THE PEOPLE'S LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 277, 19 August 1919, Page 6

THE PEOPLE'S LEAGUE

NEW POLITICAL PARTY

OBJECTS OF ORGANISATION

OUTLINED

Uy Telegraph—Press Association

Christcliurch, August 18. A new ..political party, known ns the People' League, is being formed in Christchui'ch. ; A committee is engaged drawing up a programme As soon as this is completed a public meeting will be hold and branches formed throughout the Dominion. Two of the main movers in ihe league are Messrs. Andrew Fairbairn (who was a member of the Cost of Living Commission) and J. B. Strutliers. A statement of tne objects of the league sets out that it is an organisation of law-abiding citizens who Iwlieve in democratic constitutional government, and are opposed to secretly arranged action, inimical to public interests, designed by combinations in restraint of trade, profiteers, and strike orgauisens. The leaguo is established in the interests of all classes of labour, and is desirous of bripgilis about a better understanding between all sections of the community. 'Minimum wages," it says, "must not be subjected to commercial competition, and should go' liand-in-liaiid with the cost of living. They must provide for a reasonable standard of oomfort, but no artificial obstacles should be placed in the way of workers to improve their position in life. Incontrovertible evidence exists that war profiteering lias been operating with tho full knowledge of both tho Massey Government and the Coalition Government. Throigh their failure to gazette by Order-in-Council the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act, 1914, in its entirety, the people have been prevented from using tho law courts to obtain redress from profiteers." The longuo demands—(a) "That tho Regulation of Trade and Oonrnerce Act he gazetted in. its entirety, to cover all commodities, and 'ho mado retrospective to August 10, 1911." (b) "That all -profiteers within the meaning of the Act lie prosecuted, that all proved war profits be confiscated and paid to reduce the war debt, and that guilty parties be punished as provided for in section 14." Tho league demands that the present Board of Trade, which has proved itself incapablo of protecting tho people from profiteering, bo abolished, and a new board constituted with a competent personnel, concerned with the consumers' interests, the new board to have statutory powers to take evidence and compel ./subpoenaed ulitneEse.'s . to prodnce books and documents when investigations' are necessary. After advocating the reconstihition of chambers of commerce and giving them statutory powers to institute prosecutions for profiteering and breaches of the Weights, Food; ana Commercial Trusts Acts, and the licencing of all business, the statements proceeds: "The league pledges itself to uphold absolute freedom of trade within tho Dominion, and demands an amendment to tho Ctmimeycial Trusts Act preventing suppliers or combinations of trailers from fixing selling prices, with penal conditions,- and other methods practised for the purpose of, increasing the prices to tho public." In conclusion, tho league protests against the British Empire Order decorations being conferred .upon men who have not served outside New Zealand, and against the niggardly and unsympathetic treatment of soldiers who have served overseas. It advocates a sound system of defence, buit is against compulsory service in peace time.