LABOUR POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22094, 27 April 1935, Page 11

LABOUR POLICY

NEW SOUTH WALES AID FOR UNEMPLOYED MR. LANG'S INTENTIONS PROGRAMME OUTLINED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 26. 11.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 20 The Leader of the New South Wales Labour Opposition, Mr. J. T. Lang, delivered a policy speech at Auburn this evening. He said iha't as many thousands of unemployed would have to depend upon the Government for relief for a .long time, his party, if returned, would replace the existing dole ticket system with cash payments direct from the unemployment relief fund. These payments, isaid Mr. Lfing, would be supplemented by special taxation, and an effort would be made to increase the payments to relief workers by 50 per cent. . An attempt would bi3 made to shorten the working week in those industries which were not affected by inter-State competition, and influence would he brought to bear on the Commonwealth Government to embark upon a nationwide scientific scheme of unemployment insurance.

Mr. Lang said his party would raise the school leaving ag;e from 14 to 16 years, making it the responsibility of the Government to see that all youths were established in suitable occupations. All attempts to revive immigration would be resisted until work and land had been found for the State's own people. Labour would attack seriously the problem of increasing the home market for primary products. It might even be possible to use milk instead of water for making bread. Labour would break *

up large estates which were holding back the country towns. Country centres for slaughtering stock for human consumption would be established, which would break the grip of vested interests on the meat trade.

Owners of property and homes would receive protection from a moratorium which would entirely preclude loreclosure, and measures would be introduced for writing down mortgage capital to present-day values. Mr. Lang gave a detailed list of the social service*; he intended to provide for widows and the poor. He indicated that he intended, if returned, to legalise betting shops. He proposed also to ;ask the people by referendum to decide the fate of the tipper House, alternatively whether it should be reformed and made an elective chamber.