If I Were Prime Minister —

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 8

If I Were Prime Minister

TBB SUN is offering a prize of £lO for the best reply to the question; “ What Would l Do if l Were Prime 1 tinisterf To-day too publish the 23rd of the entries. The competition is “open to all comsrs/* and closes on October 20.

PRODUCTIVE REFORMER

If I were Prime Minister, my first act would be to advocate the abolition of the Upper and Lower Houses, and the substitution of a Parliament composed as follows; The GovernorGeneral, with four advisers: Prime Minister: one Minister for each portfolio; and 25 members. I would establish a Provincial Board in each province, elected every five years by voters over 20 years of age, and two native boards. The Prime Minister would hold no portfolio, and Ministers one portfolio only. More than one permits Civil servants to give rulings on important questions instead of the Minister. Heal tli is a great national asset Sound education, good food, healthy

outdoor sports, produce a good mind and body. Does it do so now? No! Why? Because mothers do not rear their children. They allow the State to do so—l do not in any way belittle the Plunket system-—and the principle is wrong. Mothers go to work after marriage, or seek daily pleasures, neglecting their home duties, and baby is cared for by someone else. Cooked or tinned foods are purchased on the way home—the foundation of illhealth of the present and future generations. Before marriage women should pass a housewife’s examination. I would also have all foods labelled to show how and where grown. Education of the child at home would be almost eliminated. Before the child attends a public school, parents should teach it the alphabet, to spell short words, and to count. At present classes are far too large, and teachers who are too young are expected to do a mother’s duty in addition to teaching. Up to nine years of age children should bo taught the three R’s—reading, writing, and arithmetic—and view moving picture illustrations and practical demonstrations of all professions, trades, or callings. The observant teacher will discover the natural bent of the child,. which should be encouraged and developed. For children 10 to 16 years of age 1 would have higher courses, with special attention to the subjects, theoretical and practical, necessary to fit the pupil for the calling selected. For female pupils the subjects should be household duties, textiles, linens, etc. From 17 to 18 years they should be apprenticed to a calling selected, terminating with examinations, the highest pass to give a student two years’ study abroad, theoretical and practical, and on return to the Dominion a two years’ engagement would await him to propagate the knowledge acquired. This system would bring out the highest knowledge gained in that grand university—the world. Defence is for the most part useless. It is overburdened with highly-paid staffs, not up-to-date in modern warfare. I would dispense with their services. The regular army, training every day, cannot keep pace with the changes in armaments, tactics and strategy. Therefore, I would disband all territorial units, cancel the naval agreement, and I would replace them as follow: School cadet battalions, boys skilled in the use of rifle, machine

and aircraft guns; girls taught first aid and field cooking. For sea defence 1 would have large and small submarines, sea and aircraft squadrons. 1 would enrol volunteers in foot, horse and rifle club units, and all trawlers, seine-set and fishingboats. motor-boats and launches, I would have for mine-sweepers and mine-layers.

Crown Lands. —I would settle qualified farmers on farms of 50 to 150 acres, roaded and fenced into paddocks, and with farm -*uildings erected —the value of the farm to be this outlay, repayable in 15 years. Then, half the farm should be *.he freehold property of the farmer —the other half could be purchased at the original value. Xo sale or exchange would be allowed until after 25 years’ occupation. The cry. "Put the people on the land.” caused failures, loss of savings and unemployment. These settlers had little or no farming knowledge, or, at the best, twp years’ training for a life-long profession. A farmer is learning from youth to old age. Too much use of artificial manures on light lands raised land vaiues, and when this manuring ceased the last state of these lands was worse than the first. Thousands of tons, on sea-coasts and on farms, are neglected and used. Look at the waste in town sanitary drainage. Properly treated, this has untold manure value, and it is now polluting harbours and rivers. Natural and artificial manures, when mixed, have a lasting soil value at less cost. I would tax heavily all private, unproductive lands. Transport.—Xo sound system has yet been evolved, and I would have trains of motor-lorries made up to run under their own power at a small mileage cost, deliver their goods and return with produce, thus producing revenue and reducing road traffic. Tram systems are expensive in upkeep. A motor system is better than trams, especially for expanding towns, as it can work streets with greater convenience at less expense. Private companies are better than municipal companies, as they give better service, and in cases of failure the ha reholders suffer. In municipal failures the ratepayers suffer, and their properties are loaded accordingly. Revenue could bo obtained by municipal authorities providing tickets at a small royalty. I would tax very heavily all brewery companies, and single brewers who do not grow the necessary ingredients for brewing. I would encourage any farmer, or combination of farmers, who could grow, or purchase in the Dominion, the necessary ingredients for brewing or distilling ales, wines, etc., without tax or duty—the consumer to pay the tax. I would have all licensed houses open six days a week; Sundays closed. Fines, * loss of wages and cost of accidents caused through drink, I would have borne by the supplier. All casks, bottles and utensils containing liquor would have to bear labels showing their contents. Sport.—l would allow 12 days’ racing a year in each province, and substitute on other days motor-car, lorry and cycle events; and every three months I would give a £250 prize for the fastest ship-loading and unloading gang. I would encourage all amateur sport, and tax all paid sports. I would licence totalisators, bookmakers and lotteries. Unions.—l would form unions for every trade, profession or calling. Xo branch of offshoot unions would be allowed, and all workers would have to register. I would establish a Dominion Pension Fund. The present war pensions system is veiled in mystery and secrecy. I would lay down standard pensions: (a) Those who can work; (b) those who cannot; (c) pension and recompense for those who have lost jobs or businesses through recurrence of war disabilities.