THE REFORM PARTY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10281, 8 July 1911, Page 6

THE REFORM PARTY.

PLATFORM OUTLINED. The platform of tho Reform Party, as outlined by Mr Massey in Welling-' ton on Thursday night, is as follows: FINANCE, (1) Reform of tho financial system of the Dominion, by instituting a thorough investigation into the Dominion's finances with a view to heaping borrowing within reasonable bounds, end of preventing wasteful expenditure. (2) Reform of tho fiscal system of ' the Dominion, by reducing taxation wherever possible, in order to lessen tho cost of living. LAND. (3) Reform of the land system of the Dominion. (a) By giving all facilities possible to men of small capital to get on tli© land by means of the leasehold, as a- stepping-stone to the freehold, if they so desire it; (b) By giving tho option of the freehold to tenants of Crown in L.I.P. at the original value, plus the difference between the rental on the O.R.P. and L.I.P. (c) By giving the option of freehold to tenants on settlement land or L.I.P. at the original value. (d) By providing for limitation of area to effectually prevent aggregation. (e) By providing for the payment of the purchase money in instalments, if so desired by the tenant. (f) By providing that the moneyderived from the sale of the freehold he utilised for the acquisition of further land for settlement. NATIVE LANDS. (4) Reform of the Native land legislation: (a) By a determined and sustained effort to settle the Native land question. (b) By the rapid individualisation i of Native lands wherever possible. (c) By affording the Native race the common privilege of disposing under proper safeguard of their fond which is not required for their personal use. . (d) By making provision against the creation of large holdings. (e) By promoting legislation having for its ultimate aim the placing of the Natives in the same position a« the Europeans, with the same privileges and responsibilities. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (5) Reform of the Legislative Council, by replacing the present nominative Council with one elected on the same franchise as the Houise of Representatives, on the proportional system of voting by larger electorates. CIVIL SERVICE. (6) Reform of the Civil Service. (a) By improving the conditions governing the employment of Civil Servants. (b) By eliminating political influence and patronage. (c) By providing that all appointments and promotions shall be made and regulated by a Board responsible directly to Parliament, and absolutely free from Ministerial control. (4) By granting to the Civil Servants the right of appeal to a competent tribunal from a decision of the Board. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. (7) The reform of local government in the rural districts of the Dominion, by giving extended powers and assured finance, thus making it unnecessary for them to depend, to the same extent as at present, on the wasteful and unsatisfactory system of Parliamentary grants for public works. (8) Reform of the municipal legislation of the Dominion, by promoting a town-planning scheme to meet the future'requirements of the towns of j the Dominion. INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL. (9) Reform of the Old Age Pensions Act, by making the qualifying age lor

the pension for women sixty years, instead of sixty-five. (10) Reform of tho industrial system of the Dominion, by promoting legislation in favour of compulsory i - surance against sickness and employment. (11) Reform of tho economic system of the Dominion, in tho direction of promoting industrial peace, and restoring public confidence, in order fo encourage- local industries.