Labour election policy 1969. Towards nationhood with labour the New Zealand Party.  Foreword  The policy planks set out in this Manifesto comprise the platform of a united and determined Labour Party.  This Manifesto represents the most comprehensive, consistent and constructive programme ever presented to the people of this country.  There are no last minute additions. The entire Manifesto is the result of the widest possible consultation, investigation and intensive study.  Because the Manifesto is comprehensive, we ask that our policies be judged as a whole, which will be implemented step by step over the next three years.  Now, is the time for change.  Change that will widen and improve the range of opportunities open to New Zealanders and so stimulate a bold new thrust into the future. . .  INDEX  FOREWORD 2  AGRICULTURE 3  ARTS 5  BROADCASTING 6  CONSTITUTIONAL 7  DEFENCE 8  EARTHQUAKE AND WAR DAMAGE 8  EDUCATION 9  FAIR PRICES 12  FINANCE AND TAXATION 13  FISHING INDUSTRY 17  FOREIGN INVESTMENT 17  FORESTRY 18  HEALTH 19  HOUSING 22  IMMIGRATION 24  IMPORTING 25  INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 26  INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 27  NNTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 29  LAND 31  LAW AND ORDER 32  LOCAL GOVERNMENT 34  MAORI AFFAIRS 35  NATURAL RESOURCES 38  NEWS MEDIA 39  OVERSEAS TRADE 40  RAILWAYS 41  SCIENCE AND RESEARCH 42  SHIPPING 42  SHIPPING (CONTAINERISATION) 43  SOCIAL SECURITY MONETARY BENEFITS 44  SOCIAL WELFARE 45  TOURISM 47  TRANSPORT 48  TRANSPORT (ROAD AND BRIDGE TOLLS) 49  WORKS 50  Agriculture. Increased production, a broader-based farm economy, maximum productivity per acre, stability in production costs, an improved and guaranteed share of production for all engaged in farming, these are prime objectives of Labour's agricultural policy.  FARM FINANCE. LABOUR'S farm finance policy will be designed to ensure adequate capital for farm purchase, settlement and development without encouraging speculation and inflation in land prices or inflationary pressures on other farm costs. This finance will be made available through an existing State agency.  1. Labour Government will separate farm and urban activities of the State Advances Corporation, and reconstitute the farm activities under a Rural Banking and Finance Corporation (R.B.F.C.). The Corporation will work closely with the Marginal Lands Board, but will not incorporate or eliminate it.  2. Advances made by the Corporation for approved development purposes will not be subject to interest repayments for the first two years, and in special circumstances for longer periods.  3. The Corporation will be empowered to vary the present lending limits on farm finance.  4. Special farm ownership investment accounts to encourage, and financially assist, farm workers to save for farm ownership, will be introduced.  Farm ownership investment accounts. In view of the special difficulties that face sharemilkers, the R.B.F.C. will be empowered to offer facilities for individual accounts to be held with the Corporation and known as Farm Ownership Investment Accounts. This scheme will:  - be open to any bona fide farmer or farm worker who is actively engaged on the land but not owning his own farm.  - allow those qualified to deposit in their Account such proportion of their gross income derived from farming as they may be able to save for future farm purchase.  - provide that such deposits shall be a deductible item for taxation purposes.  - provide for a nominal rate of interest (3%) to be paid on the money so deposited.  - provide that if the money is withdrawn for any purpose other than farm purchase it will, be subject to taxation at the rate prevailing at the time of withdrawal.  - Note: Farm Ownership Investment accounts may be continued for such period as the Corporation deems sufficient to accumulate adequate funds to finance the purchase of a farm.  - Depositors in R.B.F.C. investment accounts will be eligible to have R.B.F.C. loans.  FARM SETTLEMENT. In conjunction with the farm training scheme set out below, a Labour Government will establish a farm settlement scheme to give young men with proven farming ability but limited financial resources the chance to acquire their own farms. Key features of the scheme will be:  (a) Government purchase of suitable lands available for sale.  (b) division of such lands into economic units which have scope for future development.  (c) allocation of the units by ballot to applicants who qualify under the farm training scheme.  (d) giving the successful applicants a seven-year leasehold over the property with the right to either renew the lease or purchase the property.  (e) providing an initial development loan at 4% interest.  FARM TRAINING. To ensure maximum opportunity to qualify for land ballots under Labour's farm settlement scheme a nation-wide farm training system will be established and will involve:  (a) a Farm Training Council, which will work in close consultation with Federated Farmers. The Council will include representatives from Federated Farmers, the New Zealand Workers' Union, the Federation of 'Young Farmers' Clubs, the Department of Agriculture and the Education Department.  (b) Regional committees drawn from similar groups.  (c) A roll of farmers in each region who are willing and qualified to accept trainees.  (d) A tutor organiser for each region, who will be appointed to the staff of one of the university agricultural colleges.  (e) Short residential courses at the agricultural institutes for trainees under the scheme.  (f) Certificates awarded on the completion of a six-year training period. The certificates will be recognised by the farming industry as an indication of a margin of skill as well as a qualification to enter a land ballot.  (g) The right of holders of approved academic agricultural qualifications to enter settlement ballots provided they have a minimum of two years' practical farming experience.  IRRIGATION. Where approved privately financed irrigation schemes can be shown to significantly increased production, by say 10% per annum on capital  Outlay, a Labour Government will financially assist with up to a third of the capital cost.  MARGINAL LANDS. The Marginal Lands Board will be reconstituted and strengthened by the addition of practical farmers from various parts of New Zealand who are experienced in all aspects of primary production. Marginal lands committees will be strengthened by adding sufficient practical farmers to ensure adequate representation of areas and types of primary production. Finance for marginal lands development will be liberalised and will include special consideration of assistance for the eradication of noxious weeds. The Marginal Lands Board will maintain a close liaison with the proposed Rural Banking and Finance Corporation.  FARM HOUSING. In many rural areas housing conditions for farmers and their employees are far from satisfactory, and finance for improving housing is not as readily available as in urban areas. This is inconsistent with Labour's social welfare policies and is incompatible with a call for an all-out productive effort.  A LABOUR Government will:  (a) Make funds available through the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation to ensure that farmers who qualify receive 3% housing loans.  (b) Make funds available for the repair and renovation of existing farm homes.  CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. Labour's Policy will be to have all new fertiliser and freezing works co-operatively owned. Where any group of farmers is desirous of establishing a co-operative processing plant to diversify production and feasibility studies indicate that such a project is desirable and economically viable, assistance will be provided.  Diversification. Labour will engage in an urgent programme of feasibility studies into a wide variety of agricultural, pastoral and horticultural industries and will provide assistance for any worthwhile projects to broaden the base of farm production, processing and incomes.  WOOL COMMISSION. In order to ensure a stable and adequate return to the producer and maximum overseas exchange earnings from the sale of wool, and a continuing market for our product, there is urgent need for the Government to sit down with the industry and re-appraise the whole situation and functions of the Wool Commission. Desirable objectives which may be agreed to could include:  1. The termination of the present policy of buying-in procedures.  2. The establishment of a purchasing authority with powers to purchase all wool for exports. Arrangements would have to be made for this authority to appoint agents to sell the wool so acquired; these agents to include the traditional wool buyers and co-operative marketing organisations. The purchasing authority should also have the right to dispose, at its discretion by auction direct sales or in conjunction with the Government by bilateral trading arrangements. The authority should also have the right to repack for export.  3. The introduction of an assured average season price system for the industry.  4. More intensive research aimed at reducing costs and speculative profits from producer to final manufacture through improved marketing and processing.  FERTILISER AND LIME.  1. A transport subsidy on fertiliser will be continued. This will be on the pre-1969 budget basis (involving three-quarters of the total transport cost after the first $2.00 per ton).  2. This subsidy will be extended to include lime.  3. To introduce a proper element of stability to fertiliser costs at a reasonable price level financial provision will be made to stabilise the costs of the main manufacturers' raw materials at the price level obtaining in November 1966.  The arts. POLICY DETAILS:  1. The quality of life enjoyed by New Zealanders has not kept pace with material progress. Environmental development must have regard not only to such material factors as Town Planning and air and water pollution, but also to cultural advances, and these must be integrated and co-ordinated.  2. The support given to the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council will be continued, but cultural interests will not be confined to this channel. Labour will assist local government by grants for suitable projects, and encourage private individuals and enterprises to participate in approved cultural appeals by tax concessions. These benefits should aim at promoting both the performing and creative arts.  3. Greater Ministerial responsibility and more departmental assistance and advice will be given. The inspiration and skill of New Zealand painters, sculptors and craftsmen, wherever possible, should be incorporated in public buildings and exhibited in New Zealand offices abroad.  4. The National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum will be elevated to the status its name suggests and a vigorous policy of cultural exchanges pursued.  5. To allow cultural exchanges to be freely made and to enable the public collections of the nation to develop, Labour will remove the restrictions at present imposed on the importation of educational, scientific and cultural materials by public institutions.  BROADCASTING. LABOUR favours the proven principle of public ownership of the facilities of broadcasting and television. The main objective of the policy is to provide the best, most independent, enterprising television and radio that can be provided. A further objective will be to provide the highest possible New Zealand content in broadcast programmes and other material. Second channels and decentralisation of control are fundamental to meeting these objectives.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. Corporation control of the facilities of radio and television is supported.  2. The N.Z.B.C. will provide for nation-wide radio and television coverage of both commercial and non-commercial character. Its responsibilities will include the preparation of programmes on education, arts, sport, consumer interests, public affairs, and news, in addition to general programme material.  3. The N.Z.B.C. will be authorised to expedite the establishment of a new television channel, such channel to provide the basis for the introduction of colour television. As this new channel comes into being arrangements will be made for the transfer of the operation of the existing black and white television channel to the relevant regional Corporation.  4. In addition to the N.Z.B.C. nation-wide service, an opportunity will be created for competing regional corporations to be established on regional initiative. These corporations will conduct commercial operations and be charged with the task of preparation of programmes of the region for local use and possible sale to other regions and abroad. They will have full autonomy in programming and production. The Boards of Control of these regional corporations will consist of directors resident in the region and who represent a balanced cross-section of the community.  5. Regional Corporations will provide for some competitive tendering for programme and advertising time.  6. Although the Corporations will be competitive, steps will be taken to ensure that competitive programme purchasing does not result in unnecessary rises in costs.  7. The N.Z.B.C. will ensure that in each of the four main centres a sound broadcasting station will present popular programmes of interest to younger people. Youth Programme Advisory Committees that can be associated with these stations is favoured.  