LABOUR POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 46, 24 February 1936, Page 8

LABOUR POLICY.

COMING SESSION.

LEADER'S OUTLINE.

vital' finance bill.

"NO COMPULSORY LOAN."

arbitration amendment.

(13y Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day

The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, in a complete outline of the session's programme which was communicated to the "Auckland Star's" correspondent to-day commenced with the statement that when Parliament meets there will be legislation restoring the rights of the workers under the Arbitration Act and others in addition.

"Then." Mr. Savage said, "there is the question of' public works and railways included, and tlie result of the amendment of the Railways Act will be to put the responsibility for the construction of new railways on the Government, through the Minister of Kailwavs. "There will also be legislation dealin n- with finance. The Dominion lias many worth-while public activities winch should be established, and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, has been going into this for some time. W hen I ar[lament meets he will be in a position largely to overcome the money pioblem. Some people have the idea that we arc talking of a compulsory loan, but nothing like that has been thought about. "Guaranteed prices presents two anules —that of the price and farmers obligations. Instead of depending on tlie Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act, we will deal with farmers' liabilities at once. We arc not postponing the problem for live years. We shall commence at the earliest moment with valuations of securities, and the basis of valuation is the basis of the guaranteed price. It the farmer cannot do business on tlie readjusted basis indicated, he is m the wron« job, and the man who loaned him money is also in the wrong job Wc are not legislating for people who don t know their job. The farmers have asked for labour, male and female. Oiu objective is to make it possible to provide reasonable conditions for labour. 1 lia\e heard it said of us, 'You are out to help one class at the expense of us,' but we will help everyone, though tins is oiil\ possible gradually. "Legislation dealing with pensions will also be introduced. We hope to be able to make considerable additions to pensioners' incomes. This is 011 the way to a universal system of superannuation. The average person entitled to superannuation to-day has_ a pretty good idea what his income is while he is employed and what be will retire oil. Our objective is to put every citizen in the same position.

Shorter Hours. "The shortening of hours will be the subject of legislation, too. Otherwise in what way can we give the bcnelitof science and machinery to the people?" Mr Savage mentioned that although it was not likely to be legislated on immediately, a national health service was under active consideration by the Minister of Health, who had secured the assistance of a number of people, including medical men who were interested in the matter not for themselves but for the sake of the idea.

Referring to unemployment, Mr. Savage said this ([uestion was receiving attention. Even before any new legislation was passed the Government's ai mwas so far as humanly possible to transfer relief workers into worth-while undertakings at rates of wages enabling them to provide the decencies of civilisation for themselves and their families. "We can improve conditions under the Unemployment Act, but we are not going to leave tlio munder that Act, which will be wiped out, and every ablcbodied citizen will be given the right to plav his part in the development of New Zealand, in worthwhile occupations. Parliament can expect to be faced with legislation dealing with all these problems and members won t have to wait for it. We want to get through the work as rapidly as possible, so tlmt the people can get the benefits at the earliest possible moment."