UNITY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 8

UNITY CONGRESS.

COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS. A STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN, An interesting statpmont, cinliodying jji'opo.ials lo )ju siibmitLcil to dolejalos to tlio I'nit.v l.iil;uur Congress, lias bran issued by -Mr. \V. T. Yoiiiir, chnirmnu ol' tlio Unity Committee. 'I'lio committco lias for soino lime past been drafting llicse iiruiiosals, ami tlioy cover a wiile lield. The constitution of the Social J)pnmcrauc t'arly, a.s drafted by tho Unity Committee, coineides in its platform witii that ol Iho United Labunr l'arty and the old New Zealand Labour l'art,v, and many of the clauses are almost identical, states Air. Young. Tho-Social Democratic Parly propose a leduction ol' tho residential (funluicalioii lor old-age pensions; and lo meet tlio yicivs «f Ao-License sujiporters aro nialiing provision that the Ijare majority vote shall rule.

"On_ tlio question of defence," states Mr. Young, "it may bo noted that the Kocial Democratic Party is the lirst to propound a delonce policy—to have that plank in its platform. The Social Democratic Party proposed lo abolish the present inadequate Dcfcnco Act and substitute a national defence scheme that shall be met by a citizen army on n voluntary basis, with regular standard wages for all services, provided that tho troops shall never bo used ill industrial disputes. "On the question of measures for international peace, provision is made -for a yearly agreement between the Powers, for the reduction of military and naval expenditure, with the ultimate disarmament of nations always in view." Air. Young outlines the committee's proposals with regard to unemployment, as under:— "We make provision for a right-to-work Bill, and by that givo to Labour tho right lo demand employment. Tliereforo there is no necessity to include in tho party's platform provision for unemployment insurance, for, with the above, there will bo no unemployed, further, we provide for a minimum wage, and maximum hours of six per day, a weekly duv of rest, and tlio .Saturday half-holiday.

"I'ho question of Arbitration in all cases alt'ecls strikes, and workers under the Act, and it is provided that.the Act shall be amended so as to revert to tlio position occupied by statute prior to the passing ot' tho Arbitration Amendment Act of 1005. It is to be further amended so as to protect the right of industrial unions to bo registered or not as the .organisation itself may determine. But it shall not be lawful for any workers in any district doing work similar to that performed by an already existing union in that district to combine to form another union." Provision is made for the endowment of motherhood, maternity care, and infant life protection, for freo hospitals, free medical aid, pensions for wi(k>ws, orphans, etc. i'lirther, Mr. l'oung states;

"An addition of 2d., it is provided, shall be laid on tho tax of unimproved laud, without exception, and tho unimproved land value taxed shall bo increased cacli year bv tho amount added each year to the unimproved value of land, the. revenue so raised to bo used to reduce the cost of living by tho reduction- of Customs taxation on the necessaries of'life not produced in JJew Zealand; hlso, to be used to reduce railway freights and fares, and generally carry out tho policy of the Social Democratic Parly. "Provision is also to be made for homes and improved farms as going concerns for nil applicants who will undertake annual payments of 5 per cent, on unimproved land values with triennial revaluations, and will advance, in cash one-fifth. of the valuo of tho stock, tools, and improvements, and will further undertake to pay G per cent, per annum on tho unpaid balance for a period of twenty years, at iho termination of which tinio the principal sum shall l>e cancelled as paid." Other matters dealt with in the proposals are the establishment of Stateowned ships, and a State-owned bank; reduction of newspaper postage cost; amendment of the Arbitration Act; Labour Department to be a commission; Civil Servants' rights, etc.