LABOUR POLICY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 563, 21 June 1933, Page 6

LABOUR POLICY

■Our Own Correspondent).

revised platform . MR. F. LANGSTONE IN BAY OF PLENTY CAMPAIGN THE VITAL ISS'UES .

(From

Opotiki, Tuesday. Mr. F. Langstone, M.P. (Waimarino), and national president of the New Zealand Labour Party, addressed a well attended meeting at Opotiki on Monday in continuation of his tour of the Bay of Plenty district. After speaking at Whakatane, Taneatua, Te Puke and Edgecumbe, it is expected that Mr. Langstone will visit Rotorua next week when he will probably address a public meeting. Mr. Langstone, in the course of his address outlined the revised policy of the party and the measures which it would adopt if entrusted with the government of the country. The purpose of all production, primary and secondary, was to supply the social and economic requirements of the people, and the duty of the State was to organise productive and distributive agencies in order to utilise the hatural resources for this purpose, said Mr. Langstone. Only a courageous and vigorous policy could save the country. The policy of deflation had been pursued to such an extent. that even if there were an equitahle distribution of existing income it would not be suffieient to allow thousands of householders, farmers and business men to become solvent. A policy must start either from a foundation of wholesale repudiation and bankruptcy or else we must organise the development of industry and extend the social services to increase the income of the people so as to provide an adequate standard of living and enable them to meet their present commitments. The chaotic state of the world had already reduced prices of exports to ruinous levels, and our present economic position was to a large extent due to the fact that New Zealand currency and credit was determined by overseas price levels.

Credit Basis Overseas prices and conditions could not any longer be allowed to dictate New Zealand's living standards. By proper planning of production, with control of marketing and finance, New Zealand could establish her own living standard. The basis of all credit and currency must be production (goods and services). Unemployment The workers to-day unemployed were our fellow citizens who were out of work through no fault of their own. They were entitled to employment at a living wage. Failing such employment they should be paid a sustenance wage suffieient to provide the necessaries of life for them and their dependents. The conditions and pay of the men on relief work were a standing disgrace to the Dominion. The existing degrading system should be abolished at the earliest possible moment. The party would organise productive development work for all j who were able to do it, including present relief workers, unemployed wo- , men and the youth who are leaving our schools. Pending- organisation of employment the party would immediately increase the present rates of pay for relief work. Guaranteed Prices Guaranteed prices, organised employment in primary and secondary industries, with a vigorous public works policy, local and national, at wages and salaries based on national ' production, would ensure to the farmer on the land, the worker in industry, and all others who render social service, an income that would maintain a standard of living to which the people of the Dominion were entitled. The Policy The Labour Party, on taking office as the Government-, would give immediate effect to the following policy. — Banking, Credit and Currency. — Immediate control by the State of the entire banking system. The State to be the sole authority for the issue. of credit and currency. Provision of credit and currency to ensure production and distribution of the commodities which are required, and which can be economically produced in the Dominion with guaranteed prices, wages, and salaries. Mortgages. — Conservation of present holders' interests in land and homes by readjustment of all mortgages on a basis of average prices for the past seven years. Overseas Marketing and Guaranteed Prices. — Guaranteed prices for primary products. Negotiated agreements with Great Britain and other countries for marketing of primary products, with reciprocal contracts for the import of those classes of commodities which cannot be economically produced in the Dominion. Internal Marketing. — Promotion of agreements between the various control boards, other assoeiations of primary producers, and distributors and consumers' organisation to ensure orderly marketing at guaranteed prices of the primary products required for consumption in the Dominion. Secondary Industries. — Fostering of secondary industries so as to ensure the production of those commodities which can be economically produced in the Dominion, thus providing employment for our own people, with the resultant increase in the internal demand for our primary and secondary products, with less dependency on the fluctuating and glutted overseas markets. Employment — Organisation of productive and development work on the following lines : Land development and settlement; completion of necessary public works; construction of backblock roads, secondary and main highways; assistance to local authorities to undertake approved works; financial assistance in the development of secondary industries. Hours and Wages. — (1) Utilisation of mechanical inventions, new processes, and research knowledge; (2) immediate reduction in the hours of labour, in order to employ a greater number of workei's in industry to meet the displacement of labour by machinery; (3) guaranteed wages and salaries in accord with national production. Overseas Debt. — Negotiations with British Government and overseas financial houses for the purpose of converting the overseas debt to a lower

rate of interest, and readjustment to price levels operating at time of raising loans. - War Debt. — Negotiations with British Government for the purpose of reducing the principal and interest of war debt, or its cancellation.