LABOR’S AIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1922, Page 5

LABOR’S AIMS.

THE POLITICAL PLATFORM. PLAN TO ATTACK WEALTH. NO SUPPORT IN WAR. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Labor Party has issued its manifesto, signed by Mr. H. E. Holland as chairman, Mr. Brindle (national president), and. Mr. Nash (secretary). After recounting the action of the party in Parliament the platform is presented, of which the following are the principal headings:— Proportional representation. Right of the people to initiate or veto any legislation by referendum. Full political rights to women and all State employees. The party will even strive towards obtaining for workers a greater proportion of the wealth secured by their labor.

It will oppose all further reductions in wages, and objects to the fallacy of fixing wages on the cost of living basis. An Unemployed Workers’ Bill, whicn guarantees to all those willing to work the right to work at a standard rate of wages, or -failing provision of work, adequate maintenance.

A thoroughly organised effort to overtake the shortage of houses, of which the party estimates twenty thousand are required. In the meantime, the retention of legislation restricting an increase of rent and protecting tenants from ejection. Opposition to immigration until the house shortage is overcome.

The Labor Party declares for the conservation of national endowments, and its land policy is based on occupancy and use, which will secure to the working farmer the full fruits of his toil and exertion, and will give to tenants the absolute right to all improvements made by them to stimulate use and occupancy. The party will increase the graduated tax on large estates and use the revenue to improve roads in the backblocks. Coupled with this goes a new valuation of land taken up by soldiers and others.

Establishment of a -State Bank. In this connection the success of the Commonwealth State Bank its quoted. Conservation of all coal-bearing lands for development by the State, and provision for decent housing for miners.

Improvement of roads; extension of hydro-electric power schemes; and the establishment of motor services in the outlying districts. Taxation to be drawn from large unearned incomes, and condemnation of the remission of income tax made by the Government.

Free education in the widest possible sense, including the supply of all school books free of charge. One of the first administrative acts of Labor would be the setting aside of sufficient money to enlarge school accommodation.

Pensions for the blind would be immediately provided, and pensions for all widows should be brought up to the amount paid to the widows of soldiers; also miners’ phtliisis pensions should be brought up to equality with soldiers’ pensions. By national endowment of motherhood the Labor Party will endeavor to remove the financial burden from the homo whilst new life is being brought into the world. The Labor Party, by the establishment of municipal markets, would cut out unnecessary expenses by bringing the producer and consumer closer together. So -far as international relations are concerned the Labor Party opposed the Government’s attempt to involve New Zealand in the Near East complication. They were the only party to oppose Mr. Massey’s offer of a contingent, and will always oppose plunging the Dominion into war. except bv the decision of the people after the full facts have been placed before them. SPEECH BY THE LEADER. THE SECTARIAN ISSUE. Christchurch, Last Night. Mr. Holland (Leader of the Labor T’arty) delivered a speech at the Trades Hall to-night to a large attendance. He said the party enjoyed better solidarity to-day than at any time before. He appealed to all electors to refuse to allow themselves to be divided on the sectarian issue. The enemies of Labor, when unable to divide the working people on any other issue, did so on the sectarian issue. The attitude of the Labor Party was that of complete noninterference with any form of religion. Referring to the Reform manifesto, Mr. Holland said the references therein to the Labor Party and loyalty were quite inaccurate, and constituted an insult to the relatives of the working men who had fallen. There was no idea of adopting Soviet rule in New Zealand. Labor, of course, stood -for Socialism, which was the next development in the raising of the status of humanity. He said the Labor Party, if it secured power, would destroy class rule. Class law was written all over the face of Mr. Massey’s financial proposals.