THE ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1914, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS

CANDIDATES' CLOSING EFFORTS LAST NIGHT'S SPEECHES POINTS FOR THE ELECTORS PARTIES' POLICIES •

THE GOVERNMENT The policy of the Prime Minister has been announced as under:— Local and Imperial defence. A naval policy that will develop the Dominion's interest in the Imperial Navy and maintain the supremacy of the British flag in the Pacific. British work for British workmen. Safe finance. Land for the people and people for the land. The subdivision and settlement of large estates under the operation of the increased graduated land tax. Establishment of Agricultural Banks. The vigorous roading of back-blocks. The establishment of a Board of Trade and Commerce. The strengthening of local industries. Increased preference within the Empire. Reciprocal relations with Australia and Canada. The development of our iron and oil supplies. Assistance for fishermen— cheap fish for the people. Irrigation of dry areas for the further development of the pastoral and fruit-growing industries. Better health laws. Further extensions of the pensions system. Education for sound citizenship. More liberal provision for workers by a reduction in the cost of living ; sickness and unemployment insurance ; advances to workers ; the erection of workers' dwellings ; legislation against monopolies, etc. Better local government. Better provision for roading. "In every Department of the State the achievement of the Reform Government marks an improvement on the record of its predecessors, and this progress is to be continued. The Reform policy is on a basis to ensure the good use of land, with corresponding increase of national wealth, for the benefit of all classes. "In brief, the Reform plan is common-sense government by the cardinal principles of public health, public wealth, and national safety, ensuring good times, good wages, and equal opportunities." THE OPPOSITION The following is a condensation of the policy put forward by the Leader of the Opposition in an address to the Women's Social and Political League on 2nd November :— " We stand by the Imperial Navy," instead of establishing a separate local navy. If a war tax is necessary it should be placed on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. Proportional representation for the House of Representatives, with reasonable groups of electorates, and preservation of the country quota. Special tax on landed estates of the unimproved value of £20,000 and upwards so as to force subdivision. Extension of land settlement, with provision of access by roads and railways. Also, the acquisition of land near towns, to be cut up into areas of from an acre to five acres, upon which workers' homes could be erected. Right of purchase of both land and home to be given. Greater provision of cheap money by the establishment of a Bank of Agriculture, through which would be worked the whole of the advances to settlers, workers, and local bodies. Where necessary a further extension of the State functions should be put in operation to combat monopolies. Abolition of duties on all necessaries of life. A 45-hour week for women workers in woollen mills. Assistance for cripples, permanent invalids, and other deserving cases by means of an Invalidity Bill. Children carried free on railways up to five years, and halfprice up to fourteen years. Provision for working railways by the erection of new stations and construction of more rolling stock. Borrowing for railway construction and public works should be limited to £3,000,000 per annum. Completion in four years of principal railway lines already under construction. State ownership of a ferry service from Wellington to Picton on completion of the South Island Trunk railway. Trade preference to Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Reduction of votes for public buildings. Limitation of cost of internal defence to £450,000 a year. Development of water power, especially at Lake Waikaremoana. Restoration to Parliament of the control of the Public Service. A sum of £5 to be invested In the Savings Bank for every baby born, at 3 per cent, compound interest, until the child attains the age of fourteen years. Teachers to be graded and paid according to grade, and not on the average attendance. Also, extension of the present system of primary education. Mining to be encouraged by the subsidising of prospectors. The establishment of an up-to-date Agricultural College in both islands, and the improvement t>f agricultural education generally.