LABOUR PARTY'S MANIFESTO

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 18

LABOUR PARTY'S MANIFESTO

sion of the afforestation system to provide for the maximum economic utilisation of products. This will involve new industries without using up our national heritage. The third part of the plan is the organisation of land development and the'extension of irrigation works and swamp drainage by modern methods so, that greater and more varied production may become available. Only on a national scale and by dovetailing and planning the operations " can the work be done on any effective scale. 4 DEFENCE. Complete organisation and co-ordi-nation of Army, Navy, and Air Forces to ensure the most effective Aefen.ce of the Dominion. In 1932 £600,000 was spent on defence; in 1935 this had risen to £1,000,000. For the year 1938-39 over £3,000,000 is being spent on defence in all its aspects. The Government takes the view that it would prefer to spend money on houses rather than defence, but in view of the world situation defence . is regrettably necessary. Having decided on this course the Government is doing the job efficiently and is keeping in constant touch •with Great Britain and will continue to do so. Never before have the organisation and facilities for our national defence been as efficient as now. NAVY. The seagoing forces have been strengthened' by (replacement with more modern and larger cruisers; workshops stores have been erected and equipped; naval armament depot completed; New Zealand personnel increased; reserves of oil fuel and stores increased; the Naval Board now functions regularly. ■'. ' ' ■; army. An Army Board has been instituted. The Territorial organisation has been brought into line with other j>artsof the British Commonwealth. -me forces are being rapidly mechanised. Increased pay and camp allowance has been instituted and other improved conditions. Every effort is being made to bring our land forces up to the highest state of .efficiency. The whole system of defence has been organised- on the latest known lines in collaboration with the authorities in Great Britain. A Council of Defence has been established ensuring closest collaboration between the three services and also an Organisation for National Security which Embraces every important Department of State.: ATO FORCE. Air Department created embracing civil and service aviation and an Air Board established. . The Government has established a repair base at Hobsonville, a Flying Training School at Wigram, and two Service operational stations already under construction. Thirty fast bombers have been ordered with ammunition. Clubs have been encouraged and granted assistance through interest-free money for purchase of aircraft and also by financial assistance for the training of pilots. A squadron of the Territorial Air Force already formed at Wellington and formation of three other similar squadrons is well advanced. FOREIGN POLICY. l&e Government, in its belief in collective security, will continue its support of the principles contained in the Covenant of the League of Nations and the maximum provision for the defence of the Dominion, together with co-operation to the fullest extent with the United Kingdom and other members of the British Commonwealth to maintain its existence and assist in its protection. ■.: ■ 3 ■ " When the Government came into office it "operated the policy it had always advocated — 1. Keeping New Zealand's word as a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles. 2. Support of the principles contained in the Covenant of the League as tfie best instrument for securing the peace, both of New Zealand and of the British Empire as a whole. The principle is that of collective security. A leading part of the foreign policy of the Government is co-opera-tioa with the other members of the British Commonwealth to maintain peace. x This policy will be continued. THE POLICY IN GENERAL. ■ The Government's policy is founded ©n the belief that every possible provision should be made for the maintenance and future expansion of national income and production. The Government believes that, given an efficiently organised economy, there is infinite scope for the development and expansion of the Dominion's economic activity. It believes that an efficiently organised economy is one in which. there is a scientific use of human and natural resources so as to promote the maximum amount of social welfare through the provision of a high minimum standard of living and is incompatible ■ with unemployment, poverty, car insecurity. " . New Zealand's primary industries must continue to be of paramount importance to her national economy and should be developed to the fullest extent possible, but a more balanced economy involving the promotion and expansion of industrial activity is essential for the future well-being. of the Dominion. , The Vovernment will organise an internal economy so that local production and standards of living can be maintained and progressively improved in spite of trade recessions overseas. Its policy of guaranteed incomes, of regulated marketing, of currency and credit control, of expansion of secondary industries; of maintenance of purchasing power and redistribution of income is directed towards this objective. So long as the necessary labour, a major portion of the requisite raw material, and the capital equipment are available in New Zealand, there is no insuperable obstacle to the fullest possible utilisation of those resources irrespective of overseas conditions. The only limitation that should influence a Government in guaranteeing -to everybody an income sufficient to enable them to enjoy those things that sife essential to a full life, is the physical capacity of the country to produce the requisite goods and services. The existing and potential wealth' of this Dominion, measured in these terms, is amply sufficient to enable everybody to enjoy a standard of living considerably higher than that which has so far been achieved. It will be the Government's aim to ensure that present standards are progressively lifted. ; v TAXATION ANOMALIES. The Government during the first year of the next Parliament will consolidate the .Land and Income Tax Acts to remove some of the injustices and anomalies which have existed, for! many years. I -The Statutes and Regulations associated with.the Public Service, Railways and Teachers' Superannuation Funds will be examined in consultation with representatives .of the Services concerned with a view to removing some anomalies, providing for adjusted benefits for husband and wife, whichever is the survivor,* and the removal of the injustice at present experienced by the widows of railway superanntfitants.

The Golden Cap, a Dorset headland, &m been given to the National. Trust.