UNITY SCHEME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15901, 12 April 1912, Page 8

UNITY SCHEME.

ADOPTED BY LABOUR CONFERENCE.

OBJECTS OF NEW PARTY. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 11

The combined Labour Conference tonight adopted the Mills Unity Scheme and the constitution promulgated for tho new organisation, which is to bo named “ The United Labour Party of New Zealand.” '

It was agreed that its objects should beTo promote the organisation of all tho workers of New Zealand in all forms of necessary service to proteot their interests in the mattor of regular, rational and remunerative employment; to promote their good citizenship and to increase their efficiency : to consolidate their political power in their own behalf, and to use their whole power, both political and economic, jn negotiations with employers, before the Courts-, in the municipal, county and dominion governments, in international relations, and, if need be, in industrial revolt; to use the fruits of every partial victory to strengthen and continue this work until the power to oppress and exploit any of the workers, either by private monopolies controlling the government or through the private monopoly, ownership, and control of industry, sliall utterly disappear, and there shall bo secured for the people the power to purchase with their income the total products of their labour, until, in short-, the means of production, distribution and exchange, in so far as they constitute in private hands instruments of oppression and exploitation, shall-be socially owned and operated without profit and for the common good of all. The membership of this organisation shall consist of—(a) Single local unions of workers; (b) national federations of distinct trades, sendees and occupations ; (e) national groups of federations of distinct trades, services and occupations; (d) distinct trades or labour councils; (o) associated societies and individual members. FIGHTING PLATFORM.

The establishment of State ferry services and State colliers, also that tho dominion Government co-operate with the Federal Government of Australia in the establishment of an Interstate shipping service. The abolition of the country quota in determining parliamentary representation. The parliamentary franchise to apply to the election of all local bodies and to all local polls. Legislation reversing the Osborno judgment as related to New Zealand'. The granting of full political rights to all public employees. Tho initiative, referendum and recall on proper petition and by bare majority. Endowment of motherhood. Pensions for widows, orphans, the blind and incurably helpless, and State medical aid and hospital care in all cases of illness. Proportional representation on singlo transferable vote. ' The establishment of a State bank and of the solo right to issue paper money. . A land system shall hb established whioh shall bring into the most productive use, either by individual undertakings or by .public enterprise, all national resources, shall make absentee ownership and private monopoly in land impossible, snail secure to the landholder all tho values created by him and tlioso only, all such values to ho exempt from all taxation, and shall secure to the public in an annual tax all values created by tho public. No further sale of Crown lands. Increased taxation of land values, the revenue so raised to bo used to reduce the cost of living by tho reduction of Customs taxes on the necessaries of life not produced in New Zealand, and by the reduction of railway freights and fares. That a free and secular State education system shall bo maintained, with compulsory attendance up to the age of fifteen years and that the necessary books and stationery shall be supplied free by tho Department. J nnt beyond the age of fifteen, all boys and girls not reeeivimr full time instruction at secondary or other sohools, shall attend continuation classes for not less than fifteen hours per week until they reach the ago of seventeen. That no omnlover shall employ bora or girls under seventeen years of ago ror more than thirty hoars per week. That provision shall' be made so that up to tho age of years systematic physical .... *:, O shall bo substituted for military drill. The right of the people to 1 ‘.i- a l! questions submitted oil a. ,° . majority vote. Establishment by i , . f national minimum wage. A j 0 f Work. Act. Establishment of 8 .natitive State factories, works and 5 . con .L„. The settlement of. industrial ! Routes on the l' nes legally estabjZd agreements and awards by merls of conciliation and arbitration. Tlie party leader is to be elected by CftUCU 3 ' ■