LIBERAL PLANKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 272, 16 November 1935, Page 14

LIBERAL PLANKS.

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. STATE BANK ADVOCATED. AUDIENCE DISLIKES HISTORY. There could have been no doubt about the fact that it was a Liberal candidate who was speaking at the Carlton Hall, Sandringhain, last evening. Just below the table on which stood Mr. W. F. Jamieson's glass of water was a large framed picture of Richard John Seddon. Mr. F. R. Field was chairman, and with him on the platform was the Liberal candidate for Eden, Mr. C. W. H. Pickering. Before dealing with the policy for which he stood, Mr. Jamieson traced the rise, success and fall of the Lil>eral party under the great leaders whose names, ho said, were household words. In the days when Liberalism was powerful, there were only two parties, Liberals and Conservatives. To-day there were many, leading to a danger of confusion. Mr. Jamieson had spent some time dealing with the political aims of such men as Ballance and Seddon, when across the quietness of the hall burst a voice, "Give us your own policy. Never mind about 50 years ago.' Mr. Jamieson made a strong attack on the Labour party. There was a danger of putting the destinies of the country in the hands of the trade unions, miscalled the Labour, party, he said. He spoke of the origin of the party and of its split with the Liberals. Early in 1912 the new Labour party's policy and Efforts had proved to be sectional, he would even say selfish. The party applied only to one scction —the trade unions, and it ought to be called that. * "I'm Going Out." This was too much for one man. "01), cripes," he said in a loud aside, "I'm going out." ,And out he went. After Mr. Jamieson had spent more time on events and conditions leading up to the present day, he was again interrupted. "Excuse me, Mr. Jamieson," said a voice, "but I think your chairman has gone to sleep." The speaker's first point, dealing with the policy of the party of which he is the chairman, was that no scheme _of reconstruction, no economy campaign could bo successful which did not aim diredtly at balancing all actual costs with all real values, with the purpose of maintaining, those real values and actual costs as near stability as possible. Secondly, his party believed that the most urgent change in the economic system could be effected only by immediate and drastic measures of currency and land reform and in no other way.

The first measure, therefore, was the establishment of a State bank, with the solo right of issue of the country's own currency and credit, absolutely divorced from all overseas direction, influence and interference. That was very different from the Reserve Bank that the Government had foisted on the people. Its functions would be: —(1) To pw>vide a sufficiency of currency and credit; (2) to estimate that sufficiency by reference to the goods and services of the community; (3) to regulate currency and credit, so as to maintain stability of the monetary unit. "We assert," said Mr. Jamieson, "that before purchasing power can be equated with consumable goods, costs must be made to balance with values, and production made to balance with consumption within New Zealand, all of which can be readily brought about by means of a planned economy."

Unemployment Relief. With regard to unemployment relief, Mr. Jamieson said: "We consider that the very first duty of any Government should be the immediate absorption of all unemployed workers into ruitable work at standard wages and conditions. But, realising that this eould not bo done overnight, we to issue State currency to such an amount as would at once' give all those men an increase of wages or sustenance of not less than 25 per cent on that which they now receive. "In order to preclude any possibility of inflation, adequate provision could readily be made for the redemption and cancellation of any such issue, should such be found necessary, by leaving the present levy and wage tax in force for a sufficient period after the time had arrived for such taxes to be repealed.

"We also propose that monetary assistance be given to all new settlers without capital on taking up Grown lands, and that advances be made thereafter up to two-thirds of the value of improvements made each year by them. Interest at the rate of 3J per cent per annum would-be charged on all money so advanced, together with a sum sufficient to provide for the redemption of the loans." Mr. Jamieson touched on a large number"' of other subjects, including tariff reform, mortgages, edu:ation, land reform and loans. He said the Liberal .party considered the broadcasting should be under no grer.ter restriction the daily Press in broadcasting news, particularly news of an educational value. After several questions, and a short address by Mr. Pickering, the speaker was accorded a vote of tlianka.