GOVERNMENT'S ELECTION POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1919, Page 4

GOVERNMENT'S ELECTION POLICY.

• A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. WI'LiL DO THE BEST FOR EVERYONE By t Wire—Own Correspondent, Wellington, Last Night. The Right Hon. W. P. Massey, Prime Minister, announced on Saturday, the election programme oi the Government. By way of introduction Mr Massey stated: "Various political policies have been put forward recently, and, in publishing my ideas of what the country requires, 1 want it to be distitifctly understood that I have no intention of attempting to outbid other competitors for the favor of the electors, f take this opportunity of submitting a policy which, in my judgment, will be required by this country during the difficult period of reconstruction and development upon which we have entered." The programme in detail is as follows: (1) A sound Government with strong administrative capacity, clearly recognising its duty and without fear or favor, party motive or personal interest conscientiously doing its best for the good of the country and all its citizens; (2) Careful economical administration by avoiding waste and extravagance, though without parsimony or arrest of .progress, thus ensuring to the taxpayer full value for his expenditure, (3) An immediate and thorough reform of the system of both direct and indirect taxation so as to make it more equitable in incidence, with a substantial reduction of taxation at the earliest possible date. RETURNED SOLDIERS, (4) Sympathetic anil generous treatment for our returned soldiers with special attention to the needs and interests of incapacitated and partially disabled men and the dependents of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the great, war, a board to be appointed who will deal with special cases of hardship. DEVELOPING DOMINION. (5) Development of the Dominion by, (a) speedy completion of railways and extension of transit facilities, (b) construction and improvement of roads and light railways for opening up the back country, and (c) comprehensive utilisation of the national water power for electrical purposes in order to accelerate industry and improve civic conditions. LAND SETTLEMENT. (6) Increasing the Dominion's output and exports by energetic settlement of both Crown and privately owned land and providing facilities for increased production, including the encouragement of wheat growing in order to make New Zealand independent of other countries for its foodstuffs, and the profitable cultivation of waste swamp and arid areas so as to make the fullest possible use of the at present undeveloped territory. This will involve taking such measures by legislation or otherwise as will prevent the holding of lands fit for agricultural purposes in an unproductive condition. (7) State assistanca in marketing products by securing the best possible transport arrangements, either by stateowned ships or otherwise, thus preventing exploitation of both producers and consumers. ENCOURAGING INDUSTRIES. (8) Encouragement of industries in every possible, way, but especially by (a) using up our own raw materials, (b) encouraging the establishment of ironworks, shipbuilding and other secondary industries with a view to providing employment for our people .and avoiding a disadvantageous trade balance, and (c) encouraging the fishing industry by financial assistance for the purpose of providing cold storage and up-to-date fishing vessels and gear, repayment to be on the instalment system. and the fishing interests of the Dominion to be placed under one Minister. (0) Up-to-date shipping and mail services between New Zealand and Great Britain through the Panama Canal. (10) Development and encouragement of New Zealand trade with the Islands of the Pacific. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. (11). Strengthening of Imperial unity and relations by doing our share in a sourd scheme of imperial preference which will give British citizens in British countries commercial and industrial advantages to which thev are indisputably entitled. The principle of Imperial preference to be applied to ; immigration in order to eliminate as far as possible dangerous alien interests and influences. HOUSING. (121 Vigorous and extensive housing scheme, intended to abolish slum areas and to effect a national improvement in the housing of the people both in town and country. More assistance to local authorities with the same, object and the limit of loans under tne Advances to Workers Act and the Workers' Dwellings Act to be increased to at least £SOO in each case. At least £1,000,000 per anjium to be provided for this purpose. EDUCATION. (13) Maintaining the approved principle of free secular and compulsory education with full opportunity for our young people to take advantage of, a thorough educational system which must provide the best available technical, vocational, domestic and hygienic training facilities and equipment, the existing methods to be co-ordinated and simplified, and encouragement to be augmented by an increase of bursaries, especially in subjects of practical importance. More encouragement to be given talented young men and women to induce them to enter the teaching profession. i MATERNITY HOSPITALS. (14) Every possible assistance by the State to maternity patients, such assistance to include expert treatment in the maternity hospitals and nursing homes and the services of trained nurses for mothers who cannot attend maternity institutions, with special instruction in proper treatment and care of infants by methods such as those successfully adopted by the Plunket Society, and an extension of the system of district nurses for Uackblock districts. THRIFT AND WAGES. (15) In order to encourage thrift, industry, energy and enterprise consistent observance of the principle that every section of the community should receive its fair share of the community's earnings in proportion to the value of its services. 1

