REFORM MANIFESTO.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 9

REFORM MANIFESTO.

TO THE ELECTORS OF NEW ZEALAND. A POLICY OF PROGRESS. (By TelcarraDh. —Press Association.) • Auckland, December i. The Leader of tho Opposition has issued tho following manifesto to the electors of NC"A" ZPv.laud: — "Before recording their votes I ask tho electors to remember these facts:— "Tho Itcfonn party has submitted a definite, straightforward and progressive policy; the Government has gone to tho country with no policy. Dissension in Cabinet rendered a policy impossible, and tho Government has none to submit. It has offered tho doctors nothing but a tirade of petty abuse and misrepresentation of the Opposition. '"I'lie. Reform pilrty offers a sound and sclf-rcliaut policy, efficient financial administration as compared with the reckJess oxtravapanco and frenzied finance of the Hard Government. "The Reform party would develop tho resources of this Dominion, and send up tho volume of its exports by leaps anil bounds. It would enable tho country to produce wealth nnd gradually make it independent of the foreign money-lender. "Tho Reform party would bring about an era of progress in New Zealand such as is drawing tho world's attention to Canada at tho present time. The Creator gave the lands of the earth to the sons of man to cultivate and bring to harvest. The young New Zealander is denied proper opportunity lo settle in his native land,, and is driven overseas to Queensland, Canada, and the Argentine. "Tho Reform party offers a progressive land policy, aud the truest and best policy in the interests of every man, woman and child in the Dominion. The present generation has a right to the lands and tho wealth produced therefrom. "At present industries are handicapped and employment decreased by tho 'taihoa' attitude of the Government, which has given over much of the great and valuable estato of which it is trustee to idleness and noxious weeds.'

'Iho Government has no programme. I Its candidates offer vain apologies for its j notorious negicct of the people's interests. Ministers and ex-Jiinisters are preaching nonsensical evangels and broadcast sowing erratic and impossible promises in the last desperate extremity. "I ask tho electors to register a decisive verdict against the, Government. "The Reform party is united, it is strong and confident in its high ideals and in its bold and progressive programme. It offers far wider and far higher opportunity to all classes of tho community. It would sweep away the rotten system of political patronage and Ministerial influence in the Civil Service; it would, have all Government posts made for tho children of tho worker equally with the children of tho iniluential man; it would reform the Legislative Council and tako that body from under tho political control of the Prime Minister. The legislative Council would be made representative of. the people, and be elected by the people. "The Eeform party would do away gradually with the wasteful and extravagant system of Parliamentary grants for vote-catching purposes; it would, instead,'give local bodies exteiided powers and assured finance by a better system of local government. 'It would introduce legislation for compulsory insurance against sickness and unemployment; it would increase employment in every industry and branch of trade in the Dominion; and it would open a wide door of opportunity for the sons and daughters of the workers. "The Eeform party would afford thef men of small capital all possib'cs facilities to get on the land by means of the leasehold as a stepping-stono to. the, freehold; and it would givg settlers-and-Crown-ten? ants tile option of tho freehold. "It would reform the fiscal system by reducing taxation where possible to lessen-the cost of'living. It would keep borrowing'within reasonable bounds, and provtent wasteful expenditure. It would develop our overseas trade and relationships, and foster liew channels of industry. "The Eeform party would pnsn on rai - way works and prosecute a vigorous reading policy in , order to develop the country. Vast areas now producing nothing would be thrown open to an army of small settlers. Millions 0! acres ot idle lands would be made to pour millions of pounds' worth of exports into overseas markots. The resulting trade and interchange would benefit every class of the community. It is to tho interests of town and ' country workers alike to vote for the Eeform party. "Tho Reform party candidates come beforo you all thoroughly representative public men, tried and trusted. They have no axes to grjud, but they have the energy and the ability to promote the development of the country. They are united on a straight, clean, broad, and progressive programme. ' "The Opposition has earned the respect and praise of the people from the Bluff to the North Cape. It has been earnest, honest, and watchful in the people's interest, and it appeals to tho electors with overy confidence, strong in tho knowledge of those whoso work is honestly performed. "The Eeform party was never more vigorous than it is to-day. Its programme stands out clearly above the fog of abuse and misrepresentation With which its opponents seek to obscure it. At last elections its support from the electors was increased enormously. "Throughout the country there is u rising tide of public feeling ngainst the effete and spurious Liberalism of the Ward-Carroll-Findlay Government. I hope and believe that tho tide will sweep the present Administration asidd like useless lumber, and go irresistibly on to wards progress, prosperity, reform, and opportunity. "I ask tho people of New Zealand to show their opinion of the Government's underhand electioneering and abuse and misrepresentation by wiping out - the Government majority, or, if the electors believe in stagnation, spurious Liberalism, and a system of Government by political patronage, let them vote for the Government. On the other hand, if they believo in progress, genuine Liberalism, And equal opportunities for all, as I am confident they do, they will vote for the Eeform partv. 'TV. F. MASSEY."