8. Television is a valuable aid to education. A television education system will be instituted, and every effort will be made to bring the service to correspondence pupils and country schools. Emphasis will be placed on training in television techniques so that advantage can be taken of the latest overseas developments in educational television.  CONSTITUTIONAL. GENERAL POLICY:  1. The concept of equal rights, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities, forms the basis of the Labour Party’s constitutional policy.  2. It is our policy to respect and uphold personal rights and liberties; to ensure a socially just and economically secure basis of family life; to extend democratic principles; to modernise Government and to make Parliament more effective; and to foster a more adventurous spirit of nationhood.  3. We reaffirm our strong support for the principle of a triennially elected unicameral system of Parliamentary Government.  POLICY DETAILS  1. Legislation will be introduced that will confer all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of adulthood at the age of twenty, instead of at the age of twenty-one as at present. Parliament would be given the opportunity to consider any further lowering of the voting age only after a thorough examination of such proposal by a properly constituted Committee of Enquiry.  2. Amend the Electoral Act to ensure that the South Island has a minimum of twenty-six electorates. The quota so established will determine the number of electorates in the North Island to maintain equality of representation.  3. Undertake much needed reforms to make Parliament more effective and efficient. Parliament will meet earlier each year. The election of a Labour Government means that in 1970 Parliament would be called together on 28th January. Each Session will be divided into two main parts. The first and longest recess would be utilised for a period of intensive Select Committee work. Further working recesses in the second part of the Session will be arranged as necessary. Such a spread of work should do much to eliminate the pressures that build up towards the end of Sessions and also enable more careful consideration of legislation.  4. Open more of Parliament's Select Committee meetings to the public and the news media.  5. Review and revise further Parliament's Standing Orders to secure more efficiency in the conduct of the business of Parliament. Among the proposals to be considered would be the introduction of time-limited debates. Under this procedure a maximum period of time would be set for certain classes of debate. This will enable unnecessarily extensive and repetitive debates to be avoided, while at the same time permitting a fair and reasonable time for discussion. If extended hours are necessary, Parliament Standing Orders should provide for Parliament to meet earlier in the day rather than sit beyond midnight.  9. Modernise Cabinet by introducing a two-tier system of Executive Ministers and Ministers. Under this system the grouping of portfolios into Ministries would be facilitated, a better sharing of workload would be effected, and a much closer relationship between a Minister and the day-to-day administration of his department attained.  10. Encourage and support the development of Regional Government. This is an important reform that offers a means of rationalising local Government and local works and in providing through strong regional Government a balance to a unicameral Parliament. A specially appointed Commission will be required to prepare a plan to describe the various regions that could form the basis for practicable regional Governments in the various regions of the North and South Islands. Alternatives to rates on domestic and similar property are essential and would be included in the plan. Such Regional Government would enable town and country districts to be developed in harmony and to enable present facilities and those to be established, to be used on the most economic basis. Regional Government would enable the number of local authorities to be reduced. The completed plan would be submitted by way of referendum to the electors of each region as described in the plan.  11. Review the older Acts of Parliament to ensure that outmoded laws can be repealed and where desirable suitable amendments to other laws. The purpose would be to ensure that the rights and needs of the individual and the changing aspirations of the community are not inhibited.  12. Bring all local bodies within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman.  13. Stimulate and encourage activities that help develop legitimate New Zealand traditions and culture.  14. Maoris interested in exercising their rights under the Electoral Act Amendment 1967 (Maoris were enabled in this measure to contest European electorates) will, because of the Labour Party’s belief in racial equality, be welcomed and encouraged.  Defence. Labour believes that war can and must be prevented, and that New Zealand can play a significant role in this all-important objective. Labour's defence policy is that New Zealand will defend herself to the limit of her ability, and that this must be made clearly evident to our allies, and to any potential aggressor.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. A Labour Government will take every practical step to ensure New Zealand's territorial security, the security of our channels of trade, and our development as an independent though co-operative nation.  2. Labour subscribes to the development by negotiation of a mutual defence, system of United Nations member states. New Zealand’s participation in such a regional, defence system would depend on the defence system being consistent with the United Nations Charter but not inconsistent with the general provisions of our existing defence treaty commitments.  REGULAR DEFENCE FORGES.  3. Labour's proposals for the Army, Navy and Air Force will ensure that they are:  (a) built up on an entirely volunteer basis-Labour does not accept the principle of peacetime conscription.  (b) properly equipped and highly trained.  (c) capable of maximum mobility;  (d) capable of fulfilling our treaty obligations and our responsibilities as a member of the United Nations.  (e) trained so that they can provide constructive assistance with social and economic problems, particularly in South-East Asia.  TERRITORIAL FORCES  4. A Labour Government will provide for territorial forces which are:  (a) manned on a volunteer basis.  (b) properly equipped and thoroughly trained.  (c) capable of rapid mobilisation.  (d) fully integrated into the national defence system.  CIVIL CONTRIBUTION  5. Ports, airfields, roads and railways will be developed so that they can contribute to the mobility of our defence system as well as to our economic progress.  6. Wherever possible defence expenditure will be directed to New Zealand industry.  7. Every effort will be made to acquire contracts for New Zealand industry for the supply to our allies of food, clothing, footwear, and other military requirements.  Earthquake and war damage. The operation of the Earthquake and War Damage Act will be reviewed to ensure:  1. That adequate and fair coverage is extended to cover equitably storm damage to insured property.  2. That where an insurance party lodges more than one claim which can be directly related to a common initial cause (e.g. case earthquake followed by aftershock), only one franchise will be paid.  3. That present provisions whereby damage resulting from or through landslide is excluded will be amended to achieve more just treatment of this class of damage.  4. That the exclusion of any insured property from cover must be advised before the premium is accepted.  5. That when people effect an insurance coverage the company concerned will, by law, be required to specify their exact degree of protection under Earthquake and War Damage.  Education. The basis of the Labour Party’s education policy was admirably stated by the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser when he said: Our objective, broadly expressed is that every person, whatever his level of academic ability, whether he be rich or poor, whether he live in town or country, has a right, as a citizen, to a free education of the kind for which he is best fitted and to the fullest extent of his powers. The Labour Party's education policy aims to restore this objective.  SCHOOLS.  1. Expand pre-school education by removing many of the restrictions on building and equipment subsidies for kindergartens and play centres. Rural, urban and newly developing areas where there are children from ethnic minority groups will receive immediate special attention.  1. Aim to implement within three years the recommendations of the 1962 Currie Report relating to class sizes, namely a maximum of 20 pupils in sixth form, 30 in third to fifth forms and 35 in primary and intermediate school classes.  2. Provide more part-time assistants to allow more effective use of fully trained staff.  4. Promote higher standards of teaching by making adequate increased grants for free textbooks.  1. Ensure that primary and secondary schools are provided with suitable library accommodation and are given an increased grant for books and storage.  2. Encourage the use of television and audio-visual aids to supplement the work of teachers. "Closed circuit" T.V. will be experimented with in selected schools and teachers trained in television techniques.  3. Replace the School Certificate examination with a suitable certificate of attainment for all school leavers.  4. Expand psychological and counselling services at all levels so as to ensure that by 1972 every school shall have access to these services.  5. Drastically reform, update, and make more adequate the Vocational Guidance and Careers Advisory Services so that they are in close communication with secondary schools and are large enough to give advice to all school leavers.  6. Make a concentrated drive to bring our country schools, especially secondary schools, up to the best standard in staff, equipment and buildings. To this end, the following steps will be taken:  - Education Boards will be given discretionary powers to authorise longer school bus routes.  - Private transport allowances will be increased.  - More hostel accommodation will be provided.  - Boarding allowances will be increased.  - Where it is in the interests of good education, Form I-VI schools will be established.  1. Cater for the special problems created in urban and rural schools where there are children from ethnic minority groups or other special situations.  2. Redouble efforts to raise as speedily as possible the level of educational attainment of Maori pupils.  3. Extend vocational guidance and careers advisory services to secure earlier and more effective contact with the Maori pupil and his parents. Similar arrangements will be made for island children.  4. Accelerate the replacement of teaching "prefabs" with good quality mobile classrooms.  5. Build suitable gymnasia at high schools as soon as possible.  6. Distribute direct grants to school committees in such a manner that the needs of all schools are adequately met.  Teachers.  1. Raise the minimum qualification for entry into teacher training colleges to University entrance.  2. Establish improved conditions of service and salary scales to attract and keep teachers of the highest calibre.  3. Create promotion opportunities for good teachers who would rather continue active teaching than assume top administrative duties.  4. Institute a permanent scheme for the periodic retraining of teachers (i.e. study leave).  5. Assist further University training and retraining of teachers with supplementary bursaries and provide proportionate help for part-time university students.  6. Give full-time bursaries for teachers undertaking university study and recognise the results through salary increases and promotion opportunities.  7. Enable greater flexibility within the Government service by introducing a Government Service Bond to replace the present secondary school and other special government bonds and set up a tribunal empowered to grant dispensation in special cases.  Tertiary.  1. Technical institutes will be upgraded.  25. Widen cross crediting within tertiary institutions such as technical institutes and community colleges.  26. Maori pupils will be encouraged to take greater advantage of secondary schools, technical institutes and university facilities  27. Introduce community colleges to provide a greater variety of tertiary education and vocational, technical and professional training appropriate to the needs of a developing community.  28. Support the principle of Residential Centres for tertiary education, paying particular attention to the need for facilities of this kind for special groups wishing to engage in general studies, e.g. management and industrial relations.  29. Establish staff salaries more nearly competitive with those in other countries, so that we can compete for our teachers in what is an international market.  30. Make available in increasing amounts, money to support research projects at our universities, partly to meet the increasing cost of sophisticated equipment and partly to extend the boundaries of knowledge.  31. Extend assistance to encourage part-time students who do not receive the benefits of the present bursary system. Make available a wider range of subjects to those working for a degree extramurally and afford greater opportunities to them to complete their degrees at universities.  32. Accelerate the building programme to meet the rapid expansion of student numbers and ensure that suitably qualified students will not be denied entry because of lack of room.  ADULT EDUCATION.  