SOUND AND PRUDENT FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 82, 3 October 1925, Page 13

SOUND AND PRUDENT FINANCE

CLOSER SETTLEMENT

MORE HOUSES AND FEWER SLUMS

REFORM PARTY'S ISSUES FOR THE ELECTIONS

. . The Prime Minister (the Hon. J.G. Coates) last evening issued the following manifesto to the electors of the Dominion. As will be seen, the manifesto is a comprehensive one containing the chief planks in the policy of the Eeform Party. OUTSTANDING FEATURES 1. Sound and prudent finance. 2. Thorough examination into the incidence of taxation. 3. Closer settlement of occupied and unoccupied lands by purchase and subdivision. • . ■ 4. .Extension of scientific agricultural education. 5. Investigation into fanners' land banks. 6. Well-being of the State and the Empire. 7. Support of the League of, Nations. 8. Encouragement of secondary industries and suppression of trusts. '-.■'• 9. Immigration—selective organisation to be strengthened. 10. Humanitarian: More houses and fewer slums; increased compensation benefits; investigation of universal pension scheme, and of aid to parents with large families. 11. Modernised methods of education. 12. Extension of public health policy. 13. Establishment of Local Government Board. 14. No spectacular programme; no fanciful promises. 15. National safety and progressive development. 16. More business in government and less government in business.

"The electors of the Dominion will," says / the manifesto, "shortly be called, upon to decide upon what principles and policy a new Parliament is to act in safeguarding and developing the interests of the people of New Zealand. The coming election will be one of the most important in the history of the Dominion. It must decide grave issues. The world to-day is in a state of ominous unrest—industrial and political. The British Empire stands as the bulwark of world freedom, and it is against the stability of the Empire that the assaults of Communism are made.

adequate provisions against the possibility of aggregation. On the one hand inducements by way of assistance in reading, etc., will be offered to those desiring to subdivide private lands which are suitable for closer settlement, while on the other hand, should voluntary methods fail, .the Government will not hesitate to make use of .the compulsory clauses in the Act in order to secure such land for subdivision.

Impracticable land tenures framed by Socialists' and fanciful theorists must be opposed.

Encouragement will be offered to lenders to invest their capital upon sound rural securities.

; "In many countries incessant efforts are being made to aggravate class conflict and bring about revolutionary upheavals "subversive of social order and civilisation.

"Fortunately our own democracy in New Zealand has been characterised by sound and sober political instincts. llitherto.it has refused to be led astray by false doctrine, and has earned for the Dominion a world-wide reputation for sound government and advancement jn social welfare.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

