New party states policy

Press, 14 March 1978, Page 2

New party states policy

Westport reporter

New Zealand has a new political party with a West Coast flavour. Last year the Democratic Liberal Labour Party was formed on the West Coast, and yesterday it released a brief version of its election policy. Asked about the strength of the party, its secretary, Mr I. Martin, of Granity, said it had 120 members on the West Coast and that membership was growing. : The party hoped to. conj test other seats, not just the West. Coast, he said. Elections of officers and selection of a candidate would be ! completed soon.

Points of the party’s policy include.— Free education for those who attend secondary State schools with equal opportunity for all pupils to attend university without the need for bursaries and scholarships. The scheme would also assist young men and women in career employment not attending university. Every young adult at the ‘age of 21 would have $lO,OOO for a deposit on a home; this would not interfere with any other scheme of home ownership. Rates on land a tax deduction. A scheme to stabilise

prices of essential foods. Apprenticeships to be three years and not five years before an apprentice became a fully qualified tradesman. Peacetime training scheme: the Navy, Army and Air Force to assist private industry to train, young men in their trades; also to train labourers to become semi-skilled in their jobs and help those workers better themselves in their jobs. To pay mothers 'slo a week for each child to keep the mother in the home to look after her children. The Railways and private enterprise in partnership. Teenagers to be paid full rates of pay at 19.