FOR A BETTER, GREATER N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 84, 6 November 1939, Page 4

FOR A BETTER, GREATER N.Z.

Sir—Now that the Government is : j ; assuming (by the Reserve Bank I - Amendment Act) an absolute financial control, I believe the time Is : : opportune to initiate a new,-.popu- • lar, very progressive Dominion pos icy, including the following measures, which I feel sure would greeted and supported most istically by n big majority of 5 New Zealand electors:— I 1. Fix the exchange rate t don linally and irrevocably ; thus greatly pleasing our best 3 tomer, and showing that after a long t and unwarranted delay we now honr estly intend to carry out both the letter and the spirit of our agreement made at Otlawa. 2. Abolish the sales tax on all ne» cessities. 3. No customs duties on any neceS si ties under £20 in net value in country of origin, provided the goods are imported directly by the ulti-r mate user,, and are not to be resold?-' ' as articles of commerce for a profit ' within 12 months from date of land- | ing. This would enable the New* Zealand public to obtain the maxi-. mum variety, service, and value instead of being forced to buy inferior. unsuitable, and dearer goods, or else go without. It would also Ije the sure and iinal means to weetl ont uneconomic New Zealand Indus-, tries, and prevent all possibility of profiteering and exploitation in any form whatever. 4. Repeal the Gaming Act, 1908, and substitute a very liberal law internally, but still prohibit the remittance of money to overseas lotteries. Book-making under strict State supervision would be licensed, and totalisator taxes reduced to 5 per cent gross. At long last the bettors would get here the same justice as in England. 5. Liberally reduce all rail charges for distances under 25 miles. 6. Restore letter postage to Id for each loz inland, including Niue, Cook Islands, and Western Samoa, and for each %oz to all overseas ountries; air mail at double these respective rates. 7. Cease all unproductive public works, except those urgently requir- > ed for internal New Zealand defence 8. Universal military and industrial service by all fit and partially fit men from 18 to 60 inclusive, soleT y for the internal defence of New Zealand against a possible invasion # 9. Abolish all unemployed workers as a victimised, minority class v with incomers far below the average, by equal rationing of all the work in each occupation, so that every worker (male or female) over 21 and under 60 would be steadily and permanently employed at his or her own trade. Favouritism, penalties, or exclusion by employers would be illegal, except for hopeless incomnetence or insubordination. In at least 30 towns an expert, honest, and st rictly impartial tribunal for each occupation could consider and adjust grievances promptly and also do its utmost to iricrease the efficiency of its trade both locally and nationally. i 10. All important national issues, 'political and industrial, to be decided. by a compulsory, secret, postal ballot of the entire electors. Nothing would be left in doubt, . in peace or war, as to the real of New Zealand current publftf opinion. This is 100 per cent democracy, the kind we would all be keen to live for. Hoping this new political and industrial policy in its entirety is soon adopted, so that New Zealand will rapidly become a great nation* and fit, a shining example once more to the world of what democratic efficiency and progress at their best really are. Yours etc., , LEAD ON, N.Z.