LIBERAL-LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1922, Page 5

LIBERAL-LABOR.

THE POLICY OUTLINED. CLAIM FOR A CHANGE. SPEECH BY THE LEADER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) addressed a crowded meeting at the Empire Theatre at Petone tonight, when he enunciated the LiberalLabor Party’s election policy and platform. Mr. J. W. McEwan, Mayor or Petone, presided. The candidate was warmly applauded on rising to speak, and was accorded an appreciative and attentive hearing. After describing Mr. Massey’s manifesto as a deathbed confession of neglect, Mr. Wilford set out the LiberalLabor platform under fifteen headings. They were: — Declaration for a united Empire and constitutional methods. Economy in public finance and the establishment of a State bank. Electoral reform.

Industrial legislation, including giving workers a voice on the lines of the Whitley Councils. Extension of the operations of the Advances Department. Encouragement to secondary industries.

Maintain and improve the arbitration system. Special tribunals for the settlement of disputes in the public service. No further centralisation of education and special consideration for the backblocks; the teaching of fewer subjects: and the supply of school books at cost price. Reading and settlement of all Crown lands on optional tenure. Drastic provision against aggregation* the promotion of closer settlement, and also more vigorous settlement. The revaluation of native lands. Reduction of interest on soldiers’ lands in cases of hardship. Defence expenditure to be kept down to the lowest limit consistent with national safety. Shipping legislation to enable the Government and the producers to establish their own line. Vigorous prosecution of roads, railways, hydro-electric schemes, and other reproductive works. Drastic reorganisation of the whole railway system, with a of fares and freight*; also the appointment of a railway board. Comprehensive housing scheme. Encouragement qf co-operative marketing of the Dominion’s products and the reorganisation of the experimental farm system. Immediate judicial inquiry into trusts or associations which control banking, petrol, tobacco, woollens, etc., with adequate punishment for profiteering. Special consideration for persons with families, invalids, pensioners, and generally the promotion of humanitarian legislation such as has always marked the great traditions of the party. Mr. Wilford then dealt with each plank of the platform, and went on to say that Parliament was to-day affected by a double weakness —the feebleness of an inherent, unweildy and flabby majority, and the futility of a small Opposition. He hoped the general election would remedy these serious disadvantages to the country, for any delaymeant political paralysis. All the Reform kites had come to earth during the past year. The Reform policy was not based on principle, and had no definite end in view, except the retention of power. The Reform promises of 1911 had been ignored and broken, though, as Sir William Herriea aptly said: “They did the trick.” The Government refused to be pinned to a definite policy by legislation, and no political zig-zaggers were ever more adroit. He declared that the electors, in December, will put an axe to the root of the Reform tree. The party had been too long in office, and it was careless of criticism and intoxicated by power. He hoped the general taxpayer would seize the opportunity and obtain a change of Government. The Liberal-Labor Party, representing the Wilf ord-Veitch combination, had made wonderful strides during the last six months, and the type of candidate wa* a source of gratification. Mr. Wilford resumed his seat amidst applause. On the motion of Mr. J. Kerr a vote of thanks and confidence, in Mr. Wilford, confidence in the policy he had put forward, and good wishes for the Liberal-Labor Party’s success, was carried by acclamation.