Labour Party Aims To Retain Stable Price Level

Chronicle (Levin), 2 November 1949, Page 4

Labour Party Aims To Retain Stable Price Level

Labour holds firmly to the principle of redistributing the national income as a vital factor in promoting the general welfare. This policy is laid down in the New Zealand # Labour Party's election manifesto, issued today. Other main points are:

A (1) Retention of subsidies to | keep down costs of specified es-! sential items of food, clothing, and * fuel. . (2) Provision of homes at reasonable rental for aged people, and raising permissible additional income from £1 to 30s a week, as from January 1, for all social security teneficiaries. (3) Specified medical benefits to operate soon, and dental benefits " to bb brought in within three years. | (4) High depreciation allow- 1 ances, where new plant' is being installed, to be continued for incorqe tax purposes. (5) Building controls to be pro- ' gressiyely relaxed, with' homes still having priority. Loans for home-builders to be granted fori up to 90 per cent of cost (maximum loan £1500) , -interest at 3^ per cent, but greater loans in special approved cases. !

(6) Housing loans to ex-service-men (now £1500) to be inpreased In special circuipstances. (7) Safeguarding of Pool Accounts for benefit of priniary in-| •dustries, and the continuation of the guaranteed price. ' , (8) Maintenance of fair rents and low interest rates. (9) Retention of import control and selection with preference to Britaip to ensure full employment. (10) Price control to stay to mipimise effects of overseas increases on cost of -living in New Zealand and ensure fair profit margins to traders. (11) Kindergarten system to be greiatly extended. and other educational facilities to be expanded. (12) P'revention of land speculatiop and aggregation an-d of inflation of land values.

(13) Adequate overseas exchange to be available for the purchase of plant, machinery, and raw materials by manufacturers. (14) Greater opportunities to be provided for small business owners and others working on their own account. (15) Adequate and up-to-date defences to be maintained for the protection of New Zealand's terrilorial integrity and her vital interests in the South Pacific. "Full. employment, the right of everyone to a job, is assured un'der Labour," says the manifesto. "The maintenance of the workers' purchasing power and increased rewards for higher production are sure only so* long as Labour remains the Government." The manifesto jsays that Labour recognises the part played by all foi-ms of enterprise — personai, cooDerative. local body. and State —

towards production, and affirms t'hat the proper balance must be determined by , the test of the greatest contribution to the welfare of the people. The intention of Labour, qf returned to office, to' maintain the 40-hour week and holidays with pay is emphasised in the ma?'" festo, which states tha.t Labc will encourage trade unions to fui A ther the legitimate industrial interests of the workers. Methods of arbitration for the settlement of industrial issues will be upheld for the benefit of all the workers and New Zealand as a whole. A higher standard of health, safety, and welfare for industrial workers will be promoted, and occupational training facilities to -disabled civilians will be extended.