THE PRESS HANK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 467, 14 August 1909, Page 3

THE PRESS HANK.

Still they come. Another publication has made its appearance, called the “Press Hank,” which is the mouthpiece of the Manawatu Flaxmills’ Employees’ Union of Workers, and for the present is to appear monthly. It supercedes the weekly column which was published by arrangement in this journal. The special contributors to the initial issue are Messrs A. W. Hogg and D. McLaren, M’s.P. Thefollowiug is the Press Hank’s credo ;

“Being the official organ of the Union it appears to us that a confession of political faith may be in order. ■ It will be borne in mind that though politics are not the primary aim of this sheet, we are of the opinion that a Union without a political platform is uow-a-days as valuable as a sailor without a knife. Being the mouthpiece of a Union whose members are celebrated (we nearly said notorious !) for outspoken independence, we do not propose to sit on any rail. That position is as undignified as it is uncomfortable, and we therefore prefer to voice our political beliefs as follows :

No further borrowing except for renewal. Establishment of a sinking fund. Lands for settlement to be provided by an increased graduated land tax on all lands above a certain value. Compulsory military training. Universal insurance against disability, want of work or old age. Consolidation of local Government export duties when products rise above a certain price. Revision of existing tariff to promote fresh industries. Government school of research to investigate N.Z. products.