The Press WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1938. Points of National Policy

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 10

The Press WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1938. Points of National Policy

The National Party manifesto, which we reviewed generally yesterday, has the merit of a full statement of principles and aims, with an outline of the major measures by which it is proposed to fulfil' them. It has also the merit of being abundantly sown with short, plain promises of useful reforms and advances, which can be appreciated without reference to the organic social and political theory of the manifesto, though they are, of course, in complete harmony with it. It is worth while to draw attention to some of these promises, because their significance is great, few and simple as are the words into which it is packed. For example, one of the problems of rural life in the Dominion is attacked in the statements that particular attention will be given to the provision of homes for farm and other country workers and that the proper housing of married couples on small farms will be facilitated. Under the heading of taxation appear the statements that the gold export tax will be removed an injurious tax, which has been the subject of many protests—that petrol tax will be reduced by at least a penny, that domestic servants will be exempt from wages tax, and that the radio licence fee will be brought down from 25s to 15s. In the section dealing with New Zealand manufacturing may be noted a promise to legislate for the clear branding of imported goods with the name of the country of origin, to give the maximum preference to Dominion manufactures in the purchase of government stores, and to encourage schemes of profit-sharing, co-partnership, etc., in industry. In the industrial field,, again, appear promises to revise the legislation governing the employment of youths and girls, to simplify Arbitration Court procedure, and to set up, for that purpose, an industrial magistracy. We referred yesterday to the plan of lending newly married couples £ 100 to help them to establish themselves in their homes, the capital debt to be reduced on the birth of their first child and the second and extinguished on the birth of a third. The National Party also promises to raise the family allowance, to grant free maternity services, and to encourage and assist immigration: these are three other attempts to deal with New Zealand's serious population problem. Finally, there is the briefly stated but highly important pledge to restore the right of appeal to the Court, where recent legislation has vested in Ministers the power of absolute and final decision. Tha value -of the few sentences in which these assurances are expressed should not be lost upon- the electors.