LABOR’S AIMS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 13027, 27 November 1936, Page 5

LABOR’S AIMS

FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. SOLID FOUNDATIONS LAID. '' A? ■ Y '■ i ViY; VvV" 'v - GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE. REVIEW OF LEGISLATION. (Press Association) . WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. In a statement issued to-day the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. j. Savage, says that the'anniversary of the election of office of .the Labor Party provides a most fitting opportunity to make a survey of the progress achieved and to indicate the lines of further advance. “During the election campaign it was mado clear that the immediate objective of the party, if .elected, would be tho restoration of fair and reasonable, standards of living, find it has bee'll the consistent aim of the Government, through legislation, to improve the lot of the people on the lower: incomo levels,” said Mr. Savage. “For tho time being, tho limit of social reform was set by the taxable capacity of the country, but this is far from tlio objective of Labor, for. the future policy involves far-sighted planning and the direction of the economic uctivr ifcy of the State, and it is to- this end that tlio Government is working. “Already as tlnr result.of legislative measures of tho first session, solid foundations have been laid for the fulfilment of Labor’s long-term objectives.” V, -

Reviewing what lias been- done, Mr Huvago stresses that the guiding prinfipal of the Government is social jus- «. tice. Its ainj is.that the economic organisation shall bo adopted to tho social needs, and if any of tho institutions of the Dominion ail in this respect they must be changed. A big start already 'has been made towards removing some of these fundamental defencts. In this regard, ho cited what lias been done for the dairy farming industry in guaranteed prices, and says that further strips are being taken towards, putting the production and marketing system in order, and tlio Minister of Marketing is at present in London endeavouring to negotiate a reciprocal trade agreounent. MORTGAGE INDEBTEDNESS' TO BE RELIEVED. ; Under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, it will be possible to make considerable progress towards a satisfactory solution of the old problem of mortgage indebtedness. He also mentions tlio reorganisation of tho Mortgage Corporation and the housing plans. In regard to the manufacturing industries, he says that the policy has 0 been directed towards preventing the) \ exploitation of the public and to prevent wherever possible economic waste. It was intended to take .effective measures towards preventing such well-known economic abuses as those connected with land speculation and' the excessively high cost of land, and also faulty investment methods.

WHOLE BODY OF INDUSTRIAL LAW AMENDED. . Mr. Savage claimed that considerable progress has been made towards raising the material standards of the people. Practically the wholel body of the industrial law has been overhauled and amended. Compulsory arbitration has been restored. The 40-hour and five-day week has been instituted. Pensions have been increased and invalid pensions provided. Wages have been restored and purchasing power increased. With the. marked return to business prosperity, there was ample evidence that the country could afford higher standards of living, which the welfare and happiness of the people demanded. s BIG PROGRAMME NEXT YEAR. A, Next year it was intended to put into operation such further schemes as national superannuation and national health insurance, and a'complete overhaul of tho education system. He paid a tribute* to his colleagues in the Ministry and in both Houses. They had worked splendidly as a team, and had not spared themselves in their efforts to serve the public interest. ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION Mr. Savage said it is not easy to generalise concerning the legislation passed by the Government during tbe first session. “Since finance is the k-ty to the whole problem of administration,” he tfaid, “one of our first acts was to place the Reserve Bank under State ownership, thus giving tho Government complete control of tho currency and credit mechanism, ‘ and making it possible to increase production. Having token this step we are in a position to formulate a financial policy which will serve the social and industrial structure of the J country. After all, economic and sor ciuT welfare go together, and m exercising control over the. monetary policy and in regulating and co-ordin-ating production, it will be the aim of the Labour Government to achieve such, a measure of economic reconstruction that the people of the Dominion will enjoy a standard of social well-being that will make them the envy of the world. “WE WILL KEEP OUR FAITH WITH THE PEOPLE”' • After referring to social conditions, Mr. Savage said, “I know of no better way of distrusting' fairly riational income than by the provision of necessary .social services, and the aim of the Government will always bo directed towards achieving, this re-, suit, I. do not expect we rcan achieve /this end at once, h I’t will take time. We .will no doubt make mistakes, but these will be rectified as soon as they become evident..: I give my -word' that will, remain...true : to our pinciples, arid kbep faitii. with the people.”