33. More imaginatively develop and facilitate training and retraining of the workforce in areas of redundancy or those where changing patterns of production demand a change or an upgrading of skills.  34. In co-operation with National Council Adult Education and other interested organisations seek an increasing participation of Maori and Island people in adult education activities.  35. Give increased support, to adult education to assist the many voluntary bodies in this field as well as making it possible to expand the work of the Extension Departments of our universities.  RESEARCH.  36. Initiate comprehensive research into matters such as:  - Educational difficulties facing ethnic groups disadvantaged in a European environment.  - The core curriculum.  - Research at all levels.  - Teacher training.  37. Call a widely representative conference on education to formulate a new curriculum for and philosophy of education in New Zealand.  INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.  38. Children attending independent schools do so because their parents exercise what is an entirely, proper and free choice. This right must be preserved but the welfare of the child is of paramount consideration. It is clear that because some parents do exercise this free choice the general taxpayer is saved a considerable sum of money.  (a) Any assistance given to independent schools will not be made at the expense of the State school system.  (b) Labour would encourage any independent schools that wished to integrate themselves into, the State system and would safeguard salaries and conditions of any teachers at these schools.  (c) Existing aid to independent schools will be continued at present levels.  (d) The most important problem facing all schools, whether independent or State, is a reduction in class sizes and improved conditions for teachers. To this end payment will be made in respect of certificated teachers in independent schools at a rate equal to one-half of the rate payable to certificated teacher in a comparable position in a state school. Positions of responsibility will be allowed for on the same basis as in a State school. Salary adjustments will be payable for the period commencing 1st February 1970. This would be regarded as an interim measure pending the findings of the conference mentioned in (f) and has been designed primarily to help pupils immediately and allay the anxiety of parents over their children's education.  (e) To qualify for this form of assistance independent schools must move to measure up to State schools in terms of class size limits, equipment provided, standards set and buildings used.  (f) Within six months, a conference of all parties concerned, political as well as education, will be called to determine a fair and just solution to this problem. Following the Conference Parliament will be asked to amend the Education Act accordingly.  Fair price policy. LABOUR believes the people of New Zealand are entitled to be protected against unreasonable price increases and other unfair practices which force up living costs and erode the family’s income. Under an eight-point plan:  1. A Labour Government will take early legislative action to ensure that the public is protected from improper trade practices, deceptive packaging, misleading advertising and unfair prices for goods and services.  2. To this end, the Trade Practices and Prices Commission will be expanded. Working in conjunction with the Consumers' Institute, the Commission will be required to investigate and publicise cases of deceptive packaging and misleading advertising.  3. Legislation will be introduced making it an offence to prepack any commodity in a non-transparent container unless the guaranteed minimum weight, number or measure of the contents is clearly indicated upon the container.  4. A Labour Government will introduce legislation requiring importers, distributors and manufacturers to notify the Commission not less than six weeks prior to increasing the price for any consumer commodity, supplying to the Commission provable justification for the proposed increase. Failure to notify increases, to be the subject of prosecution.  5. The prices of a basic list of goods vitally influencing the cost of living will be fairly and firmly controlled by the Commission. Wage and salary awards and agreements will be automatically adjusted at regular, intervals to compensate for increases in the cost of goods and services on this basic list. Social Security benefits will be subject to similar adjustments.  6. A Labour Government would instruct the Trades Practices Commission to conduct an early enquiry into servicing charges such home appliance repairs, motor vehicle repairs and home maintenance, with a view to establishing with the trades concerned a fair basis for accepted service charges.  7. The Trade Practices Commission will be empowered to order the dismantling of monopolies operating against the public interest, and to prohibit mergers and take-overs found by it to be contrary to the public interest.  8. Where, due to the absence of effective competition or for other reasons, prices of selected goods or services become unreasonably high, Labour will not hesitate to use price control, though there are practical limitations as to the extent to which price control can be employed.  FINANCE AND TAXATION. LABOUR’S purpose is to ensure a steady rate of economic growth within a framework of full employment. Despite the weakness of a dependent economy that cannot avoid all the effects of overseas fluctuations, we intend to remove the local causes of the stop-go cycle that has plagued the community for so long. Credit policy will be designed to stimulate growth without dangers of over-expansion, rather than to restrict the economy after it has been allowed to overheat. Taxation policy will encourage productive effort of all kinds and reward those who save out of income for further investment. Borrowing and investment will also be directed to the increase of production, within the limits of the short-term repayment problem created by the present National Government. At all times, this development will be related to market possibilities in the export field, but a major aim of the policy will be to ensure that effective control remains in New Zealand. Reciprocal trade increased imports as we succeed in expanding exports will enable a LABOUR Government to draw more of its revenue from customs duties and sales tax on the increase of imports. The expansion of exports will increase incomes in New Zealand, so that the total requirements of the Government can be spread over a wider base, allowing for adjustments in personal exemptions on income tax that will be of direct benefit to those on the lower incomes.  POLICY DETAILS. CREDIT POLICY The aim must be the expansion of production and the fairer distribution of goods and services. As the past three years highlight, however, New Zealand's domestic incomes must be related to her earnings overseas. There has to be a close relationship between the internal credit level and the trend of overseas trade returns. While, expansion generally requires more credit and currency, the supply at present is expanded by a wide range of banking and quasibanking institutions, the Reserve Bank, trading banks, finance companies, stock and station agents, hire-purchase and insurance companies and the short-term money market. Such agencies are not equally well placed to make allowance for what is happening both at home and abroad. The private institutions do more than decide between the competing claims for credit. They influence its price and also the amount created or made available. For efficiency and competition, it is not a bad thing that there is such variety in the conduct of day-to-day business, but for the central decisions on credit policy it is essential that there should be one authority, with full information on world trends and a wide view of the New Zealand situation.  1. The Reserve Bank must have this role. It will act as adviser to and agent for the Government, who will also have advice from Treasury and the National Development Council.  All the other financial institutions will maintain their roles in the normal banking and exchange business except where this now involves alterations in the level and cost of credit. They will be legally obliged to follow the general policies of the Reserve Bank in this area of activity.  The Governor of the Reserve Bank will have clear authority over actions of institutions and individuals that deal in credit or accept deposits from the public for this purpose. The Reserve Bank Act will make this absolutely clear, and will ensure also that the Governor acts on instructions from the Government conveyed to him by the Minister of Finance.  1. The Labour Party’s long-standing commitment to effective, indicative planning continues and is the basis for our support of the National Development Council.  2. With the advice of the Reserve Bank, Treasury, and the National Development Council, the Labour Government will use the community’s credit resources to re-establish full employment and make it a permanent policy based on sound fiscal measures.  3. The Bank of New Zealand, as the only trading bank wholly-owned in this country, will be required to take a more competitive role and assume the leadership of the management of the detailed operations of the financial system.  SAVINGS, BORROWING, CREDIT AND INVESTMENT  Savings are vital to the increase of capital assets. Aiming to encourage savings, tax concessions that reward the act of saving will be offered.  5. Savings, revenue from current taxation and some new credit will be blended into the programme of investment. In seeking full productive investment, the needs of the private sector for a share of the funds available will not be ignored. The proportions in which the three components are blended will remain under regular review by Government, Reserve Bank, Treasury and the National Development Council.  6. Consistent with the needs of a sound economy and with the more effective supervision over private activities in credit creation, the State should and will create and use credit at the cost of issue for purposes of approved capital development.  7. Interest rates will not be the sole attraction for saving, as these also push up the cost of investments. Inducements will be extended to individuals and companies, as set out in the section on taxation, so that a proportion of current income may be set aside for future investment, without becoming liable to tax while it is so held or when it is spent on approved development.  8. To establish real competition among institutions that attract small savings, the Labour Government will re-open the question of a cheque system or withdrawal orders for the P.O.S.B. and the Trustee Savings Bank.  9. The introduction of the computerised clearing system of the private trading banks emphasises the value of Labour’s earlier proposals for a Post Office giro modelled on the Swedish and British systems. Extension of the present data bank system to bring in the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks will be treated as an urgent matter.  10. In accordance with its traditional policy, Labour will work to reduce interest rates.  11. To curb the high interest charges of some hire purchase and leasing agreements, trading and savings banks will be permitted to extend activities in the field of personal loans. In general, this will reduce interest charges to credit-worthy borrowers who have a savings account and wish to buy in the normal range of consumer durable goods.  12. The programme of overseas borrowing will be limited to the inherited need to manage the external debt and to the direct requirements of the development plan for New Zealand where current earnings remain insufficient. Labour opposes continued borrowing where this merely postpones decisions on balance of payment problems, but recognises that there still exists a likelihood of crisis resulting from trade fluctuations overseas. There will be a long term policy of better management, to harmonise current earnings and spending, but there is still the short-term problem to be considered. New Zealand’s trading position is still vulnerable.  Industrial development must be slower if we rely on local savings and export income than if there is a moderate programme of borrowing. There will be judicious resort to long- term overseas borrowing, to finance an investment plan that uses such funds to expand exports and achieve import substitution.  There will be regular provision for the retirement of overseas loans and much more attention to avoiding the coincidence of maturity dates that has confounded National’s short- term borrowing. In buoyant times more of our earnings will be set aside for loan redemption and overseas reserves instead of being exhausted by consumer spending.  13. Within the borrowing proposals, Labour will resist any outside interference with domestic credit policies. It rejects the notion that unemployment should be used as an economic regulator. Despite repayments, however, the country is still in debt to the I.M.F. and World Bank so that talk of early withdrawal is unrealistic. With the need to build and strengthen the economy, efforts to repay all the borrowings would be beyond our means in any immediately foreseeable period.  14. For selected industrial development, overseas capital will be sought, preferably in the form of debentures; capital will be channelled to projects through an expanded Industrial Development Finance Corporation, most of whose fund-raising will be done on the local market or from the proceeds of company savings derived through the tax concessions.  