(16) No reversion to political control of the public service and more freauefitj regrading to bring wages and sauuriel of Government servants into lino with the Increased cost of living. (17) An extension of the principle of exempting from income tax head* ofj households in proportion to the numbei; of children In each family. DEFENCE. (18) Amending system of military, training to provide that it shall not in« terfere unnecessarily with the industrial operations of the country, (10) An arrangement with Great Britain and other British countries concerned for the proper naval protection of the Pacific. TRUSTS, IMMIGRATION, ETC. ' (20) Provision of such legislation as may be necessary to make impossible the operations of trusts and combines, either foreign or local or any. form of profiteering intended for Exploitation' of either consumers or producers. (21) Vigorous immigration policy with substantial encouragement and assistance to citizens of the United King, dom, who desire to emigrate to New* Zealand and make their home here, LAND, ROADS AND TELEPHONES, (•22) The small freehold policy to be maintained with sufficient safe-guards against aggregation. ('23) In the case of old age pensions a bonus is to be added to the present rate and this amount will be njj.de statutory and permanent. (24) A roading scheme is to be brought into operation by which within a reasonable period good TOads will be provided in every part of the Domini* ion. (25) The telephone system to Wextended and made Specially available'for settlers in out districts. OTHER MATTERS. (26) Re-afforestation and planting of sand dunes with suitable timber ttses so as to provide for future requirements of this country. (27) Practical State encouragement of town-planning schemes by civic and municipal bodies and organisations. MINES AND THE STATE. The programme goes on: —"There are many other subjects that might be mentioned, for instance, the proposed, nationalisation of the coal mines. ' Let , me say on this question I have a perfectly open mind, but I have never yet had a clear explanation of what the nationalisation of the coal industry means, even from its most enthusiastic advocates. What lam thinking of is this. There are vast coal-bearing in this country and it is quite certain that in years to come there will be many times the number of mines there arp at present. Is the Government to take over all this coal-bearing country and create a great j State monopoly? If so I have no hesi- | tation in saying that private enterprise will be crippled and the last state of things will be worse than the first from the miners' point of view. Under private ownership there are many mines willing to compete for the services of good men. Under State ownership there would be no competition, but great possibilities for intrigue and favoritism. That the present state of things is not satisfactory goes without saying, lint I believe improvement should go in the direction of providing bettor houses for miners, better living conditions aptf*" of giving miners a &nsultative voice in the control of the mines, especially where safety and comfort in working are concerned. ; A NATIONAL PARTY WANTED. "Then with regard to party matters there seemed to be a section of people both in Parliament and outside of if who are anxious to get back to the <fld/, demoralising party system with all itei . iniquities and drawbacks. I know per: fectlv well no Government 'can carry on/ without the support of the majority of Parliament. I know also that except! under abnormal conditions such as were\ experienced during the war period there, cannot with satisfactory results be tw<jf parties in the Government. There nee 4 not be anything of the sort. "There should be only one party—»>■ National Party—a party working and held together with one object, that of promoting the welfare and prosperity of New Zealand. I know perfectly well that Bolshevists and I.W.W.'s and others of that ilk will fight me and. those associated with me for all they' • are worth. Ido not want the support of such people and would not hold if I were dependent upon them, but speaking of those who as well as myself have loyally and faithfully worked with me during seven strenuous years I do want the support of patriotic, right* thinking citizens, whether their incomes' are ten shillings a day or ten thousand " pounds per annum, and I am quite satis-; fied to leave our political fortunes itt their hands."