LABOUR'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 4

LABOUR'S POLICY

i OUTLINE BY MR. NASH

' GUARANTEED PEICES

;: Numerous far-reaching s proposals |were outlined by Mr. Walter Nash, •M.P., president of the New Zealand JLabour .Party, to a meeting of about ;200 electors at Island Bay last evening. Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., presided, and at the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks-to the speaker and confidence .in the Labour Party was carried. • ■ : .-

Mr, Nash dealt with Labour's guaranteed price policy for exports, the national, health insurance and superannuation proposal, and the statutory minimum wage scheme with grades according to skill. , .'■

; Condemning the Government's un•employment schemes, he said the Na-pier-Gisborne railway could have been completed if the same amount as had been spent on non-productive relief works of the country had been devoted ■to the line. The South Island, Alain Trunk- could have been completed, ■ whereas the machinery left when the undertaking was ■stopped had been destroyed.

■;• Mr. Nash criticised the Government for many :,of its' activities, and said that Labour intended to see that the ■necessaries; of life were available in the fullest possible measure to all who were ready-to do their share of work in the country. The primary industries would have to be helped. If the farmer was expected to produce the goods which were required for the population of the country and for sending overseas to establish" the credits to allow of necessary imports, he should be given a fair return for his labour, and the best form appeared to be a guaranteed price for his goods.'

Mr. Nash discussed the guaranteed ■price plan in detail, saying it was not necessary at present to give details of the prices, except that these would give the farmers a reasonable return for labour with a margin for a decent standard of living.

'■ The; guaranteed' price would help the farmer, but side by side with it would be a wage' scheme for others, providing a statutory minimum wage, with rising, scales according to skill, somewhat oh the lines of the old unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled classifications. , '■ For the unemployed the party intended to provide useful work at rates which would ensure a decent standard of ,life for all' willing to'work. A national .health "insurance and superannuation scheme: would be worked out in association with tne friendly societies. Government employees and many local'body' employees had the benefit .of..aI.^superannuation ■ "scheme and the'benefits should : be available /to everyone; The Labour Party in--tended to make medical, dental,- and hospital treatment available to everyone who wanted it whether he or she coukLpay for it or not,. ...

Mr. Nash said the. Labour Party would;^return the" five-year-olds to school and would establish kinder* gartens for younger children, 'fa conclusion, he dealt with.,.. govern* mental control of the monetary system.; "■".-.. .i • ■ .'■■ ' ■ '