618 Remits For Labour Conference

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1942, Page 4

618 Remits For Labour Conference

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] WELLINGTON, This Day

Spread over a wide range of subjects, 618 remits have been sent in by affiliations for consideration by the 26th annual conference of the N.Z. Labour Party, to be held in Wellington commencing on Easter Monday, April 6, according to “The Standard,” the official organ of the N.Z. Labour movement.

This year the number of remits tabled is fewer than for several years The fact that a particular proposal is forwarded is no indication that it represents any phase of the party’s policy. Any branch having at least 10 members is entitled to submit remits, but until a remit is adopted by the conference it cannot form any part of the pai'ty’s policy. Social security and health are subjects in which, according to the remits, the affiliations are showing keen interest. Education is also well-covered and so are questions dealing with finance, housing, defence, peace and war.

Social Security Topics

Among some of the proposals to be discussed are: Repeal of universal superannuation to wealthy people and increased social security benefits to other beneficiaries. Family allowance to be increased to 6/- per child; cost of living bonus to social security beneficiaries. Payment of sick benefits when ill. irrespective of income; the raising of fees at private hospitals, the Government to consider increasing the number of medical practitioners from abroad: claims for fees being made by doctor to Government; doctors to come under war regulations; minimum of 7/6 for doctor’s fees; Government representatives on hospital boards; education board elections to be on the same basis as local body elections; increase grants to school committees; only parents of school children to be elected on school committees; abolition of corporal punishment.

Wartime Capital Levy

Another proposal is that there should be a levy of 10 per cent on all capital wealth until the termination of the war. Reports are to be asked for regarding army pensions for all members of the armed forces from date of entering until discharge in case of accident. The Finance Committee will deal with proposals that all monopolies should be either state or municipally owned; income tax to be paid on net wages only; incomes of £3OO and less to be free from income tax.

There is also a remit proposing the nationalisation of breweries and hotels.

Housing and rents remits include: Stabilisation of rents—a day’s pay to be the basis of rent; refusal of landlords to let houses to tenants with children; supervision of health conditions in fiats and rooms.