advanced which it lost with the passing of the Seddon-Ballance Governments." " t . "To Htlp the Users of Land." The primary, task of the next Government, .'the' Labour leaders say, is to organise- the:- Dominion's land resources, al *d to' institute -;a settlement policy that 1 will- ensure a reasonable return to competent farmers for their time and energy. Effective utilisation in New Zealand must follow the line of closer settlement, and land settlement legislation must be drafted to assist the maximum number of competent persons to go on > After declaring that the Reform- - Government's policy has fo sf speculation and resulted in millionsxof pounds having to be written off land Values, and in an abnormal number of bankruptcies of farmers, the leader-fc' Sayi "The<Labour party's policy is f tttmed. to help the man who uses the land; »n4 to- handicap the speculator, and the party, on, entering office as the Government will make provision for land- settlement by:— : "Maximum assistance to competent farmers'■.jn /the;vdevelopment of all cultivable ' land'' now unoccupied. 'Purchase (compulsory where necessary) ot the larger land holdings suitable for closer settlement. ; of acquired land on perpetual lease conditional on occupancy and use. ;■ ' i: -.. "Stimulation of closer settlement and prevention of by increased tax on large holdings of first and secondclass lands. > \ -

"State provision of facilities necessary for the transfer of land." Financial Proposals. The Labour party's financial policy is declared to be to "restrict public borrowing to the minimum consistent with the natural development and progress of tha make full utilisation of Ejfust Office and Post Office Sayings Bank; extend the State Advdftges , Office to -provide the credit necessary _ for primary production and house, building at minimum rates of interest; with State guarantee behind all jjbans raised for these purposes; and to establish a.State bank with a soeciat depattment ffor. agricultural banking." Labour party -declares for the ntaiutenance of the national education system; It favours reduction of the size or, glasses to' ensure efficiency and to enable the necessary attention to be given to individual scholars; extension of teachers'" training facilities to provide the necessary staff for smaller classes; provision of special educational facilities for the training of New Zealand boys for farming occupations and land utilisation; ..teachers' right of appeal against Hon-appointment; equal pay for equal service; and the provision of necessary jschool books and requisites free of charge. . National Health Insurance. Other planks in the Labour platform are:— Promotion of facilities for the maintenance of individual health, together with the extension of the public hospital

system to ensure adequate medical, surgical and nursing attention for all. : Establishment of a national health insurance scheme, for .the. payment of maintenance during sickness.

Extension of the family allowances system to provide an adequate payment to mothers of large families.

Adjustment of old age, widows' and other pensions to a level sufficient to maintain a reasonable standard of thing. Organisation of workers' compensation as a national service, so as to provide the most economical method of ensuring payment of the maximum compensation and full medical 'expenses incurred through accidents.. - „ v

Organisation; of the State Insurance Office so as ,to provide insurance against the risk of fire and general accidents at the minimum , cost. ->

Full support of the establishment, development and maintenance of the primary and secondary industries natural to the Dominion. ("The Labour party is neither a free trade nor a protectionist party.")

Immediate restoration :of .., the.- . 1914 wage standards in the public service, and establishment of a basic wage sufficient to ensure an adequate' standard of living. , . ........ Full investigation of the transport system of the (rail, road arid water).to,determine the ipost economical method of transporting passengers and goods so., as to , ensure the maximum efficiency, With .provision for maintaining and developing the State services.' Unemployment Insurance. Appointment of. an employment board to organise employment so as to minimise the ill-cffect on the labour market due to seasonal occupations. Institution of unemployment insurance. on a contributory basis with equal' payments from employer," employees and Government. ' Regulation of immigration in accordance with the" demand for labour, and; the opening up of land for closer settlement. v ' -

Provision for preiferential voting at all referenda when more than two issues are on thd ballot paper. ' "Abolition of the present system of boy conscription." Reorganisation *of | the defence system of the Dominion. Full support to the outlawry of war, the League of Nations; and all efforts to secure disarmament by consent among the Rations. , Samoan Mandate.

"A policy of conciliation and justice will be pursued in New Zealand's administration of Wetsern Samoa with recognition of the right of the Samoans to participate in the government of their own country. The right of fair trial for all persons charged with offences, and provision for safeguarding the econbmic interests of the Samoans by the marketin# of copra." In conclusion, tbo Labour leaders say the party desires and invites the co-opera-tion of all workers—-professional, agricultural, technical, industrial and domestic —"so that co-operation may gradually supersede the present svstem of competition, and the wealth of the Dominion may be distributed as far as can be measured in proportion to the value of the service rendered."