NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1813, 13 April 1918, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

BRANCH' FORMED LOCALLY,

There was only a small attendance at the meeting convened by Mr P. T. Robinson, and held in the ToAvn Hall supper-room last night, for the purpose of forming a branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr Robinson presided, and in the unavoidable absence of Mr R, Ross, of Palmerston North, Mr Hillier, of the Shannon branch of the Party, addressed the meeting, explaining at length the constitution and platform of the Party. The objective of the Nbav Zealand Labour Party is the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the platform includes the folloAving planks:—Proportional representation, the initiative) the referendum, the recall, abolition of the country quota, full civil rights to all public employees, the removal of the political disabilities of women, all existing CroAvn lands to be added to the National EndoAvment, and tenants’ absolute, rights to improvements. Under the heading of State OAvnership, the Party stands for a State Bank, Avith the sole right of note issue, State-OA\ T ned shipping services, State control of all branches of insurance, development of our present State coal mines, factories, farms, and industrial services, and that the question of State control be placed on the ballot paper Avhen the referendum is taken on the liquor question. The extension of public ownership of national utilities and the speedy national control of the food supplies of the people where.national oAvnership of an industry is affected. All labour for such industry and at least half the board of control in each case shall be appointed by the union or unions affected, and the nationalisation of the medical service and free medical attention.

They favour free, secular, and compulsory education from the kindergarten to the university, uniform school books, printed by the Government and supplied free of cost, the replacement of all military instruction in schools by constructive education in humane thought, increased taxation on unearned increments and monopoly, increased taxation of unimproved land values, increased graduated income tax with a corresponding reduction of indirect taxation for the purpose of removing the present burdens on family incomes. The extension of the pension system to cover all incapacitated citizens, and increased rates of pensions. The right to work, the full recognition of unionism as the basis of arbitration in industrial law, and the consequent membership of all workers engaged in the various industries. Equal pay for the sexes. The repeal of the Military Service Act. A citizen army on a volunteer basis, with standard wages while on duty, together with practical measures for the promotion of peace. At the conclusion of the address it was unanimously decided to form a branch in Foxton, of which Mr E. G. Martin was elected president, Mr A. Barnard vice-president, and Mr J. Golder secretary and treasurer. A committee of six was appointed to act with these officers. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and sepaker.