LABOUR AIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 299, 18 December 1935, Page 8

LABOUR AIMS.

CABINET POLICY.

CURRENCY CONTROL. "WITH LEAST DISTURBANCE." SESSION END OP FEBRUARY ? There is 110 chance of Parliament meeting before the end of February, according to a statement made to-day by the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage. Labour had complained about other Governments keeping Parliament together discussing matters that did not count. Labour would not do that. "If it is necessary, the staff of the law drafting office will be increased," said Mr. Savage, ''but I am advised that in the past it has not been the fault of the Law Drafting Department, but of the Government. Every assistance will be given so that bills will be ready for discussion with the opening of Parliament, and there are many big things to be dealt with."

Questioned about Hon. R. Sample's reference at NapTer yesterday to "a revolutionary alteration in the Dominion's currency - system," the Prime Minister said it \yas useless talking about national works unless the Government could find the "money for them. For the past twelve months he had been talking up and down the country on Labour's policy of currency control. The Government would certainly control the currency and credit of New Zealand.

"We will begin to implement that policy early in the New Year," declared Mr. Savage. "It will be done with the least disturbance possible. Cabinet will meet on January 8, and it will then provide the means for the purpose of constructing legislation for preparation by the Jaw drafting office." "Snowed In." When Mr. Savage was asked about the suggestion that flying boats are to be used for the ail mail service between Australia' and England, and that the service might later be continued to New Zealand, he said that up till now Cabinet had not had an opportunity to look into tiie question. -Tliey had been concerned with more urgent matters, chief of which was the provision of food for the unemployed during the- Christmas season.

In fact, we hardly know just how the .previous Government got with their negotiations," remarked the Prime Minister. "We have been snowed in with letters from all parts of the world. We have not been sleeping on the. job, and when we go to Wellington we will work on the job, not sleep on it. Every encouragement has been given us by the people, _ and I have had assurances of good will from all sources. There is no doubt that we are on the way to brighter days—and it is not too sooii, either." "What we want is peace, and less navies," was the Prime Minister's- comment on a London cable yesterday that finally the Dominions would be" faced with naval budgets unlikely , to be less than £C,000;000, and that each Dominion would have its own navy. "If the Dominions attefhpt to ■ provide /their own navies, they will not get far with a policy of that nature," lie said. Vancouver Service. Reference was also made by Mr. Savage to the Vancouver shipping service. 'It had been suggested that the countries concerned should meet in conference, he said. It was not : a problem that belonged to one csCffTry alone. > It was a prob!enf ß fhat affected England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It 'was likely that such a conference wohld' be held in London. New Zealand wotiM certainly be represented, but by whom -he did not-at the moment know. ' "It may be -by Ministers and it may be by the High Commissioner," he said. "At least it will be by somebody who can do the job. It is not a matter of formality. We must get down to the realities of the situation. . Labour will apply the same principles to seafaring men as those which will be used in industry on the land." To Go On Tour. Before Parliament meets. Mr. Savage proposes to tour New Zealand and visit the main centres, probably early in February. He did not think for a moment that he could carry out such a tour in January. There was -far too much to be done, early in the New Year. Labour's proposal for the pooling of members' salaries had not yet been dealt with, said Mr. Savage. It was a mutual arrangement and would certainly be put into effect. It was only a matter of completing the details. Tliat was another matter that would be completed as quickly as possible.