GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN OPENED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 205, 29 August 1940, Page 7

GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN OPENED.

LABOUR POLICY.

Australian Leader Gives Platform. 0 United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. In a broadcast speech, Mr. J. Curtin, outlined the policy of the Federal Labour party in fighting the pending general election. He reaffirmed his party's loyalty to its determination to play its part in the nation's war effort. "The Australian Labour party,"' he said, "stands inflexible in its support of the British cause. We are upholding that which is juet." The party's aim wae the swift organisation of the nation on a defence footing. Circumstances as they arose would determine the extent of participation of Australian volunteers in the European warfare. The party would aim at the maximum industrial production through the absorption of all idle employable labour. National Control Of Banking. Mr. Curtin advocated national control of banking and credit, interest rates and investments, to ensure an industrial and economic basis for national defence and security. He said Labour would retain the present emergency powers for postwar reconstruction which would involve considered economic planning. Labour's policy was for a balanced organisation to ensure a continuous eupply of munitions for all guns used by Australia, and reorganisation of the Department of Information so that its function would be to tell more and restrain less. The pay for the A.I.F. would be increased so that a soldier with a wife and one child would receive £4 7/6 a week, instead of £3 17/ as al present. The party would review the , incidence of taxation to conform to the principle of the individual's ability to pay. Old age and invalid jiensions would be increased to £1 5/ a week in view of the increased cost of living. The party would provide pensions for widows with dependent children of £1 a week for a widow and 10/ for eai'h dependent child. Post-war Reconstruction Plan. The party, said Mr. Curtin, would aim at post-war reconstruction in the nature of a new social order, based on democracy and the rights of all men and women to enjoy the fruits of honest toil. There would be full recognition of trade unions, safeguarding Australian standards, and maintenance of rights of unionism. The Labour party proclaimed an imperative necessity for the full use by the Australian Government of all productive and financial resources of the country. The old order of profit-making and personal interests must be subordinated to the necessities of ensuring security of Australians, and preserving inviolate the soil which they occupied. To stiffen Australia's resistance and build up a striking force which would be invincible, everything must go into the common pool. Wealth, primary and manufactured materials, the physical strength and brilliance of trained minds must all be fully available to the Australian Government. Workers must realise, too, tuat the greiat effort they were called on to make could best be made when guided along the most carefully planned lines. Mr. Curtin concluded by saying that public interest would be paramount in the party's objectives. He did not jefer to a National Government or to the proposed National War Council, but said a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Minister the Army and another Minister, independent of any Department, should be established to superintend the entire administration of the country's war effort. He opposed the Government's petrol rationings plan, which, he said, he would "try to correct without ruthlessly disturbing the motor industry."