15. Because the aim is to retain New Zealand control over development, all proposals which involve the investment of capital controlled by non-residents, whether in new enterprises, in land or for the purchase of existing concerns, will be scrutinised by a special new Authority. Internally-directed takeover bids will be subject to the same Authority. This Authority will consist of five members, appointed by the Governor-General. There will be a right of appeal to the Administrative Division of the Supreme Court against its decisions. It will be required to base its decisions on the broad principle of the national interest, to oppose monopolies unless they are clearly shown to be in the public interest, and to prevent any investment that has, as its main or substantial result, the transfer of profits previously payable within New Zealand to overseas investors.  TAXATION. The Labour Party will use tax and credit policies as the main regulators of the New Zealand economy, with direct controls where necessary, instead of contrived changes in the employment level, to modify the demand for imports. Because human labour is the main source of wealth, tax policy will be designed to reduce disincentives for all who work. Concessions will aim at encouraging greater productive effort. In accepting that present levels of direct taxation on income constitute a disincentive to further effort, Labour takes the view that changes should apply through the whole range of incomes, not just in particular brackets, and sees no merit in merely shifting the tax burden by the imposition of levies on essential expenditure. The main proposals for reducing direct taxation centre on the levels of personal exemptions, and in the concessions to be made for savings from income. Labour will reverse the National Party's policy which has held the level of personal exemption from 1960 to 1969, so that the rising money incomes have produced an even greater increase in the income tax collected, particularly from those on the lower incomes. Taxation concessions will be approved to encourage savings from current income for the purpose of home or farm purchase, and agricultural or industrial expansion. Labour subscribes to the view that tax levels should be related to the taxpayer's ability to pay, and should not be punitive. Accordingly, taxation rates will be reviewed so that those who, by increased production or greater service obtain a consequent increase in income, are not penalised as at present by the general application of higher tax rate.  PRODUCTION INCENTIVES. Labour will introduce production incentives to wage and salary earners:  A. Tax on Overtime. The maximum rate of tax on overtime earnings of any wage or salary earner shall not exceed the highest rate payable on the income earned on the base working week at ordinary rates of pay. This rebate will only apply to earnings from hours actually worked in excess of the basic working week in the same job.  Tax Deduction-Shift Workers. Many industries use expensive plant and equipment which is worked only one eight-hour shift for say a total of 40 hours a week. This means that the whole overhead of that industry has to be borne by the output of one shift or on forty hours of operating time per week. If such plant could be operated for longer periods, overhead costs could be spread over a greater volume of production, thus reducing the cost of production and the price of goods. If these goods are destined for export markets, lower costs of production would make them more competitive and help New Zealand earn more overseas funds. Better results would be achieved if such plants could be operated more continuously. This form of production involving a multi-shift basis of work, including rotational shift work, can have social disadvantages for those who work at nights, on weekends and so on. To compensate such employees and to offer an incentive to those who elect to work shifts, it is proposed, as a first step, to grant a tax rebate equal to 10 per cent of the total income tax liability incurred by the individual. In light of experience of the operations of this, production incentives for wage earners in other categories, where such incentives are likely to contribute to industrial efficiency and productivity, will be explored.  C. Secondary Tax. The present system of taxing secondary income acts, in many cases, as a disincentive to extra effort, therefore individuals undertaking secondary employment will, on application, be permitted to become annual taxpayers in respect to their secondary earnings. Savings concession will be directed to those seeking to save for home purchase, to farm employees trying to buy a farm, to established farmers pursuing development projects and to industrialists wishing to expand or modernise. The concessions will be on savings from current income, paid into special accounts and set aside for approved forms of future expenditure. This will help generate the supply of funds for Government and private expansion on which sound growth must be based. Labour is not bound to the full adoption of the Ross Committee's Report on Taxation and sees equity in the principle that the taxpayer's contribution must always be related to his ability to pay. Labour will, therefore, review the committee's proposal to balance the income tax concessions, which have already been announced, with new and higher taxes on selected expenditure, which the National Government has refrained from defining. Insofar as such proposals represent a shift of the tax burden on to those less able to carry it, the committee's report is not acceptable to the Labour Party. Where concessions on direct taxation, desirable in themselves, are not covered by revenue on an expanding national income, Labour insist that compensatory proposals shall not bear unfairly on the lower income groups.  Fishing industry. Although the potential fish catch around New Zealand's shores cannot be accurately estimated, there is sufficient evidence from fishermen, marine biologists, and other scientists to indicate that there is an abundance of species of fish, particularly in deep water, which have not been adequately studied. LABOUR believes that recent legislation does not give the Fishing Industry Board sufficient power or money to develop the industry.  LABOUR will accelerate research, and will establish a public corporation to ensure full utilisation of fishing resources.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. A Labour Government will establish a public corporation for the expansion, development and diversification of the fishing industry for the home market and for export.  2. An extensive research programme, covering marine life, catching methods, equipment, and gear, processing, packaging and marketing will be undertaken.  3. Extensions of fish farming will be fully investigated. Pilot schemes and approved projects will be eligible, for financial assistance from the Fishing Industry Corporation.  4. Co-operative enterprise through all stages of harvesting processing and marketing will be fostered.  5. New Zealand's fishing grounds will be protected and all laws, national and international designed to protect our rights, will be enforced.  Foreign investment in New Zealand. New Zealand's agricultural, factory, and servicing industries have the right to protection from foreign investment which could prejudice their existence, independence or economic viability.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. Under a Labour Government foreign investment in New Zealand will be strictly supervised.  2. The value of proposed foreign investment will be measured in terms of its contribution to the type and quality of economic growth it implies.  3. Subsidiaries of overseas companies will continue to be required to issue full financial reports.  4. For selected industrial development, overseas capital will be sought, preferably in the form of debentures; capital will be channelled to projects through an expanded Industrial Development Finance Corporation, to ensure the highest possible level of New Zealand participation in ownership in New Zealand industry.  5. Because the aim is to retain New Zealand control over development, all proposals which involve the investment of capital controlled by non-residents whether in new enterprises or land or for the purchase of existing concerns, will be scrutinised by a special new Authority. This Authority will consist of five members appointed by the governor-general. There will be a right of appeal to the administrative decision of the Supreme Court against its decisions. It will be required to base its decisions on the broad principles of the national interest to oppose monopolies unless they are clearly shown to be in the public interest and to prevent any investment that has at its main on substantial result, the transfer of profits payable within New Zealand to overseas investors.  6. All takeover proposals, whether by New Zealand or overseas interests, will be subject to examination by this Authority.  Forestry. LABOUR recognises the great potential for forest development and timber-based industries in New Zealand. A LABOUR Government will provide the financial and technical assistance for increased State and private forest planting. Optimum land utilisation will be studied to prevent any clash between forestry and farming.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. Particular attention will be given to expected local requirements as well as to export potential when the distribution of new plantings of exotic timbers is planned.  2. Detailed land utilisation surveys will be carried out before land is acquired for afforestation to ensure that there is no clash between forestry and farming.  3. Labour will give priority to forest planting critical catchment areas, and indigenous forests in such areas will be preserved.  1. Planting for sand dune reclamation will be accelerated.  2. Industries using timber as a raw material are particularly appropriate to Labour's industrial decentralisation policy, and their development will be fostered. Particular attention will be given to timber-based industries producing for export, and to those which try to diversify, timber exports beyond pulp and paper and create added value to the basic product.  3. The farm forestry encouragement scheme will be continued, with special emphasis on planning for conservation purposes. The scheme will be used to help local, bodies and private interests provide sufficient exotic timbers to meet local needs. The Chatham Islands will be included in the full scope of the farm forestry encouragement policy.  7. The special transport needs of the industry will be surveyed to allow for future expansion and to ensure supplies of timber to areas remote from forests. The needs of the forestry industry will form part of the general transport survey to be conducted by the Transport Council.  8. Maori Land Incorporations formed to produce timber will be encouraged where Maori land is suitable only for afforestation,  9. Research into all aspects of timber production, including timber treatment, will be extended. The aim of research will be to develop and diversify the utilisation of forest resources.  Health. Everyone is entitled to the best possible health service. The only acceptable criterion of a person’s right to medical care ought to be a person's need. All people who need medical care should receive it as of right. To arrest the erosion in medical care which has been permitted in recent years, our health services will be restored.  DOCTORS' FEES.  1. People matter. Rising doctors' fees are placing an increasing financial burden on patients. Labour will negotiate with the medical profession with a view to re-introducing the original objective of a free medical service. Specialist services must be brought within the general concept of the free medical service.  2. Machinery will be set up to adjust the General Medical Service Benefit at five-yearly intervals as from 1970. Such adjustment to relate to movements in the costs of servicing general practices.  GROUP PRACTICE.  1. Group practice will be fostered as a means of improving health services. Finance at attractive rates of interest will be made available for the establishment of group surgery which may include facilities for dentists.  2. Expand the present provision for post-graduate study so that qualifications such as the present Diploma of Obstetrics are available in the following fields: Paediatrics, Cardiology, Geriatrics, Casualty Surgery, Psychiatry.  3. Medical team. Encourage community medical teams based on group practice.  COUNTRY PRACTICES.  6.  (a) Improve the availability of doctors and health services for people in country districts, smaller towns and regional centres.  (b) Regularly review mileage rates in consultation with practitioners.  (c) Introduce an allowance to cover time spent travelling.  (d) Designate country practices difficult to fill as special practices. Doctors working in these practices will be eligible for post-graduate bursaries.  HOSPITAL SYSTEM.  7. Provide a humane Public Hospital System where the medical and individual needs of the patient are not dominated by monetary considerations.  8. More adequate consultant and outpatient services will be established within the public hospital system.  1. Waiting lists or medical attention will be attacked. The first step will be to survey waiting lists. This survey will establish whether the bottleneck in a particular hospital is caused by shortage of beds, medical or nursing staff. In accordance with the result of the survey, Hospital Boards will be enabled either to provide more inpatient accommodation or make more efficient use, of existing accommodation so that hospital treatment can be provided, more promptly. To avoid needless duplication the fullest possible use will be made of existing hospital facilities.  