POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1015, 8 July 1911, Page 3

POLITICAL.

OPPOSITION’S PLATFORM. Mr Massey, leader of the Opposition addressed a large meeting in the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday night. He prefaced his remarks by stating that his reason lor addressing the people on that occasion was that the Government had put forward no policy, and the people of the country had called upon his party to put one before the public. In his opinion no democratic country should have any one administration in power for more than a few years. His party’s first plank was reform of the fiscal system. In 1894 the debt per head was 8s 1 id. Last year the debt was 3s gd per head, compared with the Australian debt of ,£SB 5s gd per head. During the last two sessions the death duties were increased, also gift duties, Customs duties, banks’ taxation, racing taxation, and income tax. He supported, in regard to the Legislative Council, a system of proportional representation, so as to democratise the Council. He strongly objected to appointments to the Civil Service by political influence, and advocated a Public Service Board. He mentioned the fact that the Government had an insurance department, and yet none of the public buildings were insured. This was not, in his opinion, good business. A comprehensive and satisfactory scheme of town-planning was very necessary. The age of women receiving old-age penssons should be 60 instead of 65 years. His party were ready to help in the introduction of a scheme for insurance against sickness and unemployment. With regard to the Advances to Settlers’ Department, there were 12 millions of money in the Savings Bank, and this should be made available for settlers. The Arbitration Act was weak, inasmuch as it did not provide for the strong man getting paid for the work he did, but only getting the same as the weak man. The system of Wages Boards consisting of two employees and two employers and a chairman, would be a very satisfactory way of dealing with industrial disputes. These boards were in operation in Australia, and were doing an immeasurable amount of good. The audience passed a resolution expressing thanks for Mr Massey’s able address.