As time goes on, and. the soil of New Zealand loses its virginal -fertility, there is a greater need for mdrc scientific, farming methods. Recognising this, the Government recently deputed the Board of Agriculture to inquire into a system of general education in agriculture to meet this difficulty. 1 • The . board has recommended the establishment of a, college of agriculture in a central position ; tho extensiou of the accommodation at Lincoln College; development of farm training schools for lads such as that at Ruakura'; an increase in the number of agricultural instructors throughout the Dominion, and the encournjremeut of the study of agriculture by scTiool children. A commencement has already been made, and concrete proposals -embracing the whole field of agricultural education are now being carefully gone into. FARMERS 1 BANKS The Government desires that whatever scheme be undertaken, such scheme will be of a character as will readily assist tho primary producers and. be a financial success. Accordingly arrangements have been made for a Commission, consisting, of thrco gentlemen possessing special' qualifications, to go abroad to investigate and to report their recommendations. One is a representative of repute appointed from the farming community, and one a gentleman of experience from the commercial community, whilst the third member is the Financial Adviser to the Treasury. IMPERIAL RELATIONS To maintain unimpaired our loyal adherence to the King and. the Empire, and to seek by all practical means to strengthen and develop Imperial unity by improved means of consultation by tariff preference, and by adequate 'contributions to Imperial defence. The malign influences which are at work to undermine and destroy the Empire must be exposed and comrj.ited if we are to preserve our great heritage, which to-day is such a potent influence in preserving the peace of the world. LEAGUE OF NATIONS . To support and assist the League and extend its sphere of influence" with a view to building up international goodwill and concord. . „ . SECONDARY INDUSTRIES The policy of the Government is to encourage secondary industries' suitable to JSew Zealand by reasonable tariff protection and by the collection and distribution of information through the Department of Industries and Commerce. Hie tariff is designed so a.s to draw the largest items of revenue from luxuries, to provide a free breakfast table, and the exemption from taxation as far as possible of all items of, necessity. By other items in the tariff encouragement is afforded local industries, but not on such a high scale as to create a monopoly or to exempt such industries from reasonable competition. The Government stands for the suppression of trusts, combines, and monopolies inimical to the public interests. IMMIGRATION Our present immigration policy is working smoothly, arid it is proposed to continue it and strengthen the organisations at Home now undertaking the work of selection, so as to maintain a good class of immigrant to the Dominion. The average number of assisted immigrants is about 10,000 a year. Some critics allege that this number is ton large, and others that it is too small. Experience shows that about 10,000 can be absorbed annually without creating unemployment, and the number will be increased as circumstances warrant, and house-building operations (whether by private enterprise or municipal or Government activities) become more adequate. SOCIAL REFORM 1. TTunsing.-—AlLhougli in tli,. past nix years New Zealand has probably done more than any other country to remedy the shortage of houses, further efforts must be made to meet the needs of our increasing population in this respect and to eliminate slum conditions from our cities. This is necessary for a healthy environment and ihc cultivation of good citizenship among the younger generation of our people." .Notonly will the Slate give direct, assistance, but private enterprise arid local authorities will alfo be encouraged to rubric upon tho business of housebuilding for wngo earner,"!. 2. Workers' Compensation.—H is proposed to provide p-eabsr allowances for those injured and for. the dependanta

"I appeal with confidence to the electors to support the policy of-the Government, which seeks to eliminate all causes of class warfare and bitterness, to promote the woll-being of (lie whole community, lo strengthen and develop our Imperial relationships, and to make New Zealand air example of what' a healthy and industrious democracy can be. The programme of the Government is designed to achieve these ends. We .. stand for stability and safety of the State and the Empire; for the security of the .individual; for toleration and equal opportunity for all; and for order and peace in the community. 'More business in government and less government in business,' that is our slogan." A brief statement of some of the Government's . aims is submitted, for the consideration of the electors. FOUNDATION OF GOOD GOVERNMENT Sound finance must always constitute the firm foundation of good government. Our* heavy war debt renders it doubly important that we should proceed with the utmost caution. Nevertheless, borrowing is necessary to complete'our large hydro-electrical undertakings, our railway system, irrigation, and other developmental works. It is hoped to reduce our external borrowing gradually, and to rely increasingly on local loans and surplus revenue to attain those objects. The Government has in recent years applied strict business methods in its various Departments, eliminated political influence in the distribution of Government grants, concentrated on the completion of works in the order of their importance, and decentralised as far as practicable administrative authority. These principles will be adhered to and extended. Thus the taxpayers will get full value for the funds with which they provide the national exchequer. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION .11 will • be the earnest' endeavour of the Government to investigate thoroughly (lie. incidence of taxation with tho object, of placing the burden upon the shoulders of tho.se who are best able to bear it. Direct taxation through tho Customs is also being explored with a view to ascertaining to what extent the cost of living can be further reduced by this means whilst at the same time affording adequate protection to local industries. ACTIVITY IN LAND SETTLEMENT A pronounced activity in land settlement extension has been hampered in recent years owing lo the fact that tho primary industries have been slowly recovering from tho unexampled depression of 1921. The return lo stabilityin export values enables the Government to anticipate a demand which will juslify continuous purchase of suitable kinds for subdivision and settlement purposes. A general survey of all unoccupied lands in the/Dominion will be undertaken in order to ascertain what, areas . are capable of profitable production with a view to the settlement of such lands. There are still large areas of swamp lands, capable of development, but iii order lo obtain a better understanding of the relationship between expenditure and the ultimate true value of the land, a searching investigation will require to be made of the areas now in course of development. The settlement of our pumice lands is another problem to be faced in the near future, and it is proposed to take in hand a considerable area for experimental purposes along sound farming lines, so that the Government may bo in a position to discuss with the Imperial authorities under I lie Overseas Settlement scheme the possibility of developing these areas. The freehold U'liurp, for which ,thi? IMorni T'arly h;is always .Mood, is to be maintained, arid, if so desired by Crown tenants, extender] lo hII classes of Slate rural leasehold lands, while at the ssme llrae it is intended t* enact still more