2. Reconstitute and expand the Hospital Advisory Council. Its new membership will include direct representation of the medical profession.  3. Require the Hospital Advisory Council to examine each proposal for the building of a new hospital and review the present usage of existing hospitals with a view to ensuring the most effective and efficient use of available resources.  4. Require the Council to accept and give proper consideration to representations from local communities and/or individuals and in such, cases to give publicly the reasons for its decisions.  5. Make provision for hospital boards to provide bursaries for junior staff taking the Diploma of Casualty Surgery and post-graduate study.  14. Continue with greater flexibility the recently introduced system of allocating a total amount of finance to each Board each year. Where new approved services are introduced or local conditions such as rapidly expanding population arise, separate provisions will be made.  Psychiatry.  15. Bring, where possible, the administration of regional psychiatric hospitals under the control of Hospital Boards provided that the welfare of patients is safeguarded and that no person employed in a psychiatric hospital will suffer loss or be adversely affected as a result of such action.  16. Expand outpatient psychiatric services, including day hospitals.  17. Provide closer co-operation between the universities, teaching hospitals and present psychiatric hospitals in the training of all engaged in psychiatric or therapeutic psychology.  MEDICAL SCHOOLS (Medical education).  18. Expand as rapidly as possible the pre-clinical teaching facilities in Dunedin and Auckland.  19. Supplement the separate clinical medical schools of Auckland and Dunedin by establishing clinical medical schools in Christ-church and Wellington and being planning for a third clinical medical school.  GERIATRICS  20. Raise and expand the general standard of accommodation of the aged.  21. Enable persons who own a family home and find themselves unable to maintain it to invest in a smaller unit or a local body sponsored ownership pensioner flat scheme.  22. Provide for the State Advances Corporation and the Public Trustee to handle all details of the sale, purchase and shifting where elderly people feel discouraged by these involvements.  23. Make provision, on a liberal basis for a movable or prefab accommodation at a low rental to assist families who have sufficient land to care for their aged relatives at home.  24. Overrule by statute or regulation local body by laws which inhibit this development.  25. Make increased provision under the district nursing services for pensioner welfare officers.  26. Extend meals on wheels and linen services to cover cleaning services where physical disability requires it.  27. Provide subsides for the alteration of existing institutions to allow more adequate care of the frail, aged and infirm.  28. Provide maintenance subsidies for institutions caring for the more disabled.  29. Provide an increased number of geriatric and long-stay beds in all general hospitals.  30. Establish geriatric and long-stay units in association with each Clinical Teaching Hospital.  31. Assist private institutions to provide sick bay accommodation where numbers justify it.  32. Require, before a new licence is granted, or an existing one is renewed under the Old Peoples act 1961 that the applicant is or employs a registered nurse or a person of higher qualification and that formal Magisterial approval as to the character of the applicant has been handed to the Department of Health.  33. To relieve unnecessary anxiety a subsidy up to $2,50 per day will be paid to elderly or invalid persons resident in homes licensed under the Old People's Home Act 1965.  34. Set up a New Zealand Council representative of voluntary community and official organisations, to examine and advise upon the humanitarian social welfare needs of the aged, frail and the invalid.  PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS.  35. There are an increasing number of complaints about the rising costs of medicine and drugs supplied on prescription. A Labour Government will carry out a detailed study of the cost of pharmaceutical benefits to ensure that full value is being obtained for the money expended. At the same time, the existing list of approved pharmaceutics that may be prescribed without cost to the patient will be examined with a view to adding such additional drugs as may be necessary.  36. Labour will encourage girls to take up nursing as a career by making a realistic survey of pay rate hours of work, examination fees and other conditions of employment. Charges for meals supplied to nurses on night and special duties will be abolished.  37. So that the nursing profession will remain open to all who will make good nurses Labour will provide that ant qualified nurse aid or community nurse, with or without School Certificate, will be eligible for general training.  38. The position of psychiatric nurses will be protected in the event of any transfer of control from mental to hospital control.  DENTAL SERVICES.  39. Free dental services will be available to dependent children until they are 18.  40. Orthodontic treatment, for dependent children will be incorporated in the Social Security scheme.  MILK IN SCHOOLS  41. Labour will reintroduce the Milk in Schools scheme. The control of the issue of milk to the children will become a Government responsibility.  PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.  42. Preventive medicine and early diagnosis procedures play an important part in improving the health of the community. A Labour Government will place mere emphasis on the preventive measures which surveys show are the most effective.  AIR POLLUTION.  43. Labour recognises the problem of air pollution and its aggravation by expanding industry and motor transport. Standards of control are inadequate, existing legislation piece-meal and, in many cases, ineffective.  Labour, therefore, will:  (a) revise, consolidate and extend existing legislation under a specific Clean Air Act.  (b) establish, under the Act, a Clean Air Advisory Council.  (c) give the Council power to prescribe standards and set practices.  (d) provide for the Act to bind the Crown.  FLUORIDATION.  44. Fluoridation is a matter which is wholly within the responsibility of Local Authorities. It is a matter that has traditionally rested between Local Authorities and their residents. Where fluoridation of water supplies is disputed and the majority of members of the local Authority were elected without giving an indication of their attitude to fluoridation, the holding of a poll on this issue can be justified.  HOUSING. The LABOUR PARTY has always affirmed that every New Zealander has the right to adequate housing, and that the community has a responsibility to assist those who are unable to suitably house themselves. This traditional policy will be continued by assisting those who wish to own their own house by building State-owned houses for lease or rent for those unable to contemplate home purchase or ownership, and by encouraging local bodies to provide community-owned housing.  POLICY DETAILS.  1. The National Housing Council will be re-constituted and required to meet regularly.  2. Social and cultural advancement are essential of housing development is to lead to happy, well-adjusted and satisfying communities. This calls for acceptance of the principle of planned, integrated development. We will, therefore, ensure that special attention is given to the part that complete new city development can play in meeting the requirements of a growing population. To this end the planning division of the Ministry of Works will be considerably strengthened.  3. To meet the needs of homeseekers, accelerate house building and ensure that quality is maintained.  4. Organise the building of houses for sale, lease, rent or deferred purchase.  5. Give special attention to high-density housing and multi-storey, flats to avoid the social and economic waste caused by urban sprawl, to minimise transport costs and to reduce the continual encroachment of housing on valuable agricultural land.  1. Increase the number of sections to be acquired and serviced and made available to the public for home building.  2. Work to progressively lower home ownership costs by reducing interest rates.  3. Increase the mortgage guarantee for the purchase of existing homes and, in special circumstances, provide for an additional amount for both new and existing homes.  4. Expand the eligibility for State Advances loans for existing homes.  5. Introduce a more liberal policy when assessing eligibility for capitalisation for new and existing homes.  6. Amend the Trustee Act, the Trustee Savings Bank Act, and the Building Societies Act to enable a higher proportion to be advanced on freehold residential property.  7. Make houses available on long-term lease. In addition, State tenants who wish it will be given a long-term lease at an adjusted rental. They would be required to undertake the payment of rates and to maintain the building in good repair.  8. Eliminate arbitrary limits on State Advances loans. The Corporation will determine each application on its merits, take into account high cost areas, the credit worthiness of the applicant, and the fact that an applicant may have been unable to accumulate savings because of trade training or higher education or volunteer service abroad. The objective is to finance the maximum number of houses on a first mortgage basis.  9. Exclude overtime and bonus payments from the income on which eligibility for 3% loans is based. The income limit will be $2,300 a year, plus an additional $200 for each de pendent child.  10. Introduce a 4% loan scheme for applicants whose ordinary income does not exceed $3,000, plus $200 for each dependent child.  16. Enable State Advances loans on homes to be transferred when the property is sold. The loan to be transferable either to the new owner of the property or to a new approved property purchased by the mortgagee.  17. Encourage Post Office home lay-by accounts. The present limit of $2,000 in home lay-by accounts will be raised to $4,000, with a maximum deposit $1000 in any one year. Savings of $4,000 spread over a minimum of four years will earn a free deposit of $200 plus normal interest, and smaller free deposits will be earned on savings over two years.  STATE AND PENSIONER HOUSING.  18. Increase the number of homes built for the State Advances, corporation for rental, sale or long-term lease according to the requirements and circumstances of the applicants concerned.  19. The income bar for State house tenancy will be increased.  20. Regularly review the income bar for State house tenancy to ensure that it does not fall behind changing purchasing power.  21. Take urgent steps to accelerate the construction of pensioner housing. Pensioner units will be incorporated and distributed within every major new housing project.  22. Encourage religious and charitable organisations to provide accommodation for the aged and infirm by generous State subsidies. Subsidies will be either 90% of the total cost, or 100% of the building, with land and furniture the responsibility of the organisation concerned.  23. Make available at a low rental removable living quarters, adjacent to existing dwellings to assist families who have sufficient land to care for their aged relatives at home.  24. Initiate a thorough investigation of the building industry with particular emphasis on local body and finance institution requirements, building standards and material costs, with a view to developing a high standard of home construction at minimum cost.  25. Provision will be made in eases of hardship that will enable homeowners to refinance their home.  IMMIGRATION. New Zealand should immediately lift its immigration targets. Current Labour shortages, particularly skilled labour, in some regions demand immediate action on immigration.  1. Immigration has been of considerable benefit to New Zealand in the past. Similarly, in the long-term, New Zealand stands to gain from immigration in the future.  2. An accelerated passage, scheme for selected British and non-British immigrants will be operated at the maximum level that employment, economic situation, housing and social conditions permit. In selecting immigrants, preference will be given to skilled tradesmen in specified fields with special skills and/or experience.  3. Such additional Government assistance as may be necessary to achieve adequate levels of immigration will be provided.  4. Suitable semi-skilled people will be eligible for assisted passage and will, along with New Zealanders, be offered the opportunity to acquire new or higher skills through a subsidised industry training scheme.  5. To ensure that inflexible age restrictions do not unreasonably interfere with normal and desirable family relationships, a more liberal attitude will be adapted towards applications by European and non-European immigrants who have already settled and raised families in New Zealand to have their parents join them from abroad.  