THE WORKERS POLITICAL COMMITTEE'S PLATFORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 13

THE WORKERS POLITICAL COMMITTEE'S PLATFORM.

The Workcra' Political Committee met on the evening of the 6-h, Mr R. Slater, the president-, being in the chair. The political platform was again considered. It was evenlutlly decided- to submit the following to the various > organisations throughout the colony as the suggested platform for the Labour party for the whole colony :—: — REFORMS ALREADY ATTAINED AND TO BE '• ADUERRD TO. I. The s>ecurfag of voting power to every adult. Qualification : Residential, fiix months in the colony aad three montba in electoral district 2.'lhe securing of a stringent corrupt practices Jaw with a clause providing for all accounts paid j by caudMates or their ageuta being filed with the registrar of election?, candidates to make statutory, declaration that there are no other liabilities. 3. Securing of qompulaory arbitration. ELUCrORAL REFORM. 1. The securing of voting power to every adult householder in" municipal elections, and the abolition of plurul voting. 2. The election of all local boards ; said boards to be elected annually on the same franchise as for parliamentary elections. 3.'The fixing of a specified day on the occasion of genmal elections; said day to be declardd a public holiday and nil hotel* to be closed. EDUCATIONAL REX'ORM. 1. ■ Free and secular education from primary schools to the university. 2/C'o.t.pulsory education up to the age of 14 years ; pupils passing the Sixth Standard before attaining that age excented. 3. The Ofenins'of th<- High Schools only' to 4 those who .pass the Sixth Standard and to holders of junior scholarships; said scholarships to be increased in number. 4. The placing of all educational endowments under the control of the Minister for Education. 5." One universal pet of standards and one set of ich< ol books for the colony; such book's to be issued at cost price, «nd printed in the Government •PrinHn* Office, or in any private office working under trades union rules. LABOUR RKPORSI. I.' The finding of work W the State for those Who cannot obtain it for themselvts; such work to be done on the co-operative' principle where practicable. \ • 2. Th'i extension and strengthening of th« Labour, Bureau to meet the requirements of all classes of the community. 3. The curtailing of the hours of labour by statute "until every member .of the community can be employed. 4. The statutory prohibition of foreign labour under contract. 5.-'i he r<-peal of all conspiracy laws relating to industrial disputes. SOCrAL REFORM. 1. State ownership, under direct Ministerial control, of jand, railways, mines, and coastal marine service. 2. The creation of an old age pension fund by means of a direct and special progressive land and income tax. j 3. The establishment of a State bank with a monopoly of paper money. 4 An elective Governor. 5. The aboliti m of the Upper House. 6. The Referendum with the initiative in the hands of the people. 7.' That clause 3 ef the Licensing "Act, requiring one-half of the electors to go ta the poll before the poll i* valid, be repealed. That a p»ll be taken periodically in all licensing districts for the purpose of deciding whether existing licenses (>f any) shall be renewed or not, and if a majority of votes be cant against their renewal all hotel, club, grocer, bottle, wholesale, and brewetB 1 licenses shall ceaie to exist in- such districts for which auch poll has been taken. No compensation to be given. AH persons on.the parlumentary roll to be qualified to vote. That provision be made in the Licansing Act for a national prohibition vote. S. The' establishment of State fire insurance *

9. The curtailment by the State of the individual acquisition of wealth, either by a progressive wealth tax, a progressive probate duty, or by -direct legislation. • 10. The abolition of special and grand Juries, and payment to jarors of 10s per day when sitting or in attendance at civil or criminal sessions and corosers' inqueßts. IJ. The exemption from taxation of all buildings in boroughs, and the levying of taxation on land only, according to value, whether built upon ornot. 12. The abolition of compulsory benefit gocietiet end insurance schemes upon employees. R. Slater, Chairman.

Over 10,700 persons are employed in the ■aills established by the S»lT»fcion Army ia the tfoßte££t&fet. ~