LABOUR’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1938, Page 5

LABOUR’S POLICY

LIST OF POINTS TO BE EXPOUNDED TO-NIGHT. (Per Presß Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, September 22. The policy of the Government which will be expounded by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister in the course df a broadcast address from Wellington Town Hall this evening is as follow^: — »' (1) Maintenance and extension of control of financial and banking system until representatives of people are the sole authority for the issue of credit and currency. :. (2) Provision of credit to farmers to the fullest extent, at the lowest possible rates of interest, . • (3) Provision of maximum advances of capital at lowest rates of interest to town and country dwellers for the erection of their own homes, and for suitable houses for workers on farms. (4) Provision of credit for the establishment and extension of secondary industries. , i

(5) Organisation,' expansion, and diversification of primary industries to a maximum to supply the needs of New Zealand and overseas markets. (6) Extension of guaranteed price procedure to provide income to farmers measured by New Zealand living standards, and in accordance with the services rendered by farmers.

\7) Establishment, safeguarding and expansion of manufacturing and other secondary industries, essential to. the development df the Dominion. (8) Continuance of the policy of negotiating bilateral agreements on reciprocal basis \to expand the markets for our primary products. (D) Orderly marketing within New Zealand to ensure reasonable prices to consumers, and maintaining agreed prices to primary producers. (10) Government housing construction to. the full | extent of labour and materials . available; v.’ extension, to rural areas for farmers and farm workers. and other drivellers in the country. r •

(11) Clearance./of slum areas, and replacement by jmodern dwellings. (12) Advances to modernise existing dwelling.liOuises.

(13) Complete . organisation of administration and men to give full effect to the Social Security Act. Cooperation with Pjriendjy societies to extend their membership and dispensary, - and other services to the fullest extension, . consonant with administra-: tion of social [.security benefits, and cooperation with chemists to the full for the same-purposes.) - ’

(I’4) Setting up of; a special department for prevention) of river erosion, clearance of river-beds,' ’and- tree planting to prevent disastrous floods; extension of afforestation'; organisation of land development irrigation works, and swamp drainage on modern lines.

(15) Maximum facilities for improvement of main highways, and special road improvements V for back block areas. . •'

(16) Completion of existing railway construction work, and extension of Taneatua-Opotiki railway, and Rimutaka tunnel. ‘

(17) Electric supply at minimum charge for domestic needs in tlie country and town areas. Special facf-> lities for supply at low rates to farmers aud manufacturers to reduce production costs.

(18) Fullest investigation of national resources of all kinds of minerals, soils, plants, and animals, with a view to their exploitation for the purpose of increasing production and living standards.

• v l9> Equitable l settlement of native claims extension, native land development. and better housing and sanitation facilities in native districts..

(20) Improvement and maintenance of wages and conditions in industrial and other employment-.

(21) Progressive extension of principle of motherliopd endowment, until every mother has’ sufficient income to maintain each child. ,

(22) Extension and improvement of health services and facilities, including school medical nursing, a nd dental services, and milk in schools scheme, and provision for the most efficient maternity attention in all 'p ar^s °f the Dominion. i

(23) Institution of industrial? hygiene branch to investigate and coimbat occupational disease. \ (24) Fullest educational opportunities from kindergarten to university, with special attentions to the* needs of the country child; Installation of modern aids to teaching, raising, the school leaving age to 15; assured 1 finance for university of New Zealand and constituent college, and for council of adult education.

(25) Extension of present- educational building programme; ’ improvement of school grounds and amenitieß; unification and reorganisation of administrative control or primary and post primary education. (26) Support of the principles contained in the covenant of the League of Nations, together with the fullest co-operation with the United Kingdom and other members of the British Commonwealth

(27) Complete organisation and coordination of the army, navy, and air forces, to ensure the most effective defence of the Dominion.

Government during the first year of the next Parliament will consolidate the land and income tax afcts. to remove some of the injustices and anomalies which have existed for many years. The statutes and regulations associated with the public service, rail-

ways and teachers superannuation funds, will he examined in consultation' with the representatives of the services concerned with a view to removing some of the anomalies and providing for adjusted benefits for husband and .wife, whichever is the survivor. and the removal of the injustice at present experienced by widows of railway snperanmutant9.