6. Because New Zealand cannot isolate itself from the pressures and problems arising out of non-European immigration New Zealand's non-European immigration policy must be kept under constant and careful scrutiny if our country is to avoid social, political and economic problems and at the same time-treat fairly and justly the non-European who desires to migrate. New Zealand should make it clear by its method of deciding whom to admit that it is concerned about:  (a) The capacity to absorb migrants without social or economic strain. This will be the main determinant of the level intake, for non-Europeans as  Europeans. Such capacity will be determined by the need to avoid housing congestion and unemployment and to ensure harmonious integration with the rest of the community.  (b) The accepting of close relatives of those already settled here. Other immigrants should fall within selected occupational categories.  (c) The ratio between male and female migrants from each non-European country should be kept relatively even.  (d) All immigrants coming here would be required to meet satisfactory standards and should be encouraged to seek New Zealand citizenship.  Importing. As long as there is a shortage of overseas funds, some form of quantitative or tariff restrictions upon imports will be necessary.  1. Import selection will be exercised to protect overseas reserves, enable industry to develop and expand and to restore and maintain a continuity of full employment.  2. Blanket import licensing will not be applied.  3. Where a new industry requires a period of protection, or where local manufacture results in substantial savings in overseas funds, quantitative restrictions will be enforced.  4. Where raw materials are still licensed a system of guaranteed minimum licences for a period of three years will be instituted. Manufacturers in these categories will not have their basic licences cut in that period, and will be able to plan production knowing that the only adjustments or alterations will be the approval of additional supplementary licences as overseas funds permit.  5. A Labour Government will move progressively towards the issue of end-user licenses to give manufacturers and processors a guaranteed supply of raw materials and components.  6. To encourage manufacturers to develop manufacture in depth by making components formerly imported or using local alternatives, special licence adjustments will be made.  7. Licensing procedures will be reviewed in order to ensure that new importers are not penalised whilst others who are no longer active in the trade for which the licences they still hold were issued are able to obtain an unfair trading advantage.  8. With the establishment of an Export-Import Corporation all bilateral trade deals will be transacted by the Corporation which will make goods imported under such arrangements freely available through normal channels of commercial distribution.  9. A review of the activities of the Tariff and Development Board and the Emergency Protection Authority will be treated as a matter of urgency in order to expedite the hearing of cases either before the Board or Authority.  Industrial development.  The steel, aluminium and oil industries, initiated by the second LABOUR Government, herald the beginning of an era of unprecedented industrial opportunity for New Zealand. The maximum development of local industries, especially those utilising indigenous raw materials and minerals, will be encouraged, with the maximum participation of local capital as the means of broadening, strengthening and advancing the New Zealand economy, living standards and security of employment. Industrial development in some centres has already reached the stage where it will continue to generate further expansion. In other localities, however, population has outstripped employment and industrial capacity. For social as well as economic reasons, industry must be expanded in such districts to provide employment for more young People within the local community and to increase local prosperity.  1. The Development Finance Corporation will be reorganised, its capital structure greatly expanded, its lending ability broadened, and it will be directed to play a more positive role -in the development and expansion of New Zealand industry by New Zealanders.  2. Every encouragement and assistance will be provided by a Labour Government towards the early development of new industries based upon steel, aluminium, all and natural gas.  3. To encourage development and expansion, industry will be encouraged to set aside a proportion of current income for future investment in an investment account with the Development Finance Corporation, such funds to be not liable for tax purposes whilst so in-vested or when subsequently used, an approved development.  4. Regional industrial development will be fostered to expand employment opportunities (particularly for young people), increase earnings and stimulate business activity in the smaller centres.  5. To this end the Development Finance Corporation will be authorised to operate an Industrial Development Section. Areas which justify special industrial development will be nominated by the Corporation and approved by Government as special development districts.  6. Industrial Development Councils will be established in special development districts to recommend to the Corporation the type of assistance necessary, either for existing or projected industries. Each Council will include representatives of the commercial community and local government.  7. The Corporation will be authorised to grant the following assistance to approved industries:  (a) Rail freight subsidies of up to 50% towards the cartage of finished products to internal markets or export outlet.  (b) Finance at low rates of interest for factory construction or expansion and for the purchase of approved machinery which will increase productivity and employment.  (c) Guarantees to the State Advances, Corporation or other pending, institutions for housing for technicians or specialists brought from other areas,  (d) Provide guarantees to enable local bodies to raise finance for acquiring and developing approved industrial sites.  8. Where South Island exporters are disadvantaged either by excessive freight rates or infrequency of service, the Development Finance Corporation will negotiate with the Zealand Shipping Corporation to ensure the provision of alternative services at rates to off-set these disadvantages.  9. Every encouragement, including financial grants, will be provided for training workers to attain greater technical and managerial skills, with particular emphasis upon the re-training of redundant workers.  Industrial relations. The LABOUR PARTY adheres firmly to the principle of industrial conciliation and arbitration. Good industrial relations are important to everyone, and steps will be taken to repeal, amend or promote legislation which can improve industrial relations, working conditions and living standards.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. Nobody should be out of work. Under a Labour Government everyone willing to work and able to work shall have the right to work.  2. The Labour Department will be charged with enforcing the provisions of awards and agreements registered under the I.C. and A. Act.  3. The I.C. and A. Act 1954 will be amended to:  - Make provision for the Court of Arbitration to include in Awards and Industrial Agreements, on the application of the parties, amendments agreed to by the Employers' Federation and the Federation of Labour.  - Provide for equal pay for equal work.  - Bring workers such as agricultural workers who are outside the Act, within the Act, where adequate provisions for coverage does not now exist.  - Give adequate recognition to skill and knowledge, maintain margins for skill and ensure that the basic or unskilled rate is adequate to provide a reasonable standard of living.  - Ensure that workers receive a just re-turn from any increase in production.  4. The Minimum Wage Act 1945 will be amended to.  - remove discrimination against women.  - establish a level of minimum wage rates which will enable a worker to obtain a living wage for a forty-hour week.  5. Section 103, subsection 3, of the N.Z. Railways Act will be restored so that General Wage Orders and other pronouncements of the Court of Arbitration automatically apply to railway workers.  6. A Labour Government will amend the Factories Act to provide better working conditions in factories, particularly temperature, humidity, and noise control. Special steps will be taken to ensure that the provisions of the Act are enforced, and the Act will be extended to cover all workers not already protected by this or ether legislation, including employees of Government Departments and local bodies.  7. The Workers' Compensation Act will be reviewed in the light of the Woodhouse Report but with suitable safeguards to preserve certain common law rights.  Compensation and Personal Injury.  2. The Labour Party endorses the principles underlying the recommendations of the Woodhouse Commission, namely that the community has a responsibility to ensure provision of adequate compensation to all who suffer personal injury by accident and the dependants of those who are disabled or killed by accident. The Labour Party believes that the Commission's recommendations provide an answer to the waste and injustice of the present unsatisfactory legal situation and are a logical extension of the humanitarian philosophy of the Welfare State. Certain aspects of the proposals are universally acceptable and on becoming the Government, steps will be taken to enable these to be brought into operation.  3. The Waterfront Industries Act will be amended in the light of experience its 16 years of operation.  4. Management training schemes will be encouraged and assisted, particularly in technical institutes, to help employees in industry and administration acquire higher skills and training and assume greater responsibility.  5. The present annual holidays system under which some employees get three weeks' leave and others get only two is anomalous. A Labour Government will amend the Annual Holidays Act so that all workers receive a minimum of three weeks' annual leave.  6. Holiday pay is at present assessed on the basic wage earned at the time the leave is taken. Without limitation, a Labour Government will provide that holiday pay is based either on the average actual earnings of the employee during the preceding year or on the wage being paid at the time the leave is taken, whichever is the higher.  7. To help provide continuity and stability in the labour force, a Labour Government will encourage the introduction of long-service leave.  8. Industrial safety legislation will be reviewed to ensure that industrial safety can be more effectively promoted and- policed.  9. Sickness benefit will be paid from the first day a worker is off work where the time lost is one week or more. (See Social Security Policy for details of payments to workers who are laid off work through sickness.)  10. Introduce legislation similar to that which is in force overseas, to guarantee that workers who are displaced as a result of industrial change are assured of compensation and re-training to enable them to find suitable employment.  11. Suitable semi-skilled people will be eligible for assisted passage and will, along with New Zealanders, be offered the opportunity to acquire new or higher skills through a subsidised industry training scheme.  12. Because human labour is the main source of wealth, tax policy will be designed to reduce disincentives for all who work. Concessions will aim at encouraging greater productive effort.  13. Legislation will be introduced to protect the interests of contributors to private employee superannuation schemes.  20. In the interest of public safety and welfare of those employed in the industry, Labour will amend the Electricians Act 1969 to provide that:  (a) Any person engaged in electrical work must be a registered electrician or work under the proper supervision of a registered electrician.  (b) Electrical installations will be subject to inspections by qualified inspectors employed for this specific purpose.  INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. GENERAL POLICY:  1. The objective of the Labour Party's international affairs policy is to protect and retain the independence and security of our own and other countries, and to promote New Zealand's legitimate, interests wherever these can best be served.  2. To effectively pursue this objective. New Zealand must have a positive international affairs policy. New Zealand should not hesitate to express an independent viewpoint on international affairs, particularly on issues that bear on New Zealand's interests. Our international affairs policy seeks to:  (a) Secure and maintain a peaceful future for our country.  (b) Promote international co-operation, peace and harmony.  (c) Improve regional co-operation.  (d) Extend aid to developing countries.  (e) Provide for expanding and diversified trading opportunities.  1. In forming international affairs policy the Labour Party is constantly guided by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  2. The Labour Party's international affairs policy is based on democratic principles, on a belief in freedom and equality; on the belief that the use of force and threats in international affairs must give way to peaceful settlement and just solutions. All doctrines of racial superiority are totally rejected. Further, it is held that it is the bounded duty of affluent nations to help the poorer countries conquer poverty, disease, insecurity and want.  3. COMMONWEALTH: Whatever the shifts in trade it is certain that New Zealand's link with Britain will remain intimate and important, as will our friendship with other Commonwealth countries. Our aim would be to develop as far as New Zealand is able those common interests on which a continuing Commonwealth depends. A Labour Government would aim to maintain the traditional ties with the United Kingdom; to reassert our independence within the councils of Commonwealth countries; and work for the development of mutual interests, co-operation and peaceful relationships between all Commonwealth partners.  