STATE COMPETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 11

STATE COMPETITION.

LABOUR PARTY PROGRAMME. CEMENT AND BRICK WORKS. MR. OSBORNE AT MILFORD. The Labour platform was expounded to a meeting last evening at the Bridgeway Theatre, Milford, by Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour candidate for Waitemata. Mr, J. D. Morison, Mayor of Takapuna, presided and about 100 persons were present. The candidate, described the policy of his party as a sincere attempt to uplift the masses of the people by a programme of legislation, which he claimed was practicable. Personalities, he undertook, would be avoided throughout his campaign. The Labour Party represented the interests of all the useful people of the Dominion, as distinguished from the large landowners, financial institutions and vested interests. The average worker, whether with muscle or with brain, was not receiving the share to which he was entitled of the products of the community. The policy of the future should aim at the elevation of the " bottom dog." No worker could bring up a family in decency upon the present basic wage and give his children the education and environment which ought to be theirs. The taxation arrangements of last year had given back to the wealthy taxpayers £3,000,(XX) in reduced land and income tax, and placed a corresponding sum on the shoulders of consumers, through the customs, thus making it plain who was paying for the war. Having given reasons for his support of proportional representation and of the popular initiative, referendum, and recall in legislative matters, the candidate pinned his faith to the present education systein, which, however, should be madefree in its university stage. The medical service of the country ought, in his judgment, be nationalised. At present only £5 out of every £IGO of annual revenue was spent on the health of the people, as against £33 spent on payment for past wars or preparation for future wars. Mr. Osborne supported the motherhood endowment scheme of his party, and strongly asserted his opposition to the establishment of private wards in public hospitals. Ihe Government was failing to grapple effectively with the housing situation and the Labour Party was pledged lo secure for the people decent housing conditions. Until this was done the immigration system as now carried on should cease. The only object aimed at by the Government in regard to it was, be believed, the flooding of an already overcrowded labour market. One means by which Labour would improve the housing svstem would be the abolition of the calling of land agent and the transfer of all land agency to a State department. To cheapen "houses it would utilise the Frankton bouse factory for mass production and establish other mills of its kind in different parts of the country, at the same time providing State cement works and brick yards and competing with merchants in the provision of the internal fittings of dwellings. Condemning the freehold tenure as making for a demoralising orgie of speculation in land, the candidate promised a more detailed exposition of his land tenure platform on another occasion. With regard to the issues in the election, Mr. Osborne claimed there was no fundamental difference between the Reform and the Liberal Parties, therefore the only course open to the opponents of Reform was to vote for Labour, the only j party really interested in the welfare of | the people. Another address was given by Mr. F, i X. Bartram, M.P. for Grey Lynn, who bespoke support for Mr. Osborne as representative of "international labour the wide world over," A vote of thanks and confidence was given to the candidate.