GRAVE ISSUES

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 October 1925, Page 5

GRAVE ISSUES

BEFORE THE ELECTORS. *• ' POLICIES OP PARTIES. GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME. -- ■—* *P /- ~ v :’**.* »■ (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) IVELLINGTON, Oct. 2. “The electors of the Dominion are shortly to be called on to decide upon what principles and policy a new Parliament is to act in safeguarding and developing the interests of the people! of New r Zealand,” says the Prime Min- / ister (Hon. J. G. Coates) in the Reform Party’s manifesto, w'liich was issued tonight. - - . . “The coming election,” he says,* will, be one of the most important ih the historv of the Dominion. It must decide grave issues. In many countries incessant efforts are being made to aggravate class conflicts and bring about revolutionary upheavals rubversive of social order and civilisation. Fortu~fi nately our own democracy in. New Zealari has been characterised by sound ai: 1 sober political instincts, and I app.- .d with confidence to the elemors 'to support the policy of the Government;; w'liich seeks to eliminate all cause s of ; - class warfare and bitterness, to promote the, well-being of the whole community, / to strenthen and develop our Imperial relationships and to make New Zealand ; an example of what healthy and industrious democracy can be. ‘The programme of the Government is designed to achieve these ends. We stand for the 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’, is our slogan.” - A brief statement of some of the Government aims i s submitted for tne-r. . consideration of electors. The mani-E; festo says:— “Sound finance must always constitute the firm foundation of good government. The heavy war debt renders it doubly important that w 7 e proceed with the utmost caution. Nevertheless bomnving i s necessary to complete our large hydro-electrical undertakings, our railway system, irrigation and other development works. It is hoped to reduce , our external borrowing gradually, and ‘ to rely increasingly on local loans and surplus revenue. To attain these objects it will be the earnest endeavourof the Government to investigate thoroughly the incidence o£ taxation with the object of placing the burden upon 7 the shoulders of those best able to bear it. Direct taxation through the Cus- , toms 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, authorities.

“The return to stability' iu export values enables the Government to anticipate a. demand for land, which will justify the continuous purchase of suitable lands for ‘sub-division and settlement. A general sui'vey of all unoccupied lands in the Dominion wifi be undertaken to ascertain what areas are cap- .., •*; abe of profitabe production with a view to settlement. The freehold tenure for which the Reform Party has aways stood, is to be maintained, and, if so ’ desired by Crown tenants, extened. “The policy of the Government is to encourage secondary industries suitable to New 7 Zealand by reasonable tariff protection, and by the collection and '£ distribution of information through the Department of Industries and Commerce. Our present immigration policy is working smoothly. It is proposed to , continue it and strengthen the organisations at Home now undertaking thework of selection so a s to maintain a . good class of immigrant. , - .'ll ’“ln regard to housing, not' only wifi/ the State give direct assistance, but private enterprise and local bodies will also f ■ be encouraged to engage upon the busi- /• « ness of house-building for wage-earners. The Government recognises that while wages are fixed by the Arbitration ■' Court on the assumption that- a man. has a w'ife and two children, those./; wage-earners 7 whose families exceed this number must find it difficult, to make ends meet. The Government will examine carefudv proposals made so that large families wdll- be encouraged V and not discouraged. . . ‘ ' : ‘■‘The present- progressive education policy will be maintained arid rein- , forced. Marked progress has' been made iu dealing with disease and ep.i- <. s , demies, and. in the extension of our hosiptnls, both maternity and general. - There will be no relaxation' of effort in any of these directions. Generous! Government assistance will be continued through the medium of the Plunket Societies. The extension of the dental clinic and school medical examination systems and their more • vigorous prosecution, will be part apd parcel of the Government’s policy.” In conclusion, Mr Coates says; -f‘l. have made up attempt to set forth a spectacular programme involving vast sums of money and wholesale expenditure. I can make no fanciful promises..- ; Experience has demonstrated that reasonable and steady social progress must be based on prudent finance. I believe, . as a native-born New 7 Zealander; thatif the electors wifi support the Govern-/ ment in its endeavour to develop, the Dominion on sound and steady lines of progress we shall succeed in building . / up a strong virile, self-reliant-demo-cracy, w 7 hich will still further enhance the high reputation oiir.country enjoys/ " in the eyes of the world. In the fore- .. front of our platform are the bedrock principles—national safety and progressive development.” ■

NATIONAL PARTY.