4. UNITED NATIONS: We are pledged to wholeheartedly support the United Nations. The United Nations with all its imperfections is still mankind's best hope for peace and harmony. For this reason we support the United Nations and the principle of inter-national co-operation that is inherent in the concept of the United Nations. The Labour Party believes that the United Nations should have a vital role to play as peacekeeper. It is desirable that the United Nations should have at its disposal an inter-national peacekeeping force of its own. Such a force should be contributed to by the widest possible range of United Nations member countries. A Labour Government would support United Nations peacekeeping activities and would be prepared to nominate a definite contribution to a United Nations unit designed to act in a peacekeeping role.  TREATIES.  7. ANZUS TREATY. The Anzus Treaty is an essential defensive alliance that must be maintained.  8. ANZAM: The arrangements made with Singapore and Malaysia under Anzam and extending beyond British military withdrawal are supported.  9. SEATO: Seato in its present form is ineffective. New arrangements in which a broader group of the nations of the region can come together in the common pursuit of stability, peace and security, development and mutual assistance are needed and would be pursued.  10. ASPAC. Continue to support and foster Aspac.  11. NEW TREATIES: In accord with the principles of the United Nations, New Zealand would endeavour to promote wider regional arrangements for the preservation of peace and the making of treaties of friendship, trade, and mutual assistance with South-east Asian and Pacific countries.  12. PACIFIC COUNCIL: The establishment of a Pacific Council representative of the parliaments of New Zealand, Australia and. the parliaments and assemblies of the south and south-west Pacific. Consultations would be held with prospective member parliaments and assemblies with a view to gaining their support for this proposal. The proposed Council would be consultative in character and would aim at broadening and extending the range and effectiveness of regional co-operation.  AID TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  (a) Aid to developing countries will be increased.  (b) Overseas aid for development would be regarded by a Labour Government as a first priority in its external activities and the aim would be to make are increasing contribution (money, goods for trade, and Personnel) so as to reduce world poverty, promote political stability and the social and economic betterment of the people.  (c) New Zealand should aim to devote l% of its G.N.P. extending aid to developing countries. A Labour Government will steadily work towards this target with the objective of reaching it by 1975.  (d) The Colombo Plan and other aid would be continued and expanded.  (e) A Labour Government will foster and encourage the expansion of Volunteer Service Abroad.  (f) Special attention would be focused on the needs of our neighbours in the Pacific and countries in South-east Asia.  (g) In developing aid programmes particular attention would be given to those in which New Zealand's experience, special skills, goods and materials could be employed.  (h) A combined organisation will be established with the widest possible representation to co-ordinate the aid programme and advise the Government on programme planning to assist with publicity to ensure that external aid becomes a permanent feature of New Zealand's economic policy.  (i) Moneys handed to Government in the form of donations for constructive overseas aid will be deposited in a special trust fund from which disbursements will be made on the recommendation of the Combined Organisation.  CULTURAL EXCHANGE.  14. A Labour Government will vigorously promote New Zealand culture abroad, through exhibition exchanges, participation in international exhibitions, concert tours, publications and exchange schemes for individual artists, composers, writers, sportsmen and so on, particularly with those in Pacific, Asian and American countries.  REPRESENTATION ABROAD.  15.  (a) New Zealand's representation abroad will be steadily expanded with priority being accorded to posts offering opportunities for increased trade or other special New Zealand interests.  (b) Work to strengthen co-operation with Australia.  (c) Maintain the most friendly basis of relationship with the United States of America.  (d) Work continually to encourage co-operation and achieve closer and more friendly relationships with the South-east Asia and Asian countries.  Vietnam.  1. A peaceful solution to the present conflict in Vietnam and the rehabilitation of that unhappy country is still a most urgent need. Labour affirms that in the search for peace every avenue must be explored and all genuine attempts supported. Military de-escalation initiated by the United States is fully supported. A Labour Government will after the withdrawal of New Zealand troops continue to assist Vietnam. New Zealand's involvement will take the form of substantially increased personal and constructive aid. Emphasis will be placed on assistance in rehabilitation and extending agricultural, medical and relief aid.  DISARMAMENT.  17. The Labour Party, in Government and in Opposition, has consistently urged the early inclusion of an international disarmament agreement subject to equal rights of control and verification. Labour will continue to press for such an agreement, both within and outside the United Nations.  NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTS.  18. Labour is opposed to all nuclear weapon testing by all nations, and will urge nuclear powers to agree to abandon nuclear tests for all time. It would therefore favour the establishment of international agreement of nuclear weapon-free zones. It is opposed to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and will spare no effort in seeking effective means of ending the spread of nuclear weapons to further countries.  Land. LABOURS land policy is aimed at increasing the acquisition and development of farming blocks while protecting the interests of bona fide farmers and retaining New Zealand farmland for the benefit of New Zealanders. While recognising that the changing capital structure is creating a place for bona fide farm companies, A LABOUR Government will tackle rising land prices by checking land speculation.  POLICY DETAILS  1. In extending the development of suitable farming land, a Labour Government will give particular attention to areas where land holdings have been allowed to degenerate.  2. Future purchase of farmland will be restricted to persons resident in New Zealand or companies controlled by New Zealanders.  1. The Marginal Lands Board will continue to function and maintain a close liaison with the proposed Rural Banking and Finance Corporation.  2. Because of the heavy burden placed on lessees of Crown land, a Labour Government will introduce a system of appeal and arbitration to determine fair and equitable rentals when they are due for revision. This right of appeal will be available to all Crown lessees whose land valuation has increased by 5% or more per annum since the previous rental assessment.  5. Local bodies undertaking town, planning will be assisted to acquire land for sale or lease after purchasing. A Labour Government will purchase land in and around expanding areas to provide sections for housing and other purposes.  LAW AND ORDER. In LABOUR'S administration, the mounting toll of personal injury and property damage caused by vandals, hooligans and stand-over bullies will be met by positive action.  The first duty of a Government is to ensure the safety and protection of the community. LABOUR accepts that responsibility. Effective steps will be taken aimed at stamping out lawlessness.  POLICY DETAILS. PROTECTION AND PREVENTION.  1. Priority will be given to increasing the level of protection of the community and intensifying crime prevention activity.  2. Police numbers will be significantly increased.  3. The approved ratio of police to population will be increased from 1920 to 1850 at once.  4. Recruiting will be stepped up and training facilities expanded with the objective of making the approved ratio of 1850 effective in under three years.  5. High rate of resignations must be reversed.  6. Selected urban police stations will be re-opened and arrangements made for police to be located in urban areas.  7. Urban police will have transport available that will enable speedy response to local calls.  8. Urban police will be equipped with radio to enable continuous contact with central headquarters.  9. Public co-operation will b~ actively sought in notifying crimes or suspicious circumstances.  10. Police numbers and their distribution will be so arranged as to enable immediate response to reports of suspicious circumstances.  11. The present mobile police patrol system will be maintained.  12. Constant review with the object of improving the range of training and aids available for crime detection.  13. Police must be freed as far as possible for police work by the wider employment of civilians for clerical and similar duties.  14. Intensify a continuous campaign in schools and among young people aimed at increasing the regard for the police and respect for the law.  PUNISHMENT.  1. Violent crimes involving the use of a weapon are extremely grave offences and must be treated accordingly.  2. All resort to violence in crime must be regarded as very serious.  3. Assaults or attacks on police officers will not be tolerated and existing penalties should be rigorously applied.  4. The Courts will be given new powers which will:  (a) enable them to make the punishment fit the crime.  (b) to be tough where necessary.  (c) to make fuller and more effective use of powers to order restitution and compensation.  (d) to deprive hooligans and other criminals of their motor cycles, cars or vehicles and to direct that the proceeds from the disposal of this property is applied to restitution or compensation.  (e) rigorous and Spartan corrective work camps will be established to which selected first offender will be sent for a short period (three months minimum) of intensive discipline arid training.  (f) empower Magistrates to use more freely social punishments.  6. Investigate the potential of juvenile Courts.  1. Establish an Advisory Council to review penalties, crime prevention and rehabilitation training and to recommend regularly on changes, provisions and innovations de-signed to fight crime and protect the community. The Council would consist of representatives of police, welfare workers, churches and individual experienced lay people.  2. Probation Service must be more adequately staffed.  3. Social unrest generally will be met with firmness, but understanding. Changing patterns of We demand continual reappraisal of judicial, administrative and executive powers and procedures. Legitimate grievances and protests cannot be brushed aside. The law must be upheld. Government must govern. A Labour Government will govern.  Maintenance of wives and children.  10. A Labour Government will improve and activate the machinery for enforcing maintenance orders and shoulder the responsibility for doing so. Its objectives will be:  (a) to prevent default occurring.  (b) to prevent the accumulation of arrears.  (c) to minimise the effect of default by quickly making Social Security assistance available.  CHILD ADOPTION.  11. The Labour Party will ask the Law Revision Commission to investigate the law and procedure of adoption with a view to making it simpler and less expensive; and specifically whether the Public Trust Office should be empowered to do this work. Simplification of Statute Law will be an early and continuous objective so that Acts of Parliament may be comprehensible to the man in the street.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT. As New Zealand advances into the '70s, local government needs to be modernised.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. Encourage and support the development of Regional Government. This is an important reform that offers. a means of rationalising local Government and, local works and in providing through strong regional Government a balance to a unicameral Parliament. A specially appointed Commission will be required to prepare a plan to describe the various regions that could form the basis for practicable regional Governments in the various regions of the North and South Islands. Alternatives to rates on residential and similar property are essential and would be included in the plan. Such Regional Government would enable town and country districts to be developed in harmony and to enable present facilities and those to be established, to be used on the most economic basis. Regional Government would enable the number of local authorities to be reduced. The completed plan would be submitted by way of referendum to the electors of each region as described in the plan.  2. Introduce legislation to allow for a rebate of rates for owner-occupiers of private dwellings whose income is not beyond specified limits.  