NEW POLITICAL BODY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 279, 22 May 1912, Page 2

NEW POLITICAL BODY

PLATFORM OF THE RADICAL ASSOCIATION. Christchurch, Saturday. The provisional committee which was set up at the meeting a week ago to outline a platform for the suggested Radical Association has completed its labors. . The platform deals first of all with electoral and constitutional reforms, the aim being to secure alterations in the law which will give the people a larger measure of self-government. 4mongst the suggested planks are a proposal for securing complete and clean electoral rolls, proportional representation with a single transferable vote, the abolition of the 28 per cent, provision in compiling, the country quota, referendum with popular initiative, the right of the people to decide all questions by a bare majority vote, and the elimination of the motor-car evil on election day. Under constitution reform a single chamber of Parliament, with advisory committee of experts, and elective executive, are mentioned. A vigorous settlement policy is advocated, the State to retain the freehold of the remnant of the Crown estates and all lands purchased with tho peoplels credit for closer settlement and other purposes. | It is proposed that an immediate re- j mission of Customs duties to the extent j of half a million pounds annually should be made up by an increase in the graduated land tax, and an increment tax is included in the taxation proposals. The Customs duties are to be remitted on articles of common necessity which are not manufactured in the Dominion. The national platform will include proposals for dealing with industrial problems. The municipal programme will probably include a Christchurch roads scheme and a proposal to abolish the ward system and to elect councillors on a proportional representation basis.