LABOUR'S PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 8

LABOUR'S PLAN

COMING SESSION FINANCE LEGISLATION CONDITIONS OF WORKERS BENEFITS FOR PENSIONERS [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday Important features of the policy measures which will be submitted «to Parliament during the session to open next month were outlined to-day by tho Prime Minister, Mr. Savage. The main proposals are:— Extension of the rights of workers under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Amendments to the Railways Act to place responsibility for the prosecution of railway undertakings on the Government, instead of the Railways Board. Financial proposals which, according to the Prime Minister, will largely overcome the monetary difficulties. Overhaul of the mortgage legislation, with particular reference to farmers' finance, and a vital alteration in the control of the Mortgage Corporation. Increased benefits to pensioners as a stepping-stone to a universal system of superannuation. Legislation providing for the shortening of working hours. Tho 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 was to receive the immediate attention of the Government. Arbitration Amendments Mr. Savage said legislation would be introduced making amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act with the object of restoring facilities which the workers previously enjoyed under the Act. 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. Amendments would also be made to the Government Railways Act —which provided for the establishment erf the Railways Board —to enable the Government to proceed, if it thought fit, with uncompleted railway lines. "Under 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 the board, and the Minister is more or less a cipher. The result of the proposed amendment will be to put the responsibility on the Government through the Minister. No Compulsory Loan Mr. Savage said 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. The 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 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 one suggestion was that there would be a compulsory loan. He could say quite definitely that that had not been discussed. Legislation dealing with pensions would be introduced during the session, and under this they were hopeful of being able to make considerable additions to 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, "has a good idea of his income while he is employed, and he knows exactly how much he is going to get when he reaches his retiring age. The Government wants every citizen to be in the same position." Shorter Working Hours Mr. Savage also announced that legislation providing for the shortening of working hours would be introduced. The present was the machine age, he said, and the only way to avoid hardship as a result of the march of science w r as to reduce hours of labour. The provision of a national health service was also receiving the close attention of the Government, which was in consultation with medical men, many of whom were 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 dono during the coming session. "However, we are not going to wait for things to happen or to come to us," said Mr. Savage. "We 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 The question of unemployment would receive immediate attention. It was not necessary to wait for legislation to do that, as tho present Unemployment Act gave tho 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 Government did not intend to leave relief workers under the Unemployment Act as it was to-day. It looked forward to tho time when such an Act would not bo necessary, and when every citizen would have the opportunity of taking part in the building of New Zealand. In conclusion, the Prime Minister said tho public could be assured that, when Parliament met next month, it would bo faced with legislation bearing 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 ment as rapidly as possible, so tHHie people would receive the benefits earliest possible moment.