LABOUR’S POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 280, 29 November 1935, Page 8

LABOUR’S POLICY

Immediate Plan of Action EXCHANGE AND GUARANTEED PRICES RESIUKiNG ARBITRATION COURT HAPPY CHRISTMAS FOR UNEMPLOYED L *_*• I‘ie*s Association. j AUCKLAND, Nov. 28. An cutline oi Labour s immediate plan oi action was given by dux. th. J. ba wage in an interview in uij qnmv 01 lbs nome at nerae May tins morning. ••ah early session of seems iikeiy/* Mr. bavage said, “x-arua- ; incut will be summoned as soon as it ' is necessary, beveiai matters wm require attention ammst at once, even if | lucre is no session tins year, x’itj*. | and foremost the unemployed can b-i assured of a nappy Vnnstmas. \«c want to help everyone who should be helped to nave the ordinary decencies and luxuries of the Christmas season to whicu everyone is entitled. We snail ensure that the necessary payments are made, and the restoration of the salary cuts will be undertaken at the earliest possible moment. I cannot say that tney will be restored on February 1, or on any other date, but the restoration win be made as speedily as possible and not tea years hence. Or course Parliamentary sane tion may be necessary to effect the restoration. ••it should also be understood that the Labour Government will be —acernea not only about the State employees. It has the interests of ad workers at heart, and wi.l make it possible fcr the workers to have their salaries and wages restored to a proper level. “Pensions will, of course, be restored at once, and here again Parliamentary sanction will be required. “Our job will be to employ men on public works of such a nature that when the work has been done and the money earned we shall have national assets to show for the expenditure. 1 cannut say whether the present Government’s £3 500,000 public works piograniine will be continued, as we shall have to draw up a schedule of work along the lines 1 have indicated. The Gr-bcrne railway will be completed and there will be an investigation for the South Island- Main Trunk line with a view to its completion. Per sonally, I &ee no reason why that line should not be completed. Most of the railways stopped by the past Government would be economi** propositions. We have nearly £6JM)O,OOO sunk iii uncompleted railways, and whatever we do the interest goes *’•«. “As soon as possible we shall begin a gradual reduction <•!’ the exchange. I realise full well that a sudden reduction or removal of the exchange would not be in the interests of the country. A rapid reduction would ruin business and industry, ami that is riot our intention. As the exchange is graduallr reduced guaranteed prices will be introduced as an alternative to I the exchange.

Banking Legislation any banking legislation in Labour's iirst session. lio»e%er, it may eventually be necessary to turn the Reserve Bank into a State institution, and if it is necessary to do so, ' shall not | hesitate. We’have the Reserve Bans, j and uur job is to make it a btale bank. Hud the lust Parliament been allowed to vote on the question free and unfettered, that is what would have happened, but Parliament was not given the opportunity.” Mr. ravage was asked whether there would be a standard rate fixed under 1 i ol _ antet dpi ices. He said it was wrong to assume that there would be a lixeu minimum and maximum. Hie system of guaranteed prices would be «ai tied o»1 on the basts o prices ruling the past eight or ten years, labour’s system would make it }n>ssible for any tanner to live coinlurtablv under the conditions as they might oe found to exi.-t. The basis ui I the scheme wour be worked out ou the same lines as the \ aluation Depart- | metit’s valuation of farm property. i Labour would at the very least restore the Arbitration Court’s former I powers. Mr. Ravage said be could see j no reason why the Arbitration Court should not speedily be made a greatly improved tribunal. The workers could depend upon effect being given to this without any delay. Mr. Savage said the interests of the ■ people wo i '1 be served first and last, j ‘•That is our job,” he said, “and nothin*' whatever will stand in our wav. 1 see i.o reason why all the people of New Zealand should not to j operate with us whole heartedly in the | duty we have to perforin, no do 1 an- , tictpate any obstruction.’’ Legislative Council Questioned regarding the Legislative | Council, Mr. Ravage lnal labour t had no immediate proposals. He did I not for a moment anticipate tiiat tne . Legislative Council would obstruct the} Labour Government in any way. Ol j course, it would not be allowed to obstruct the passage of necessary legu I lation, and he could only say tiiat inc : whole question of the Legislative < oun- , cii and its future was one to be dealt ■ with. Should any question arise with re gard to tne’ mandated territory of - ! Western {Samoa, Mr. bavage said he j wanted it to be fully understood that ■ every question arising concerning the {a moan people would be dealt with on humanitarian principles. “Vie want the JSamoans to be happy and contented. Our job is to see that they are dealt with fairly, so that their contentment will be assured, i anticipate that in .Samoa there will be notning ! but satisfaction so tar as our administration is concerned.” In answer to a question whether five-year-old children would be adinited to the State schools when the schools re-opened after the summer holidays, Mr. Ravage replied, ‘‘Abso--1 kdy. There is no question about that.” Discutsing the twelfth point in the labour manifesto, that the services of s»l ’Labour members w ill be co-opted