ITS POLICY OUTLINED. WELLINGTON; Oct. 1. The National Party manifesto, out---lining the policy, advocates a., self-... reliant financial programme and the ' maintenance of the country’s credit by restricting borrowing and economical administration under strict business methods. . It advocates- a State Bank free frorFpolitical control, the revision .of the incidence of taxation so that-wealth will contribute fairly to the cost of govern- , ment, a reduction of Customs duties on Vi the necessaries of life, and the encouragement of thrift by permitting fixed deposits to be made in the Post Office _ Savings Bank. The party'Tavours agricultural hanks, with a Government guarantee to provide long term mortgages on farm lands at reasonable interest, also, more-' liberal funds for the State Advances. Department. Regarding land, the party would apply the compulsory clauses of the Land for Settlement' Act to enable _ settlement to progress soundly and vigorous-, ly and an increase.of graduated tax to prevent land aggregation, deteribrated v Crown lands to be revalued and relief given where rentals exceed fhe pfoduefive value, the scientific development •* of afforestation to .be undertaken. The maintenance of the present system of education is urged, with greater ,

financial assistance, particularly in the | country, with the extension of school medical services and free dental treatment for primary schools. Defence expenditure should be as low as possible consistent with safety. The League of Nations is to be supported as a peace factor. .... Settlement and business possibilities of all proposed railways to be submitted to Parliament before the lines are authorised. The fullest encouragement should be given to primary industries, with the erection of State fertiliser works, if necessary, and reorganisation of the demonstration farm system. Secondary industries should receive assistance. Insurance and superannuation should bo placed bn a better footing and the provision of money for housing extended. . Electoral reform is promised under which majority rule will be assured, and it is urged that special _ powers shoud be conferred on the Arbitration Court to deal with rusts and combines whose operations increase the cost ot living. Concluding, the manifesto sums up the National Party policy as one designed to secure such sound economic and advanced humanitarian legislation as will ensure progress, prosperity and happiness.

LABOUR PARTY. NEW LAND POLICY. GREYMOUTH, Oct. 1. Mr H. E. Holland opened the Labour Party’s Dominion campaign at Cobden to-nicrht before a large attendance, which accorded him an enthusiastic hearing. , Dealing with proportional representation and the initiative and referendum, Mr Holland declared that the referendum would not be applied to matters of religion and conscience. He advocated a printed roll of Maori electors. He explained the Labour ■ Party s land policy, based on occupation and use, and declared the policy would be applied in tlie first place to estates valued at £20,000,000 and over to make closer settlement and the consequent increased production possible. Ike clause relating to transfers would not prevent the present owners from selling either farms or workmen’s cottages, but the transfers would have to be made through the Lands Transfer Departments In all future cases wheie State advances were made the ownei would sell to the State only. Mr Holland said there was no such thing, generally speaking, as a freehold in the Dominion. What obtained was reallv “mortgage-hold.” The total value of'the mortgagee registered was nearly £270,000,000, while the total yalue was £567,000,000, and the interest bill was £17,500,000. He declared that land aggregation was evident. One—twelfth of the holders of occupied lands were holding more than one-third of the total, area. The real burden of the bona fid© farmer was that of interest. He alleged l that mortgages mostly affected small landholders, and advocated a revaluation of all lands. The Labour Party’s revaluations, he said, would he mad© by the Valuer-General, with the right of appeal to a Valuation Appeal Board, on which landowners would have representation, and, finally, to the Land Court, presided over by a Supreme Court judge. Also, a dissatisfied landowner would be allowed to make his own valuation, with the State right to purchase at such valuation. He declared the Government’s policy had resulted in driving men off the land, there having been over 3,000,000 transfers in the last 10 years, involving nearly 26,t)00,000 acres of rural land, the equivalent of more than onehalf of the total area. The cost of transfers was over £18,000,000 for 10 years, and was now averaging nearly £2,500,000 a year. Mr Holland claimed that th© Labour policy would hold men on the land, and further declared that the policy would not in any way interfere with the right of inheritance, but the death duties on larger estates would be heavily increased. He condemned the Government’s coal importing policy, and declared himself in favour of producing New Zealand coal for Dominion use. He forecasted a State Bank, increased workmen’s, compensation, motherhood endowment, an increase of the old age pensions to 25s a week, and other pension increases. He advocated the reduction of the national liability as a precursor to _ any serious attempt to reduce the national debt, and claimed that while reductions had been conceded in direct taxation to the wealthy land and income taxpayers, the proportion of Customs taxation was largely increasing. He denounced the Government’s immigration policy, claimed that assisted immigrant workers were in want, and insisted that the State must take a hand in housebuilding to relieve the present shortage. He dealt with the education question. explaining why the Labour movement opposed Bible teaching in schools, and urging that the proper places for religious teaching were the church, the Sunday school and the home. At the conclusion of his speech Mr Holland was accorded an ovation. Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., spoke briefly. A motion of confidence in the Labour Party, in Mr Holland' as its leader, and in the member for the district was carried, unanimously.