NEW ZEALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17657, 21 June 1919, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

PROPOSED POLITICAL PLATFORM. (Fuou Oun Own Corbkspondbnt.) WELLINGTON. June 19. Tho proposed political platform of the' New Zealand Welfare League, prepared for submission to a conforonce of delegates, was announced to-day as follows: — Health of the People.—(a) A schemo uuder expert and competent control for the provision by tho Stato, in association with local authorities, of adequate hygionio housing accommodation at reasonable rentals, with encouragement to tenants to aoquiro tho froohold of their homes; (b) greater attention, through education boards and school authorities, to tho health and physical well-being of children; (c) a complete reorganisation of the scheme of controlling publio health, under which tho spheres of activity of tho central board and of local authorities will bo clearly defined, and tho making of definito and adequate provision for coping with unexpected epidemics; (d) freo maternity homes; (e) State •nurseries for destitute children. Tho Repatriation of Soldiers and their Absorption into National Activities.—(a) Liberal and careful provision to give them a fair start in life, with special care for tho _ welfare of maimed and incapacitated soldiers; (b) a moro prompt odrriinistration of the existing provisions for settling and pecuniarily assisting soldiers to settle on tho land. . Education.—(a) A complete reorganisation of tho system of education in tho direction of equipping children for everyday life, with greater attention to qualifying them for technical and practical pursuits, and with increased encouragement, by scholarships and bursaries, for children who show aptitude for. technical pursuits; '(b) greater co-ordination of the secondary schools and university colleges with the primary system of national education and encouragement to adults engaged in active life to take advantage of the educational advantages of secondary schools and university colleges; (o) increase of the salaries and betterment of tho conditions of publio school teachers. Employor and Employee.—(a) In view of the failure of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act to settle' industrial disputes, an entire reconsideration of the method, of settling such disputes, with a view to their moro expeditious settlement, with special consideration to the adjustment. of disputes either by committees on the lines of the Whitley Commission or by an industrial parliament on the lines of _Mr Sparkes's scheme; (b) laws which, while recognising the rights of Labour to combine to further its interests, will discourage strikes and "direct action," and impose effective limitations on the right to strike in all occupations involving great public conveniences, and to enforce the laws in this respect; (o) provision for tho representation of consumers on any body entrusted with the settlement of industrial disputes; (e) as far as possible to abolish casual employment and the waste of efficiency thereby involved; (f) the amendment of tho National Annuities Act #by making provision for Government assistance to the pension funds of employers, publio authorities, and bona fide friendly societies. Encouragement of Production. — (a) Greater interest by the Government in the development of the industries of the dominion by the careful revisiop from time to time of tho laws affecting commerce, by assistance through the High Commissioner in extending and making known markets for our products, and by the establishment of a" department of commerce or a Government bureau designed to facilitate trade and afford information to merchants and commercial men; (b) special encouragement of manufacturing industries which utilise our raw materials and products. Settlement of Land—(a) The enforcement of the existing laws against aggregation by a small department entrusted with that duty; (b) a reorganisation of the Land Department by providing competent experts in practical farming and agriculture, and in tho "making of country" in the departments controlling the purchase and subdivision of land for settlement; (c) a vigorous prosecution of the policy of acquiring large estates for subdivision; (d) encouragement to small farmers to form incorporated combinations for the purchase of land and the making of advances by the State to individual mem bers guaranteed by the combination, and careful investigation into the expediency of establishing some system either for agricultural, banks qr through the State for providing reasonable financial advances to small farmers on the security of and in anticipation of their growing crops or products. Cost of Living.—(a) The establishment of a Board of Trade with more extensive powers, whose duty will be to watch'the operations of trusts, rings, and combinations, and conditions which tend to increase the cost of living, and in the case of articles of necessity to examine the books of traders, whether wholesale or retail, and advise the Government thereon for remedial purposes and_ the prompt publication of their investigations, the evidence taken by them, and their reports- (b) constant and close attention to fuel, power, and transportation, with ample powers of investigation and control to secure that the public shall have efficient services at reasonable prices. . Publio Words and Roads.—(a) The completion of railways partly constructed so that they may be rendered profit-earning; (b) the energetic completion of hydro-electric power schemes; (o) a more satisfactory scheme for the construction and maintenance of important main arterial roads; (d) to promote the creation of larger local authorities for'' economical administration, and to prevent the undue subdivision under existing laws of the areas of local authorities. Parliamentary.—(a) The abolition of the wasteful and inefficient system of triennial parliaments and the substitution' therefor of quinquennial parliaments; (b) larger, constituencies, returning each several members by a system of preferential voting; (c) reform of the Upper House on an elective basis; (d) provision for the admission to the Cabinet or to office in the Government of men having special or expert knowledge in any particular subject for the time being dealt with, although not members of the House. Immigration.—Encouragement of suitable immigrants by free or assisted passages. Old-age Pensions.—The reoeal of the provisions providing for the reduction of pensions because of savings or earnings. The league does not desire to influence its members in their views upon the liquor question..