LABOUR MANIFESTO

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1931, Page 4

LABOUR MANIFESTO

j TO WIPE OUT DEBTS. (United Press Association— By Electric? Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, October 9. The official Opposition lias issued a manifesto, signed by Messrs A. Henderson, J. R. Clynes and W. Graham. Jt states that the fall of the Labour Government was due to tne clamour of the bankers and financiers, and that the National Government has been installed in ouler to wrest I from Parliament the authority to satisfy them. The Labour Party proposes to call an international conference to arrive at a concerted monetary policy and also an immediate International Conference to cancel war jlebts and reparations and to bring about disarmament. “The hanking and credit system ot the country cannot longer be left in private hands,’.’ the manifesto says, “and it is necessary to form a national Investment Board, with the power to control domestic and foreign investments. The Labour Party has no confidence in tariffs. Ibe Capitalist system has broken down. It fails to give employment to millions of willing workers and accumulate vast stocks of commodities. Socialism provides the only solution for such evils. Import boards must be created for foodstuffs, raw materials and manufactures, with the power to regulate purchases, consumers . being protected by effective regulation of prices, Land, must also be publicly owned and controlled in order that agriculture can be made prosperous. “Given a majority, the Labour Party pledges itself to unsparing efforts to remove the spectres of want and insecurity from the homes of the people.” The Independent Labour Party manifesto is signed bv Mr A. Fenner Brockway. It consists that the present economic system ha® broken down and that industry, finance, trade and agriculture are collapsing the world over. It is futile to reform decaying Capitalism; the nation must find new life in creating Socialism, which will take control of the whole economic life of the country. The tyrannical and disastrous rule of the bankers must be ended. We have begun the final decisive struggle between Capitalism and Socialism.” LIBERAL MANIFESTO. LONDON, October 9. The Liberal Ministers’ manifesto declares that the' world-wide depression demands the highest statesmanship to prevent disasters of the greatest magnitude, and reiterates the statement that an election should not be held. It emphasises the duty of co-operating with the Prime Minister to maintain a stable, all-party Government and says that the vital need is the avoidance of the standard of living. International action, it dwdares, is to stabilise the currency, and to deal with waff debts, repnra-. tions and the lower tariff which are the chief cause of depression and unemployment. Free trade is the only basis of welfare for thei Empire and the world.