POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 61, 2 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE

PROGRAMME ADOPTED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The following short platform has been adopted by the Canterbury Political Reform League:— I'. Financial reform— (a) That departmental administration be placed on an economical and efficient basis; (b) that no further loans shall be raised except for railway construction, State guaranteed advances to settlers, workers and local bodies, and for the redemption of existing loans. 2. Land reform.—(a) That a vigorous land settlement policy be adopted, particularly with regard to native and ordinary Crown lands; (b) that the system of settling rural lajids in future shall be both by leasehold (not exceeding fifty-one years) and freehold., such leaseholders to have the option of conversion at any time at the capitalised value of 5 per cent.; in the settlement of all fends the "home maintenance" area shall he the limitation; (c) that tenants of Crown lands on lease in perpetuity he allowed to purchase the freehold on equitable terms; (d) that the proceeds of the sale of all Crown lands shall be kept apart from ordinary revenue, and held at the disposal of the Land Purchase Board, and be used for the purpose of further settlement. 3. Public service reform That appointments to the public service be vested in a non-political board. 4. Local government reform—That the functions of local authorities be enlarged and extended, with the object of enabling them to finance and earn* out development works without the "assistance of Parliamentary grants. ."). Legislative reform—That the Upper House shall be elective. 0. Social and industrial reform—'(a) That a commission be appointed to enquire into the results of compulsory arbitration in the .Dominion; (b) that the scope of the National Provident Fund Act he wideneil, with the object of providing insurance of workers against non-employment; invalidity, and sickness.