UNITED PARTY'S PLATFORM.

Shannon News, 12 October 1928, Page 2

UNITED PARTY'S PLATFORM.

ITS POLICY OUTLINED. Hitherto there has been no announcement of the United Party's political principles, it being stated that these would not be disclosed until Sir Joseph Ward, the chosen leader, made his policy speech after the rising of Parliament. Until then United Party candidates are unable to commence their campaign. We are in a position r to state that the general outline of the policy is as follows: GENERAL OBJECTS. (1) To maintain loyalty to the King and the Constitution, to foster Imperial welfare and to resist any disintegrating influences. (2) To provide efficient land and sea defence for the protection of the homes of the people and the preservation of internal luav and order. (3) To exalt the principle of equal opportunity for all, to promote .and encourage measures that will make for the hapxnness and increased prosperity of all sections of the community. (4) To strenuously combat influences that aim to create sectional or class privilege. (5). To ensure the recognition of the close interdependence of town and country, and the need for special effort towards general co-operation in the solution of our common problems. (6) To encourage the development of overseas trade and closer co-operation between New Zealand and other units of the Empire. (7). To encourage industrial efficiency through close co-operation and goodwill between capital and labour, thus providing greater rewards to those so engaged, and reflecting posperity to all sections of the community. (8) To support measures calculated to preserve and improve the health of the people of the Dominion. (9) To ensure a continuity of sound legislation in the Dominion by educating our young men and women to a sense of civic responsibility. (10) To establish and take effective steps to ensure the return of a.Parliamentary Party comprising men and women of proved integrity and ability, irrespective of previous party or Parliamentary service, who approve and will loyally support the objects of the Association.

(11) To foster the closest relations between the people and their Parliamentary representatives, by establishing district. branches of the Association throughout the Dominion. SPECIFIC OBJECTS.

(1) The adoption ■of a system of land settlement which would prevent the drift to the town, "increase the number of our primary producers, and stimulate a greater diversity of and increase in, the products of the soil. (2) The creation of a new interest in the possibilities of Extractive Industries, which would utilise and manipulate, the comparatively untouched natural and latent resources of this Dominion. Special endeavours would be m'ade in the direction of accomplishing this object by co-operating wu. leaders of industry and science. (3) The initiation of a modern system of finance for the purpose of extending industrial and commercial banking facilities. Such a system would incorporate a practical rural finance scheme, and furnish a means whereby our Land Settlement and Extractive Industries policies can be put into effect.

(4) The revision, of our present system of education witty a view to more effectually meeting modern requirements of agriculture, industries and commerce.

(5) The progressive development of our communicative systems. (6) The elimination of economic loss due to unemployment by the encouragement of new .wealth-creating industries within the Dominion.

(7) The formulation of a sound policy of selective immigration consistent with the opportunities offering in the Dominion and with due regard to prevailing economic conditions. (8) The encouragement of private initiative as opposed to paternalism of the State; the placing of competitive State trading concerns on the same basis as those who are engaged in private industry and the elimination of all such concerns w r hich are unable to show profitable returns. (9) 'ihe stimulation of optimism and confidence in .the destiny of New Zealand, and the discouragement of pessimistic and apathetic influences.