PEERS AND PEOPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14237, 7 December 1909, Page 5

PEERS AND PEOPLE.

WHO ABE TO RULE? LABOUR PARTY'S AIMS. " DOWN WITH PRIVILEGE." THE LAND QUESTION. ✓ ABOLISHING PAUPERISM. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received December 6. 10. p.m.) London, December 6. The Labour party issued its election manifesto to-day. The great question, it says, is whether the peers or the people are to rule. The party welcomed the opportunity that was now to be afforded of proving that the feudal age was past, and that the people were no longer willing- to live on the sufferance of the Lords. " The present system of land ownership," the manifesto continues, "has devastated the countryside, imposed heavy burdens on industries, cramped the development of towns, crippled capital, and impoverished labour. " The experience, of four years has demonstrated the value of the Labour party acting independently. The right to work has still to be won, but is now within the range of practical politics. - The poor law must be broken up, and pauperism abolished, old age pensions extended, and increased on the present non-contributory basis, and the franchise restrictions, including the sex bar, must be swept away." The manifesto concludes : " The working and middle classes arc still overburdened with rates and taxes. Vote for Labour candidates, land for the people, and wealth for the wealth producers. Down with privilege, up with the people!"