of those who lose their lives while carrying out their daily work. 3. Pensions.—This year the Government has added £150,000 to the pensions of our aged people, and the widow and orphan have also been greatly assisted.

The question of universal pensions which ■will give fair assurance against sickness and unemployment is now being explored, and it is hoped to devise a practicable and satisfactory scheme.

i. Assistance to Large Families.— The Government recognises that while wages are fixed by the Arbitration Court on the assumption that a man has a wife and two children, those wage earners whose families exceed this number must find it difficult to make ends meet. Proposals to meet this difficulty have been put forward. The Government will examine them carefully "with a view to finding some means of helping the worker, so that large families will be encouraged, and not discouraged. EDUCATION The Government beticves that a community well trained and educated will make for national efficiency and safety, and the present progressive policy will be maintained and reinforced, such reforms being made in higher education as will ensure the best training of every student, according to his bent, rather than the mere passing of external examinations along tlie old traditional academic lines. HEALTH Marked progress has been made in the Health Department in dealing with disease and epidemics, and in the extension of our hospitals, both maternity and general. There will be no relaxation of Effort in any of these directions, the Government's endeavour being to place the health of the community on the highest possible level.

A thorough and complete reorganisation of our mental hospitals has been already entered upon, and material improvements will be effected in their management and in the methods adopted for the treatment of patients in such institutions.

Acting on the principle that prevention is better than cure, generous Government, assistance will be continued through the medium of Plunket Societies, and essential information and help given to the young mother and early infant life. Work has also been begun and carried on with great success by dental clinics established for the treatment of school children, and by the medical examinations which are conducted in certain schools from time to time. The extension,of both systems and their more vigorous prosecution will be part and parcel of the policy of the Government. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM For the purpose not only of creating greater confidence in local body projects but of safeguarding the country's credit, and to decide what arc remunerative works or essential in the best interests of local bodies, it is proposed to set up a Local Government Board. CONCLUSION "I hare made no attempt to set forth a spectacular programme involving vast sums of money and wholesale expenditure," concluded the Prime Minister. "I can make no fanciful promises. To do so would be to produce a mere chimera of false and illusory hope. Experience has demonstrated that reasonable and steady social progress must be based on prudent finance. I- believe, as a native-born. New Zcalander, that if the electors will support the Government in its' endeavour to develop the Dominion on sound and steady lines of progress, we shall succeed in" building up a strong, virile, and self-reliant democracy, which will still further enhance the high reputation that our country enjoys in the eyes of the world. "In the forefront of our platform are the bedrock principles—a. national safety and progressive development. "Here in this free counLry, bountifully endowed, as it is, by a wealth of natural resources, • a health-giving climate, and enterprising people! we are beset with no difficult racial or industrial problems, such as unfortunately afflict other less favoured communities. Periods of depression and hard times have certainly occurred in our history, but we have always succeeded in winning through. With the completion of the ambitious schemes of development now Jn hand, embracing hydro-elec-tricity, irrigation, and improved means of communication by railways, roads, and bridges, we shall have provided for the ever-growing' population of the Dominion facilities for their comfort -md prosperity, at_ A cost which compares favourably with any other part of the world, and certainly under much more bcnefiuient conditions."