AFTER THE WAR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32308, 3 September 1943, Page 4

AFTER THE WAR

£100,000,000 NEEDED INDEPENDENT POLICY ADDRESS AT WAITAKARURU Owing to the unfortunate illness of the candidate standing for the Independent Group in the Hauraki electorate, Mr Harry Head, the meeting which was held in the Waitakaruru Hall on Tuesday, August 31, was addressed by Sgt. J. T. Donovan, D.O.M. In his opening remarks Bgt. Donovan said that it was difficult to speak for another Independent as each man held his own ideas and would abide by them. The position was that a group of men who considered that both the leading parties, lacked strong leaders had got together and had made up a platform which neither side had considered. He said that this group had not the money to spend on the campaign which was so freely being spent by the others, both in the press and on the radio.

The platform included the taperingoff of war taxation after the war, the surplus to go to national reconstruction schemes. Cost of living standards to form basis for wages pensions and other benefits.

Special provisions for returned men including a £5O mufti allowance, one month’s rest on full standards of living pay and maintenance of this pay until employment is secured, were suggested as well as the establishment of war services compensation courts. Wages scales would' be adjusted to provide for fair standards of living in accordance with size of family. The group urged that advisory councils be established to meet and settle problems of primary and other industries, and to provide Parliament with expert and technical advice. A 2'5 per cent, reduction in Parliamentary members was also one of the proposals of the group. The civil servant shall be paid the standard of living wage, have access to the arbitration court, and be as free and fairly treated as their counterparts in industry, said Sgt. Donovan.

A total of £loio,ooo,ooio is estimated by the group to be necessary for the first year following the end of the war, during which primary and industrial production would be assisted in the conversion to peacetime needs. Industry would be expanded and newj. ones, commended, particularly those J utilising natural resources such as plastics, cellulose and farm and agricultural products. Sgt. Donovan was given an attentive hearing. He is a speaker of unusual ability and Mr Head is fortunate in having him to deputise for him. A vote of thanks was accorded him which was carried by acclamation.