REFORM POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 168, 15 June 1928, Page 4

REFORM POLICY.

PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH, GOVERNMENT'S PLATFORM. What had been accomplished by the Reform Party since he became its leader was outlined by the Prime Minister (Rt. I-lon -J. G. Coates) in a speech at Wellington last night in which he also referred to the coming general election.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Juno 14. Tiie Prime Minister to-night addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting at the Town Hall in a speech which he said was not intended to be a policy speech in the full sensa of the term. Referring to the 1925 election, he said that the stewardship entrusted to him by the people had not been misplaced. The Government’s policy had been very largely translated into actuality and that the ship of State had been brought through troublous seas on an even keel. ‘‘ln my view,” lie said, “the basic and fundamental principles of good government (and they are the tinnciples of the present Government) are the maintenance of law and order, the maintenance of justice and liberty, the preservation of property and the sanctity- of religious beliefs, provision for free education and opportunity ior our citizens, and the promotion of the welfare of the whole ot the community and not any particular section of it. Wo claim that these have directed' and guided our aims and administraton.” EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. Mr Coates, continuing his speech, enunciated some of the outstanding principles for which the Reform Pai;ty stood, such as free, secular and compulsory education, free education from the primary schools to the universities, equal opportunity for all, and increased provision of assistance to the aged.” Tho widow and her children, as well, has not been overlooked. Provision has .also been made for epidemic pensions, pensions for the blind, miners’ pensions, and police pensions for those permanently disabled in the execution of their duty. The man or woman injured whilo carrying out his or her daily duties has received provision by tiie Government of the day and increased benefits have been provided under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The soldier lias been .looked after and the dependants of those who suffered physically and mentally in the cloak of arms have been provided for. South African war pensions and Maori war pensions have also been provided for these veterans. ‘‘The parents of tho large family have been thought of. Reform of the Civil Service and the establishment of commissioner control, the right of every man to own his own home and farm, namely, the /freehold, the progress and forward development of our country, closer settlement where adaptable, a gradual but definite move towards dividing land in order that the rural population shall be increased with the object of bringing into existence a nation of small prosperous land holders—all these have been considered.” FINANCIAL MATTERS.

Dealing with finance. Mr Coates referred to the recent period of depression. He said that the people were defiinitely and clearly advised of the position existing and the pitfalls that lay ahead. The people were told that the remedy lay in united effort, determination, hard work, and increased production. At once the Government recognised that a curtailment in expenditure of our national finances became imperative and took steps accordingly, hut without cutting the salaries of public servants or reducing general Government activities. Such a course was avoided by intelligent and competitive management. Local government expenditure was checked by the introduction of tho Local Government Loans’ Board. The Government’s borrowing from overseas was reduced annually from £11,000,000 to £7,000,000, then to £6,000,000, and now to £5,000,000. The dead weight debt in so far as the war loan debt concerns the country’s liability had been steadily reduced. “An earnest effort has been made to bring about a reduction in the costs of production, whilo at the same time enabling the volume to be increased. This lias largely been helped by hard work, and tho self-reliant spirit of our people. The ratepayers have been helped by. further extending the principle of the user paying.” PAST YEAR’S SURPLUS. Notwithstanding all the stress, the Finance Minister was able to announce a surplus of £IBO,OOO on last year’s working. Taxation per head in New Zealand for 1926,1927 was £l2 os 6d, compared with £l4 5s for Australia, of which £9 13s 2d represented Commonwealth taxation, and the balance that of the State Governments. Tho industries of th© country had all been under very close examination, and where the Government was satisfied assistance had been rendered. The main principle observed was that industries in New Zealand must bo asked to compete with the outside article and that total prohibition of imports would not bo contemplated. Tiie timber industry and other industries had received undoubted benefit by tariffs. From 70 to 75 per cent, of New Zealand coal was used on New Zealand railways. New Zealand-grown timber

was now almost exclusively used for State requirements. “The policy underlying the Government throughout is to employ our oyvn men in our own industries in order to absorb as many men and women as [wssible, especially during tiro period of economic depression. Duo to the Government’s policy within the next 15 to 20 years New Zealand’s forests will bo one of her great assets.” HELP FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES. Dealing with the primary industries upon which the country really depends for its prosperity, Mr Coates emphasised tho reorganisation of scientific research by the co-operation of scientific institutions existing in tho country by linking up the Agricultural Department, meat boards, dairy boards, dairy companies, freezing companies, and wheat growers and pastorahste’ organisations, by tho co-operating of the Lincoln College aud the Massey College, with the assistance of the Empire Marketing Hoard and the Science and Research Department, which will provide this year some £19,000 toward engaging specialists, and finally by allocating duties to each organisation with a selected man in charge. “Wo can definitely say,” he said, “that not only can our exportable products he brought to the highest standard, but we can claim that not only will two blades of grass be grown where on© was grown before, but that grass will he made to grow where nono grew before.” The Prime Minister dealt with the financial schemes inaugurated by the Government to aid the farmers. He referred to tho wonderful trade for tho financial year endin'/ March 31 last. The exports were £54,962,031 or over £9,250,000 more than the previous year, while the imports were £-14,419,355, or a decrease of over £3,750,000. 11l .other words, our balance has improved by over £13,000,000. Classifying our export trade, £47.220X00 went to British countries, and £7 735,000 to foreign countries, as against £40,137,000 and £5,545,000 respectively in the preceding year. OUTLOOK BRIGHT. “I have no hesitation in saying that the outlook for the country is bright. Tho clouds ar© dispersing, and there is no room for pessimism,” said the Prime Minister. Dealing with the question of people leaving the land, Mr Coates said that production had ’gone up. He stated also that in the matter of unemployment New Zealand, compared with other countries, had fewer uncinnloyed in proportion, to the population. “It has been repeatedly slated that the action of the Government in paying 12s a day to married men and 9s to single men employed on relief works is an attack on the trade union rate of wages and an insidious attempt to reduce wages in this country. Nothingof tho kind, and I give the statement an unqualified denial. It is not proposed to remove the present restrictions until the general position of unemployment has considerably improved. ’ INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE.

One of the outstanding events of the present year was the holding of the National Industrial Conference. “The Government can claim credit reasonably for having during its term of office maintained industrial peace in the community. The conference recently concluded will have done much in clearing up misunderstandings and bringing about better relationships between capital and labour.” “Wo have arranged a very suhstanti: •* measure of preference of Empire goods through our customs tariff,”'lie went on, “and in every we we are out to promote the unity of the great British family. W© subscribe to tho ideals of the League' of Nations and will do our utmost to co-operate with other countries in the cause ot peace. CHOICE FOR ELECTORS.

“As you know, a general election is approaching. You will bo asked to choose as between a stable Government on the one hand and the Socialistic Labour forces in the community, who are seeking to gain possession of the reins of Government, on the other hand. If I may say so in no disrespectful manner, there is no room for third parties. Their only effect can be to strengthen the Labour forces and their oxistenoe cannot be deemed to be in the best interests of the country. I submit that our rcord has been a good and clean one, and that wo can face the electors with a proud record of policy and performance. “I conclude by quoting words used bv me in 1915: ‘We stand for the stability and safety, of the State and the Empire, for the security of tho individual, for toleration and equal opportunity for all, and for order and peace in the community.’ My exhortations to von and to the country are: ‘Stick to 'the captain, officers and men who have served you faithfully and brought the ship into the calmer waters of returning prosperity.’ ”