LABOUR’S LAND PLANK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 4 April 1934, Page 9

LABOUR’S LAND PLANK

Community-Created Value IMPOSITION OF TAX OPPOSED By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 3. When the platform of the New Zealand Labour Party regarding land was being considered by tho annual conference to-day, the Wellington North branch moved a remit providing for full recognition of the community’s right to community-created value of land by the imposition of a tax of 5 per cent on the unimproved value of all land. The delegates felt that the carrying of such a resolution would deprive workers who owned their own homes of their savings, and the remit was defeated. Tho mover claimed that all com-munity-created values in land belonged to the community, and the only way for the State to talre it over properly was to tax it. The conference reaffirmed the plank in the party’s platform to give full civil rights to ail State employees. The conference elected Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P. for Christchurch, president for the ensuing year. Mr James Roberts (Wellington), secretary of the Alliance of Labour, was elected vice-president. Mr J. Thorn, the present secretary and treasurer, was reelected unopposed. A count for the Central Executive is now proceeding, and it will probably be completed tomorrow. The following members were elected to represent the areas mentioned on the National Executive:-—North Auckland, Mr J. G. Barclay (Wharigaroi); Auckland, Mr M. J. Savage. M.P.; Poverty Bay-Hawke’s Bay, Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P.; Hauraki-Soutft Auckland, Mr J. S. Montgomerie (Mangere); Wanganui-Taranaki, Mr W. J. Rogers (Wanganui); Rangitikei-Mana-watu, Mr W. H. Oliver (Feilding’.; Hutt Valley-Wairarapa, Mr A. Spurr (Lower Hutt); West Coast, Mr T. Parfitt (Westport); Canterbury, Mr G. T. Thurston (Christchurch); South Can terbury-Timaru, Mr G. T. Holier (Timaru); Otago, Mr R. Harrison (Dunedin); Southland. Mr A. J. Middlemiss (Gore). It was decided that the next conference should be held at Wellington. The case of the watersidors of the Dominion and the gold miners of Waiutu and Waihi was discussed and the conference decided to support them in their endeavour to have tho wage cuts restored.