FIVE-YEAR PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 9

FIVE-YEAR PLAN

LABOUR POLICY

SOCIALIST-COMMONWEALTH PARTY AS GOAL

PEACE & PROSPERITY

Uniled Tress Association—By Electric Tele-

graph-—Copyright.

LONDON, March 6.

Outlining its plans to secure peace and prosperity within one term of Parliament—five years—the Labour Party has issued its programme. ;

"The goal is a Socialist-Common-wealth Party determined to use the resources of the country to create real prosperity in which all will share," says a statement issued by the party. "Every effort will be made to secure a just and lasting peace. The party is irreconcilably opposed to the dictatorship of any individual or group. It agrees that a fair price is payable for all private property transferred to public ownership.

"The Bank of England will become a public institution; a national investment board will mobilise the financial resources and advise the Government on a financial plan for the full employment of the people. There will not be a return to the gold standard. "The Government will organise home production and control imports to ensure the home producer a fair price for his produce and ensure a plentiful supply of food for everybody, including, suitable food for children and expectant mothers. HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT. "Legislation will be introduced for a standard 40-hour week; also a determined attack will be made on insecurity due to fear of unemployment. -Vigorous measures will be taken to increase employment. All-children will be kept at school until they are 15 years of age, and eventually 16, with maintenance allowances. Improved pensions will be paid. "Labour will endeavour to enable all peaceful nations to share the world's wealth. It will seek to strengthen the League of Nations and endeavour to check the armament race, promote disarmament, and substitute an international air police force for national air forces. The Government will main' tain such armed forces as are necessary to defend the country and fulfil its obligations to, the Empire and to the League."

"One of the most important steps the Labour Party has taken since the war," said the "News Chronicle" last month, commenting on the decision of the Labour Party's national executive to go to the country at the, next election with a short reconstruction programme to be carried" out in the lifetime of one Parliament, namely, five years. "The decision is bound to influence, profoundly future developments of the party's policy," added the "News Chronicle." , "It means that the appeal to the electors is henceforth to be made on a series of practical proposals instead of the policy of general Socialism and nationalisation which hitherto has been the party platform."