Planks in the Platform of the Reform Party.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1301, 2 December 1911, Page 17

Planks in the Platform of the Reform Party.

> . ' ; ■ : ' ■ FINANCE. (1) REFORM of the financial system of the Dominion,, by instituting a thorough investigation into'the Dominion's finances with a view to keeping borrowing wiihin reasonable bounds, and of preventing wasteful.expenditure. | (2) REFORM of the fiscal system of the Dominion, by reducing taxation wherever possible, in order to lessen the > cost of living. . LAND. . i j (3) REFORM of the Land system of the Domiaioa. f (a) By giving all facilities possible to man of SSOaQ ? ( capital to get on the land by means of theleasa- ( hold, as a stepping-stone to the freehold if they ■ \ so. desire it. I (b) By giving the option of the freehold to lessees S .of Crown lands on. L.I.P. at the original value, f plus the difference between the rental on O.E.P. y and L.I.P. I By guying the option of freehold to lessees of I settlement , land on L.I.P. at the original value. * (d) By providing for limitation of area to effectually. * prevent aggregation. \ (e) By providing for the payment of the jrarchfise 5 money in instalments, if so desired by the leasee. X (f) By provding that the money derived from tho V Ba ] o 0 f the freehold be utilised for the acquisition \ of further land for settlement.

NATIVE LANDS. " (4) REFORM of the Native Land legislation: (a) By a determined and sustained effort' to eerttlo • the. Native land. question; '(b) By the rapid individualisationof Native,land wherever possible. (o) By affording to the Native raca tEo lege of disposing under piopsr safeguards of such portions of their land as - are not required for their personal boo. (d) By making provision, against ilw erestiott rflarge holdings. (a) By promoting'legislation fcrring.for;jts ultimate «;» ilm placing oi the Natives ' in the eamo | pogition as the EuiopeaM, with-the same: . leges and responsibilities. . . LEGISLATIYE COUNCIL. (5) REFORM of the Legislative Council : by replacing the present nominative Council by one elected r on the same : franchise as the. House of Representatives,; on the propor- • tional system of-voting in larger electorates. . CIYIL BEBYICE. (6) REFORM of the Cbil Service. (a) By improving the conditions governing .the employment of Civil Servants. (b) By. eliminatiiig. political infliience and; patroaage..

j Jo) By providing that: all appointments and pro- I motion shall bo made and regulated by a Board t ■ responsible directly to Parliament, and abso- j lately free from Ministerial control. j '(d) By granting to the Civil Servants the right of } appeal to a competent tribunal from a decision ( of the Board. j LOCAL GOVERNMENT, (7)REFORM of local government in the rural districts ] of tbo Dominion, by giving extended powers and assured ) fiuaßoß, thna making it unnecessary for them to depend, to I the ssmo extent. aa at present, on the wasteful and un satis- I factory oysrtem of Parliamentary grants for public works. j / (8) REFORM .of the : municipal legislation of tho |j ' Dominion, by. promoting a town-planning scheme, to meet the / -future requirements.of the towns of the Dominion. i INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION. (9) REFORM of the Old Age Pensions Act, by making j the qualifying age for the pension for women sixty yoars, j instead of sixty-five.; J (10) REFORM ef thVindustrial system of the Dominion j | by promoting legislation in favour of oompnlsory insurance ] Against sickness and unemployment, j (11) REFORM of .&» economic system of the Dominion, in the direction of promoting industrial peace, and restoring I j jmhlic confidence, in onier to enc»urage local indmtnes. j