LABOUR'S FIGHTING PLATFORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1031, 16 April 1912, Page 4

LABOUR'S FIGHTING PLATFORM.

The following has been agreed to by the Labour Party Conference as an immediate fighting platform of the United Labour Party : The establishment of State ferry services and State colliers, also that the Dominion Government co-operate with the Federal Government of Australia in the establishment of an inter-State shipping service. The abolition of the country quota in determining Parliamentary representation. The Parliamentary franchise to apply to the election of all local bodies and to all local polls. Legislation reversing the Osborne judgment, as related to Nevs Zealand.

The restoration of full political rights to all public employees. The initiative, referendum and recall on proper petition and by bare majority. Endowment ot motherhood, pensions for widows, orphans, the blind, and incurably helpless, and State medical aid, and hospital care in all cases of illness. The Elective Executive. Proportional representation on single transferable vote. The establishment of a State Bank, and of the sole right to issue paper money. A land system shall be established which shall bring into the most productive use, either by individual undertakings or by public enterprise, all national resources : shall make absentee ownership and private monopoly in laud impossible ; shall secure to the land holder all the values created by him, and those only; all such values to be exempt from all taxation ; and shall secure to the public in an annual tax all values created by the public. No further sale ot Crown lauds.

Increased taxation of land values, the revenue so raised to be used to reduce cost of living by the Customs taxes on the necessaries.'of life not produced in New Zealand, and by the reduction of railway freights and fares.

That a free and secular State education system be maintained, with compulsory attendance up to the age of fifteen years ; and that the necessary books and stationery be supplied free by the Department. That beyond the age all boys and girls not receiving full time instruction at secondary and other schools shall attend continuation classes for not less than fifteen hours per week until they reach the age of seventeen. That no employer shall employ girls or boys under seventeen years of age for more than thirty hours per week. That provision be made so that up to the age of 21 years systematic physical exercise shall be substituted for military drill. The right of the people to decide all questions submitted on a bare majority vote. Establishment by law of a national minimum wage.

A Right to Work Act. Establishment of competitive State factories, works, and service. The settlement oi industrial disputes on the lines of legally 7 established agreements and awards by methods of conciliation and arbitration.

The following additional clause was recommended to the United Labour Party for adoption in the platform : —“A graduated income tax, based on scientific principles, with a super-tax of unearned incomes.”

The following sentence in the paragraph re education was referred to the committee set up to deal with the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act: —“That provision be made so that up to the age of twenty-one years systematic physical exercise shall be substituted for military drill.”