to obtain their full service in the shaping and administration of the law, Mr. Savage explained that all the Labour members best fitted to advise and help would have a part in the work of government. “For instance/’ Mr. {Savage said, “the Minister of Lands will have the co-operation of those members who have been elected to represent the farming constituencies, and this will apply in connection with every department of .State. We shall make the best use of the considerable ability at our disposal. It is not the intention of the Government to get in thj way. We are out to help. Co-operating With Government “Here 1 may say that the civil servants and officers of the State have nothing to fear from Labour. 1 have no reason to think that men who have cooperated with the Governments of the past will not co-operate with the labour Government in the future. We shall look to them for the same loyal support, and I believe that we shall get it. There is no reason to think otherwise. “ihe Agricultural (Emergency Powers) Act uas never appealed to me. 1 believe that what is lequired to be done should be carried out by the elected representatives of the people, and yon will find that Labour will shape its policy in accordance with that principle.” Mr. Savage said that the Mortgage Corporation would not be abolisned. It would be carried forward, but control ami direction would be on similar lines to those of the policy followed under the State Advances to Settlers and Workers. Labour’s intention, said Mr. {Savage, was to restore gradually the functions of Government to the people. The boards would gradually disappear. There would oe no suuden upset in this matter, as it was Labour's intention to make everything function smoothly. Asked whether it was Labour’s intention to appoint immediately new Government representatives ou the di-, rectorates and boards, Mr. .Savage said it was not a question of altering the individuals. There was no reason why any person should be removed because Labour had anything against any particular member who was appointed to any body to represent the Government. However, he would say dogmatically that every man representing the Government ou any body, or who held office in the capacity of a representative of the Government, would be required to represent faithfully the Government’s policy and intention. Broadcasting Policy. Discussing the broadcasting policy, Mr. Savage said that radical cuanges could be expected. For instance, it was Labour s intention ty “put Parliament on the air.” those who were interested would be entitled to listen to their elected representatives discussing the national auairs. “ihere is no reason why the people should be deprived of the ngut to hear what their representatives nave to say when they are discussing matters wuich vitally concern the people.’' Mr. Savage gave no details concerning what was proposed, but he said tuat all important questions when debated in Parliament would be broadcast. One of the duties of the Labour Government would be to restore tne three year Parliaments. I’his would definitely be done. Labour would not be concerned about tne length ox tne session. The Government would expect tne men who were elected to do the job to do that job, and Labour would introduce methods which would expedite the Parliamentary business, it would’not be Labour’s aim tu increase the cost of Government, but the functions of government would be fully carried out in the interests of the people. “ U’e will go on silting so long as there is a job to do, although we do not want anyone to get it into his head that he will have to go on sitting for all time,” Mr. Savage said. “V»e snail not observe the olu rule of meeting in the last week in June. There never was much to be said for that. We shall meet when we have public accounts. We shall not tolerate any delay because the Law Drafting Olnce has not got bills ready for us. If the Law Drafting Office is unable to prodine the bills the staff will be inc.cased so that the office will be able to function promptly and effectively. This point serves to indicate that the Labour Government will not be I hindered in its duty to the public by ! hindrance that can be remedied by I rummon-sense methods. My job is to serve the people, and 1 intend to do I my job.” First Things First Mr. Savage said it would be found that the Laoour Government would put lirst things lirst. They would not be found enjoying social occasions while people not privileged to take part were in dire distil-. That was not Labour's way. For that reason, Mr. {Savage said, he could not discuss matters of Labour’s policy with regard to social gatherings in connection with Parliamentary life. There were more important things to be done than to chat over teacups. Mr. Savage said that Labour would take an early opportunity of restoring rales and conditions to the workers, but no wild schemes would be entered upon. In so doing the people could depend on that. Mr. Savage will leave for Wellington ua Sunday night. REACTION OF MARKET NOT VERY PRONOUNCED BANK SHARES RECEDE [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 2SI The reaction of the markets on the Wellington block Exchange to-day to the change in the political situation caused by the general election was nut very pronounced except in the case of bank shares, which were definitely weaker. There was active trading in Government loans, but prices showed little change. A fairly substantial turnover of bank shares saw New Zealauds. recede by 3s 61 to 4Ss, buyers staying 4n at that price. National of New Zealand sold at 75s and 74s 6d, a decline of Is to Is 6d. from the high point of Tuesday, and more were wanted at the latter figure. Reserve Banks which ha*.e been selling to-day at £G 5s to £(> 5s (id, fell back to £5 15s, sellers wanting £6 1»,