OPPOSITION POLICY-

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2309, 17 November 1914, Page 6

OPPOSITION POLICY-

PRODIGAL PROMISES SUBSIDISED NAVY SCHEME BONUS FOR BABIES POLITICAL CONTROL OP CIVILSERVICE - Speaking at Winton -last night Sir Joseph Ward outlined tho policy of the Liberal Party, which is as follows:—An Empire Navy, with vcssols placed by the Admiralty upon the coast of New ■• Zealand, to bo available in any emer« gency that may arise, provision being ■ made for New Zealanders to serve upon • ,tlie ships. Proportional representation for the House of. Representatives with ■ small groups of electorates, so as to ensure the preservation of the country quota. Increase of tho graduated land ■ tax, commencing at estates of ail unim- . liwed value of £20,000, and the imposition of a special graduated land tax to force subdivision of estates and prevention of tho aggregation of land. Settlement in small areas so as to as-. sist men with families and with limited capital to make homes for themselves. Acquisition of land near towns, to be cu£ up into areas of from one to five acres, upon which, workers' homes will be erected, the worker being given the right of purchase of both home and laud. Further extension of the cheap money scheme for settlers, workers, and local bodies by the establishment' of an Agricultural Bank. Further' extension of Stato functions to combat monopolies, especially where the food of the people is concerned. Cheap, more; efficient and purer milk supply for tho cities' and towns without adversely interfering with those engaged in the business. Abolition of all duties upon the necessaries of life. Removal of anomalies in regard' to trade' unions. Repeal of Section 20 of the Factories Act to ensure a 45 iiotors , week for ; women, in woollen factories. Assistance' to crip- ■ pies, invalids, and other ' deserving cases by the introduction of the liiva- v lidity Bill. Free nurses for ' back-' '. blocks Bettlers. Assistance to fruit, - gum, and timber industries. Children' - " to be carried free on the Tailways up to five years of age, half-rates up to .14 years of age, and the expenditure of; £55,000. per annum for .extensions and additions to open lines, completion, of all main trunk railway lines in. four years by an annual expenditure Df £2,000,000, and the expenditure pt\ £40,000 per annum on district rail-; ways. Limitation of public borrowing' for railway construction and public works to £3,000,000 per annum. Special assistance 1 to the back-block roads.' Fast State ferry service between Wellington and Picton on completion of themain trunk lines. Development of trade and commerce, preferential treatment to be applied to the British Isles, : Canada, Australia, and South Africa,, and- recognition of America. Appointment of a Trade Commissioner for Caneda and one for America. Reduction of the publio building votes by r.t least one half. Internal defence of the country to be maintained at a cost of about £450,000 annually. Lake ■ • Waikaremoana water power scheme to be.carried out. Public Service to be placed ur.der Parliamentary control. To en- ■ courage thrift—£s to be deposited in the Savings Bank and placed to tlie credit of every child born in -the Dominion, the money to receive 3 per cent, compound interest and not to be withdrawn for 14 years. Preservation of: the present system of free,•.secular, and compulsory education with, adequate provision for free access to universities or technical schools. Teachers to. ba graded and salaries paid accordingly. • Extension and perfection of preliminary, iiystem of education. Encouragement Df mining by providing money "to enable prospecting to be carried out, und relieving mining of taxation. Extension' of agricultural education with up-to-date agricultural colleges in both islands. Afforestation to be carried, out throughout the Dominion in selected.. oieae. ' .-.'■■

In conclusion, Sir Joseph said no fair-minded pereon could eay that the small settlers, the tradespeople, the wage-earners, and the great bulk of the people had benefited by the'change of Government. He was appealing now as the leader of a party that had the greatest record for humanitarian and progressive legislation of any country in the world. ' "Progress, more progress, and 6till more progress," was the motto he placed on the Liberals' banner, and under which, with the people's goodwill and assistance, they ' would march on to a glorious victory.