Social Credit promises substantial changes

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 3

Social Credit promises substantial changes

PA Wellington: Tax cuts, 3 per cent hous-j ing loans, revamped indusI trial relations, and more for' ! universal superannuitants; I are pledged in the General! ■ Election manifesto of the i Social Credit PoliticalLeague. The manifesto, released! recently, gives its viewpoint! on all “ the main issues in-, stead of relying on its trad!-: tional call for monetary rei form. ! The league, which initially; i produced 25,000 copies of; the manifesto, for sale ati $1.65 each, says income taxi would be reduced on low wage rates. Rebates tor overtime would be continued and the; cost of travelling to and; from work would be charged’ against taxable income. Interest charges on housing, rates and maintenance would also qualify for a tax write-off. Housing The Housing Corporation! would offer a 3 per cent len-l ding rate, and building pro-; positions would be treated! on merit, regardless of whether the property was! new or being renovated, and; whether it was a single or; multiple unit. The Housing Corporation! loan would include archi-l tects’ and surveyors’ fees, or; alternatively low-cost build-1 ing consultancy services would be made available. I No fixed limit would apply! to loans, but restrictions! would be determined on the' ability to meet charges and on variable periods of repayment. Loans for houses on leasehold land would be dealt with on an equal basis to those held freehold, and home-ownership accounts in the Post Office or trustee savings banks would be inflation proofed. Industry Social Credit would encourage unions to re-form on an industry basis. Industrial councils would represent all workers at one plant or factory and would be affiliated with the Federation of Labour. These councils would be formed if a majority of I workers at the plant so re-1 solved by secret ballot.

The councils would elect industrial trusts to oversee the administration of worker shareholders. These trusts would also appoint at least a quarter of the members of the company board of directors.

Redundancy provisions would be changed so that those made redundant would be able to claim the full award rate from the State.!

However, the worker would have" to undergo retraining; and would lose the award rate if suitable employment, were refused. SuperaiiHuilants ; The national scheme: would continue, but every; year the beneficiaries would also get a one-month travel warrant which would be available on road and rail; services. Superannuitants would; also be exempt from paying radio and television licence! fees and telephone rentals. 1 Telephones and washing machines would be installed in all new blocks of pensioner flats! Agriculture The Land Aggregation Act would be used to prevent land being bought up by non-farming interests. To help farm workers buy their own property, farm land would be bought by the State and leased to intending farm owners with the right of purchase.

Broadcasting The Broadcasting Council would be divided into a television corporation and a radio corporation. Attention would be given to developing regional television. Provision would be made for broadcasting time for groups wishing to “express new ideas and/or solutions to! tunica! problems.” Licences' would be granted for FM jradio transmission. Defelice The role and shape of the Armed Forces would be reviewed. Administrative control of the restyled defence services would be vested in the defence council, and armed nuclear warships would be excluded from New Zealand ports. Education

The teaching profession would be allowed to determine who had the right to enter the profession. A teachers’ federation would be set up with safeguards for minority groups and viewpoints. New salary scales would be negotiated. I Maximum sizes for primary land intermediate schools ! would be about 500 pupils land for secondary schools, 900.

School certificate would be amended to include external and internal assessments. Students would get a certificate of attainment at the end of their education, recording their achievements. A new system of university entrance would be | adopted, based on attaining [credit passes.

Energy Coal export, or its use as! a primary fuel, would be discouraged. Nuclear fission power sta-! tions would be opposed, and! the benefits from oil finds: would be subject to New! Zealand control. | Maui gas would be used as a premium fuel instead of using it to generate electricity, and motor-vehicles would be encouraged to use liquid petroleum gas. The Electricity Department would become a public corporation. Euv ironmen! The Environment Ministry would expand into a ministry of natural resources and environment. A nature conservancy would be set up, to co-ordinal? long-term, planning in natural resources. A conservation code would be established to promote research into game protection, and to lay guidelines for the preservations of trees and bush by local authorities.

Vehicles would be subject to fume and noise tests as part of the warrant of fitness. Smokeless zones would be established in urban areas.

Overseas ownership of land would be allowed only under strict guidelines, and the rating system would be replaced by" rates cased on land classifications and zoning.

Finance ! A national credit authority would have sole power to create, issue and cancel New Zealand money The Reserve Bank would manage loans to local bodies and industry. Local body loans would attract only an administrative charge. Savings with the Post Office and trustee banks would be inflation-proofed; Parliament would fix maximum interest charges; hire purchase rates would be reviewed; and wage orders would be expressed in money terms rather than percentages. Maximum house prices would be set, taking into account the original purchase price and subsequent inflation.

Foreign affairs Diplomatic relationship would be established with any country regardless of politics. Trade could be conducted on a reciprocal and bilateral basis, with mutual credits being exchanges. A more active role would be txker in international mediation and peace-keeping; the ■ Gleneagles Agreement would be supported, as would nuclear-free zones.

Forestry All remaining North Island virgin forests would be preserved as they are. The’ Nature Conservancy would; decide which southern for-' ests could be milled, and forest service boards of management would be set’ up. Health An independent advisory ; body would review the running of the health service. ’ Hospital planning would igive more attention to cn.it- ' patient facilities, creches, : car parking, private cubicles !in wards, and cottage-type [maternity hospitals. Immigration The obligation to assist Pacific Island communities would be recognised. Each application for permanent entry would be considered on merit with the short-list of immigration skills being abolished. Law reform Anti-bugging laws would be introduced. The S.I.S. act would be amended to transfer the power to issue warrants to the Chief Justice, and a clear distinction would be drawn,' in law, between penalties for selling soft and hard drugs.

Abortion A free vote would be allowed in Parliament. Parliamentary reform Members of Parliament would subscribe to a code of ethics, and make a complete disclosure of their financial affairs to the Auditor-Gen-eral. The speaker would be • a judge. Elections would be conducted on a proportional representation formula. The Government would be forced to hold a referendum on any issue at the demand of 10,000 electors. Maori affairs The Ministry and Department of Maori Affairs would be phased out and divided among other Government departments.

Transport A Railways Corporation would be formed and would float a share issue for public subscription. Options would be kept open on motive power for the railways but if electricity was adopted, a 15-year plan to electrify main lines would be implemented.

No further closing of branch lines would be authorised without investigation, and recent closings would be reviewed.