What Labour Intends Doing For a Start

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 46, 25 February 1936, Page 7

What Labour Intends Doing For a Start

Outline ol Measures For Coming Session

Legislating For The Average Man

(“Times” Special). WELLINGTON, Last Night,

Important features of the policy measures which will be submitted to Parliament during the sesson to open next month were outlined to-day by the Prime Minister (the Hon. M._J. ►Savage). The main proposals are:— Extension of the rights of workers under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Amendments to the Government Railways Act to place the responsibility of the prosecution of railway undertakings on the Government instead of the Government Railways Board. Financial proposals, which, according to. the Prime Minister, will largely overcome monetary difficulties. An overhaul of the mortgage legislation, with. particular reference to farmers’ finance, and a vital alteration in the control of the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand. Increased benefits to pensioners as a stepping stone to a universal system of superannuation. Legislation providing for the shortening of working hours. The Prime Minister also indicated that a national health service would be instituted at the earliest possible moment, and that the question of dealing with the unemployment problem to receive the immediate attention of the Government.

The Prime Minister said that legislation would bo introduced making amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act with the object of restoring the facilities which workers previously enjoyed under the Act, and there would also be something in addition. The object of the Government was to place the workers in the position of being able to battle for themselves. Railway Undertakings Amendments would also be made to the Government Railways Act (which provided for the establishment of the Government Railways Board) to enable the Government to proceed if it thought fit with uncompleted railway lines.

•income while he is employed, and he knows exactly how much he is going to get when ho reaches his retiring age, and the Government wants every citizen to be in the same position. There-is nothing worse for the mental and physical health of the people than uncertainty as to their future.” Shorter Hours. Mr Savage also announced that legislation providing for the shortening of working hours would bo introduced. Tho present was the machine age, and the only way to avoid hardship as a result of the march of science was to reduce the hours of labour. If they did not do that people would be in a worse instead of a better position as a result of scientific progress. Health Service. The provision of a national health service was also receiving the close attention of the Government, which was iu consultation with medical men, many of whom wero in favour of the project. A national health service would ultimately come into being although it was not possible to say that it would be done during .the comingsession. ‘‘However, we are not going to wait for things to happen or to come to us,” he said. ‘‘Wo are going out after things and we are going to do them as rapidly as we can. We have the people with us at. present, and we want .to keep them with us.” Unemployment Question. Mr Savage said that the question of unemployment would receive- the immediate attention of the Government. It was not necessary to wait for legislation to do that as the present Unemployment Act gave .the Government the necessary authority. It was the Government's aim to transfer relief workers to useful avenues of employment at which they could earn decent wages. The Prime Minister said that the Government did not intend to leave reliet workers under the Unemployment Act, as it was to-day. Tho Government looked forward to the time when such an Act would not be necessary and when every citizen would have the opportunity of taking part in the building of New Zealand. Legislation Will be Ready. In conclusion, the Prime Minister said that the public could be assured that when Parliament met next month it would be faced with legislation bear-ing-upon the problems he had dealt with. Members would not have to wait for legislation. The Government realised it had an obligation to members of Parliament whether they belonged to the Labour Party or not, and it was its aim to get on with the real work of Parliament as rapidly as possible so that the people would receive the benefits at the earliest possible moment.

■‘Under the existing legislation,” said Mr Savage, "it is necessary for the Government to pass a motion through both Houses of Parliament before it can proceed with the completion of railways. The whole control, indeed, is vested in a board,, and the Minister- is more- or less a cipher. Ihe result of the proposed amendment will be to put the responsibility on the Government through the Minister.” Money Problem ) Mr Savage also said that there would be important legislation dealing with finance. There were a number of public works and other Government activities which were all a question of money. Tho Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) had been going into this matter for some time, and when Parliament met he would be in a position largely to overcome the money problem. The Prime Minister said that he was not yet in a position to give details of the financial measures it was proposed to take. He knew there were all sorts of rumours about and that one suggestion was that there would be a compulsory loan. He could say quite definitely that that had not been discussed. The Mortgage Corporation Mr Savage went on to outline proposals which would bo introduced to assist the farmer and mortgagors generally. The proposals would involve legislation. For instance, tho Mortgage Corporation would ultimately be put back on a basis similar to the State Advances Department. There would also be legislation dealing with the position of farmer mortgagors. Under the proposals of the late Government the solution of the farmer’s difficulty had been postponed for five years, and in tho meantime the farmer had been put under supervision and control. The Labour Government’s way of dealing with the problem was to commence with its solution at the earliest possible moment. The question of mortgages and the question of guaranteed prices would be dealt-with on the same basis of valuation. It was the Government’s aim to provide for the average man working under average conditions. "The man who cannot work under that basis,” said Mr Savage, ‘‘is in the wrong job, and tho man who has lent money above that basis is also in the wrong job. It is only the average man working under average conditions that can be taken into consideration. We are not legislating for the scientist or the man who does not know his job, but for the average farmer. In the past the fanner has been asking for labour. Our objective is to make it possible for the farmer to have the labour he requires and to be able to provide reasonable conditions for that labour, ‘‘Wo cannot guarantee the farmers anything unless the people have tho money to sustain those guarantees. There is nobody left out iu that picture. There are some people who say: ‘You are helping these people at our expense.’ Although w T e cannot do everything in the same day, the peoplo may rest assured that it will be done rapidly, and we are not going to help anybody at the expense of others.” Increased Pensions. Tho Prime Minister went on to say that legislation dealing with pensions would be introduced during the coming session, and under this they were hopeful of being able to make considerable additions to the incomes of pensioners. That would be a stepping stone to a universal system of superannuation. ‘‘The average person who is entitled to superannuation to-day," said Mr Savage, ‘‘ha 3 got a gqojl idea Ms