THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. Motto : Public Service. Marriage Notice. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1937. LABOUR’S PROGRAMME.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2669, 13 September 1937, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. Motto : Public Service. Marriage Notice.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1937. LABOUR’S PROGRAMME.

ROBERTS-THOMPSON.—On August 28th, 1937, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Paeroa, by the Rev. Heslop, Florence May, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs B. Thompson, of Taumarunui, to Reginald William, second son of Mr and Mrs R. I. Roberts of Paeroa.

THE Speech from the Throne at the opening of Parliament last week indicated legislative action on various matters as forecasted by Ministers from time to time during the recess. As already announced, the defence system is to be reorganised, important proposals aimed at the reform of the education system will be submitted, and health insurance and national superannuation schemes will be introduced. Measures dealing with law reform and local government reform are also mentioned. Of proposals concerning which the public has had little or no previous intimation there is the ratification of a number of conventions already adopted by the International Labour Conference. The nature of these has not been disclosed, and until further particulars have been made public it is impossible to say more than that while a great number of conventions have been adopted by the Geneva conference from time to time, many of these have failed to obtain ratification in various countries because of their impracticability. Where ratification is not universal the result is to place those who do ratify at an economic disadvantage. This fact should be borne in mind when Parliament is considering the proposals referred to. There is also a reference to inquiries that have been made concerning the fruit and vegetable, fishing, and tobacco industries. “The necessary measures are being taken for the knowledge so obtained to be applied in the best interests of the community.” From past experience of Government policy this savours of a further instalment of Socialisation. It has yet to be proved that Socialist methods confer any benefit on communities in the shape of cheaper commodities. Another proposal is that providing for an extension of the definition of the word “industry” under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925. This presumably relates to the position of clerical workers, but the full implications are obscure. Further enlightenment may disappoint the hopes of those engaged in carrying on. industries under heavy handicaps that they would be given a reasonable breathing space in which to adjust their enterprises to the new conditions imposed by the flood of industrial legislation last session.

The Government’s proposals by and large involve increased expenditure, and having regard to the health insurance and superannuation schemes, this increase is likely to be very heavy. Nowhere in the Speech is there any indication of. relief for the taxpayers, and this notwithstanding the facts, pridefully recorded, that there was a surplus at the end of the financial year of

£472,000, and that the Dominion had been able to provide for the Whole of its financial requirements without recourse to overseas markets. There is every indication, on the contrary, of further heavy calls on the resources of the people. The Government’s programme offers ample material for the closest investigation and criticism by all concerned for the financial welfare of the country. The time for this will be when the details of the measures proposed are brought down. In the meantime the Address-in-Reply debate will offer the Government’s critics in Parliament an opportunity for discussing the effects upon both primary and secondary industries, as well as business in general, of- last session’s legislation. The debate should be enlightening.