LABOUR POLICY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 10

LABOUR POLICY

Government’s Major Bills ‘NO CAUSE FOR DREAD’ Effort to Improve the Common Lot "There is no path to prosperity through the bankruptcy of anybody,” said Hie Prime Minister, Hou. M. J. Savage, in an interview yesterday. "The Government realises that obvious fact, and what we want to do is to improve tiie lot of everybody. If that is done, then the employer will be in a better position to pay higher wages. We are not asking him to do impossible things.' 1 Referring to the coming work of the new Parliament under New Zealand’s first Labour Governing. the Prime Minister said that tne Legislature would be asked early in tiie session to c< nsider a measure dealing with the monetary problem. Everything hinged on that, and the Government naturally was anxious to make known its flnaitcial proposals Io the country as soon as possible. The Labour Party was keen to retain the goodwill which had marked its advent to administrative power, as it was recognised that if the people were behind the Government there was little that it could not accomplish. “So far as tile mass of tile people are concerned,” continued Mr. Savage, “they have every reason to look forward to Hie work of Parliament. If some people probably loolt forward to the session with misgivings, I tin assure them that there is not the slightest reason for their dread.” Industrial Legislation. Mr. Savage also mentioned that consideration would be given to industrial legislation which had been prepared by the Minister of Labour, Hou. H. T. Armstrong. A feature of this legislation would be a provision to restore to workers the right to state their case to the Arbitration Court. “Although the Government is anxious to improve the standard ■of living of.the people, there is no intention to call upon employers to pay out more thau their industries can stand,” said Mr. Savage. It was conceivable, ho continued, that unions might be delayed in getting their applications for new awards heard by the court; and it might be necessary for the Government bo take some action to tide workers over the intervening period. “There is one thing certain,” added the Prime Minister, “and that is that any steps taken to defeat the object of the legislation, such as deliberate delay in taking a ease to court, will not be tolerated The Government, will not stand for stonewalling tactics on the part of anybody.” The Prime Minister referred to rents, and said that the Government would see to it that rents, as well as everything else, would be on an equitable basis. The existing Rent Restriction Act was practically useless, as it had no real meaning, and probably t'he Government would bring in a Fair Rents Bill. The people could rest assured that the Government would watch the position most carefully. Working Institution. It was "the intent-ion of the Government to make Parliament a real working institution. Action, rather than words, was wanted, and the people would not be disappointed. Referring to Empire affairs, Mr. Savage said lie was looking forward to the day when representatives of tiie people of the British Commonwealth of Nations would meet at one table and settle problems. He visualised some form of Empire Council. It would not matter if the representatives of the Empire took 12 months to reach decisions; it would be time aud money well spent. Discussing the problem of mortgages in New Zealand, the Prime Minister said that the readjustment of private as well as State mortgages was au important part of the Government’s future programme. “Readjustment must be general,” he said, "and the basis of what a man can pay must be his income. We don’t care whether a man is living on a farm or in Tinakori Road. Each has his problems, and we are going to do our best for both. As we level up prices for the dairy-farmer, so must wages increase in both country and town.”