LABOUR’S FOURTEEN POINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 487, 17 October 1928, Page 8

LABOUR’S FOURTEEN POINTS

Unemployment Insurance and* Repeal of Compulsory Service CAMPAIGN MANIFESTO ISSUED IN the Introductory sentences to the New Zealand Labour Party’s 1928 election manifesto, which has just been released, it is stated that although four parties are in the field, the real issue lies between Reform and Labour. The manifesto contains 14 major policy points.

The following are the 14 principal points: Closer land settlement. Extension of the State Advances Office. . Removal of deposit restrictions from Public Trust and Post Office Savings Rank. National health insurance. Improved old age. widows’, and other pensions. , Workers’ compensation as a national service. Full support and assistance to primary and secondary industries. Investigation of transport systems. Organisation of employment, and Unemployment insurance. Regulation of immigration in. accord with the demand for labour and land settlement. Restoration of wage and salary cuts. Maintenance of national school systcni, with smaller classes and free requisites. Repeal of compulsory military service, and reorganisation of defence eystem. Full support to the League of Nations and outlawry of war.

sickness. National health insurance systems were now operating successfully in many countries. The provisions contained in the present Family Allowances Act were so restrictive, and the right to benefits so little known that the amount paid out last year was £ 37,515, as against the Government’s estimate of £272,515. The system should be advertised and extended. Labour proposed to establish the national health insurance scheme, and extend the family allowances system to provide adequate payment to mothers of large families. It is also proposed to adjust old-age, widows’ and other pensions to a level sufficient to maintain a reasonable standard of living, and to enter into a reciprocal agreement with other countries of the British Commonwealth for the payment of pensions. Under Labour, workers’ compensation would be organised as a national service, so as to provide the most economical method of ensuring payment of the maximum compensation and medical expense for expenses incurred through accidents. As the country’s economic problems cannot be solved through Free Trade or Protection, with adequate safeguards against monopoly, prices and provision to ensure sufficiency of supplies, such industries as are natural to the Dominion, should be fostered. Labour, therefore, supports the establishment, maintenance and development of the primary and secondary industries natural to the Dominion. Assurance is given that Labour will take immediate steps to restore the 1914 standards in wages and salaries, and establish a basic wage sufficient to ensure ari adequate standard ot living. UNEMPLOYMENT SOLUTION To solve unemployment problem, immigration will be regulated, and an Employment Board appointed *to organise employment so as to minimise the ill-effect on the labour market due to seasonal occupations. An unemployment insurance system will be instituted on a contributory basis, equal payments being made by the employer, employees and Government. Reference is made to the Samoan question, the manifesto stating that the party* would pursue a policy of conciliation and justice in Western Samoa with recognition of the right of Samoans to participate in the government of their own country.

At the opening of the manifesto, the Reform Government’s activities during the past three years are roundly condemned. It states that the immigration policy has been a main contributing factor in one of the worst unemployment periods the Dominion has ever known. The land policy of the Government has resulted in a decline in the. acreage of land in occupation, and an increase in that which had reverted to fern, Bcrub, and second growth. In addition, there had been an abnormal increase in mortgages, and farmers bankruptcies had broken all records. The manifesto goes on to say that the Labour Party appeals to all those who desire to build up. a more sta.bl©

order in which the perpetual conflicts of to-day will be avoided, and the relationship of those engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the goods necessary for the Dominion’s progress will be that of co-operation and mutual service. The party stands for the development of the Dominion on sound, progressive lines; the fostering of closer relationships between the countries of the British commonwealth, and the fullest co-operation with and support of the League of Nations. The primary task of the next Government is to organise the Dominion’s land resources, and institute a settlement policy that will ensure a reasonable return to competent farmers for their time and energy. , CLOSER LAND SETTLEMENT Referring in detail to the land pclicy, it is stated that the Dominion’s progress is dependent on tho effective utilisation of land, and in New Zealand that utilisation had to follow the line of closer settlement, which would be assisted by legislation allowing for the drafting of the greatest number of competent farmers. Labour’s policy is framed to help the man who uses the land, and to handicap the speculator. Referring to finance, it is stated that the heavy load of debt and its conseouentiul annual interest charge amounting to £12,500,000, involves such a tux on the production of the Dominion that every care should be taken that loans raised should be donfined to the credit required for works essential to the natural development and progress of the country. A large proportion of the Dominion’s loan money had, in the past, been obtained from the State financial institutions. The splendid work accomplished by the Public Trust Office, the State Advances Office, and the Post Office Savings Bank in the organisation of the savings and credit of the Dominion is endangered through the avtacKS of private financial institutions.

The pressure of the Associated Banks and private money-lending institutions had resulted in the raising of interest rates and the reduction ef loans through the State Advances Office, and curtailment of facilities at the Post Office Savings Bank, and the restriction of deposit facilities previously made available by the Public Trustee. REDUCED BORROWING Labour’s policy was to restrict public borrowing to the minimum consistent with the natural development and progress of the Dominion, and make full utilisation of the Public Trust Office and Post Office Savings Bank and extend the State Advances Office to provide the credit necessary for primary production and. house building at minimum interest rates, with State guarantee behind all loans raised for these purposes. In addition to establish a State .bank with a special department for agricultural banking. EDUCATION

In education. Labour proposed to maintain the national education system, and reduce the size of classes to ensure efficiency and to enable teachers to give the necessary attention to individual scholars. Provision is also made for the extension of teachers’ training facilities, and the provision of special facilities for the training of New Zealand boys and girls for farming occupations and land utilisation. Support is also given to the teacher’s right to appeal against non-appointment, and the paying of equal salary for equal service. School books and requisites will be provided free of cost. national health insurance The manifesto goes on to say that ■fc. . the moßt pressing social reforms is the introduction of a system providwm mg maintenance for all persons during