a. Every ratepayer will meet the first $40 of his rates plus one third of the remaining sum. The remaining two-thirds will be met by central Government, subject to the following qualifications:  - To earn the full rebate, the ratepayer's income must not exceed $1200 for a single person, or $1600 including the wife's income plus $156 for each dependent child in the case of a married couple.  - Where the ratepayer's income is higher than the above limits, the full rebate is reduced by 25 cents for every $2 of annual income above the limit. The rebate does not stop immediately, but tapers off.  b. The ratepayer will have the option of declaring his income to his local authority or claiming his rebate from the Inland Revenue Department after he has paid the full rates.  c. The rebate will apply to owner-occupied houses not used for commercial purposes. It will not apply to boarding houses, dwellings attached to shops and property in respect of which rates may be claimed as a tax reduction or to which other relief applies.  d. The introduction of a stamp system prepayment for the convenience of both local authorities and ratepayers will be investigated.  3. Those sections of the Rating Act relating to the postponement of rates will be amended to remove:  (a) The obnoxious provisions to enter and inspect ratepayers' homes; and  (a) Financial injustices and anomalies created by the present operation of, the rate postponement scheme.  4. To assist ratepayers and local Government Labour will work to reduce interest rates.  5. Labour will extend the Ombudsman's jurisdiction to cover all Local Bodies.  6. Labour will extend the present Acts which allow Local Authorities to buy and develop land for industrial purposes for the erection of industrial buildings. This will enable Local Authorities to associate with Central Government in furthering the decentralisation of industry.  7. Labour will remove the restrictions which the present Government placed on Local Authorities prohibiting them from erecting motels in their areas.  Maori Affairs. The LABOUR PARTY adheres firmly to the purpose of providing for all citizens their inherent rights, privileges, obligations and full opportunities. In so doing, it recognises the Maori people's identity and right to good homes, education, health, security and equal opportunities in all spheres of New Zealand life. To further this aim, LABOUR will encourage the Maori people to greater self-determination and full participation.  1. Labour recognises that full and equal participation, opportunities, obligations and responsibilities are fundamental to New Zealand citizenship and form the basis of a happy and progressive nation and will constantly promote policies designed to further this objective.  PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION.  2. Labour will at all times consult the Maori LAND people on all matters affecting their right to Parliamentary representation.  (a) Labour believes that the Maori has no desire to be separate nor to separate himself from New Zealand society, but considers abrupt, arbitrary abolition as both unwise and undesirable.  (b) Labour further believes in the need to cultivate the growth of circumstances and attitudes which could create a situation that would show separate representation to be no longer required; and  (c) A Labour Government will amend the Electoral Act to enable any Maori to enrol as an elector on the electoral roll of their choice.  EDUCATION  1. The full provision of Labour’s education policy will be the just right of all New Zealand citizens, hut special difficulties will be recognised and arrangements will be made to help Maori children to make the best use of their undoubted abilities.  a. Pre-school centres will be encouraged and expanded and assistance will be rendered for this purpose and, further, counsellors will be appointed to advise and assist parents.  b. Pupils will be encouraged to take a greater advantage of secondary, technical institute and university facilities, as well as adult education.  c. Labour believes that the Maori language forms a basic factor in New Zealand's own cultural character and will take steps to maintain and extend its understanding. Steps will be progressively instituted for the teaching of Maori at all levels of learning.  Land.  4. The strong ties between people and their land still persists and the continuance of kin-groups as proprietors of their own land remains an important principle.  (a) Labour firmly believes in the retention of Maori land in the ownership, proprietorship and management of Maori owners in every instance.  (b) Labour will continue to promote and encourage its maximum utilisation.  MAORI AFFAIRS AMENDMENT ACT 1967.  5. A Labour Government will undertake at the earliest opportunity to examine and remove all the provisions of this enactment which the Maori people and Labour opposed at the time of its introduction and passage through Parliament. Such as:  (a) The arbitrary and compulsory changes to the status of Maori land and replacing it with the right of owner, application.  (b) The removal of departmental powers over land usage such as improvement officers.  (c) Examine the compulsory vesting of deceased Maori land interests in the Maori Trustee as well as leasing, conversion and administration.  (d) Undertake to review all legislation relating to Maori land with a view to consolidating the Act.  MAORI LAND DEVELOPMENT AND TITLES AND ADVISORY COUNCIL  6. (a) To increase and expand the development of Maori land, Labour will establish a Maori Land Advisory body for the purpose of undertaking a survey of all idle and Maori land interests.  (b) To advise how this land might be utilised and to ensure the availability of both financial and expert assistance.  (c) The Maori Advisory Council will include specialised: personnel from Government Departments, educational establishments and Maori organisations.  (d) A Labour Government will ensure the earliest transfer of Maori land development schemes to owner-management and will ensure the fullest consultation with owners at all stages of title developments.  (e) To encourage development schemes to be undertaken a Labour Government will meet the expenses incurred arising from the need of title improvements.  MAORI LAND SETTLERS.  7. The full provisions of Labour's agricultural policy will apply to all Maori land units and settlers.  MAORI LAND INCORPORATIONS.  8. To encourage Maori land incorporations to expand and develop their personnel and land interests to the greatest productivity, a Labour Government will:  (a) Invite representatives of Maori land incorporations and other interested, parties to a conference to suggest other incentives which will benefit shareholders and provide efficiency and production.  (b) Promote the establishment of a New Zealand Maori Land Incorporations Federation.  (a) Increase loans under Section 460 of the Maori Affairs Act 1953 for short and, in particular, long-term development.  (a) Assist-Incorporations to finance the purchase of uneconomic and ether Maori land interests for development purposes.  (a) Assist with and encourage the training of their personnel, particularly in management skills.  REALISATION OF LAND INTEREST.  9. For the purpose of assisting the purchase of house or furnishings, a Labour Government, having established clear title will enable Maori landowners to realise on their land interest.  LAND ACQUIRED BY THE CROWN.  10. Labour will ensure that the Crown shall offer to acquire on just and equitable terms land which is required for:  (a) National Parks and Reserves.  (b) Hilltop lands, the use of which by owners would immediately subject lower lands to serious flooding.  (a) Maori forest, land which owners may not mill because of soil conservation requirements.  (d) Labour Government will review the Public Works Act 1928 for the taking land and ensure greater protection of ownership rights.  MAORI TRUSTEE.  11. A Labour Government will take steps to examine and review the functions of the Maori trustee with a view to transferring some of its current responsibility on land to such bodies as Maori Trust Boards.  NEW ZEALAND DAY.  12. In recognising our own identity as an independent and sovereign nation to mark the occasion of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a Labour Government will:  (a) Declare 6 February a New Zealand Day.  (b) Ensure that it will be an annual paid holiday.  (c) Not "Mondayise" it.  HOUSING.  13. The full provisions of Labour's housing policies shall be available to all New Zealand citizens.  (a) Labour will continue to advance loans for family housing needs.  (b) In rural areas, not necessarily in all cases, regard will be had to economic servicing with public utilities, provision of schools, shopping and other amenities. Advances will be made and, in particular, attention will be given to areas where industries can be encouraged.  VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND TRADE TRAINING.  1. Labour will review the effectiveness of the present programmes for vocational guidance and trade training and will:  a) take steps to expand and promote their influence in all categories of professional, occupational and skilled training.  b) Steps will be taken to ensure that Maori school pupils are personally counselled to ensure their satisfactory placement into vocational training to which their aptitudes, skills and schooling are most suited.  (c) Where required, hostel accommodation will be provided by grants to religious, industrial and other approved organisations for the construction and maintenance of hostels.  15. Labour recognises the valuable contributions by welfare organisations in social, economic and welfare work and will continue to sup port their splendid efforts. Their voluntary character will be maintained under a Labour Government, which will extend the fullest co-operation and assistance in the furtherance of this work. To ensure the welfare needs of people, the Welfare Section of the Department of Maori and Island Affairs will be transferred to become a responsibility of the new Ministry of Social Welfare.  MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.  16. Labour believes that arts and crafts are important builders of morale, recognition of which could demonstrate to the craftsman that his workmanship is valued and appreciated, and that the art of his people deserves preservation in a modern world. Labour further believes that these items help promote understanding of the traditions of the Maori people, as well as the expression of their thoughts and emotions. In this respect a Labour Government will:  (a) Increase the grant to the Maori Purposes Fund Board to further these objectives, and  (b) Will make every endeavour to assist, particularly youth and cultural groups, to maintain and promote cultural appreciation and goodwill.  NATURAL RESOURCES. LABOUR will establish a Ministry of Natural Resources, whose function will be:  1. To co-ordinate and develop the country's natural resources including the discovery, production and co-ordination of distribution of all fuel, power, and mineral resources.  2. To plan the development of industries based on such natural resources.  3. To ensure the maximum use of New Zealand's raw materials and the processing of these to the greatest degree possible. For example to make the greatest use of New Zealand materials in the building and construction industry.  4. To initiate programmes to assist those prepared to prospect and process our mineral resources.  5. To set up a Natural Resources Advisory Council to authorise where necessary the establishment of technical and advisory committees and committees of inquiry to enable the Ministry to carry out its functions.  6. To preserve and, retain, where beneficial and necessary, our natural resources so that the greatest benefit will accrue to the country as a whole.  FUEL AND POWER. To achieve in the 1970s the economic growth necessary to increase living standards the nation must have an adequate and reliable supply of electricity at the lowest possible cost. In 1958 the Labour Government established Power Planning Committees with this policy in view and will continue to plan accordingly. Labour will continue with present schemes under construction and will develop natural cheap sources of power in both the North and South Islands.  Geothermal system. Labour will apply more concentrated effort to develop and use geothermal steam for power for production and industry. The success of Wairakei shows how fortunate New Zealand is in having natural energy available and Labour will make similar use of natural energy when the need and opportunity arises.  NATURAL GAS. This valuable asset will be developed and used in conjunction with, and not in conflict with, other sources of power. There are immense possibilities for the use of natural gas to help in the establishment of new industries such as the establishment of a petroleum chemical industry. It could be used to herald in new, modern technological industries which could represent a breakthrough in New Zealand industrial development. Labour will also ensure that the consumer will enjoy the benefits of a reduction in the present retail price of gas and enjoy the advantages of this effective and efficient source of power.  NUCLEAR POWER. Because New Zealand is well endowed with other power resources, although the possibility of using nuclear power warrants consideration, it would appear at this stage that major developments in this field would be premature. While cheaper power is available from indigenous sources, unless distribution or other factors pose special needs and problems, the establishment of nuclear power is not yet advisable.  ELECTRICITY COSTS. Labour will reduce the price of electric power and ensure that a 10% reduction in the price made to all domestic consumers.  Coal. Coal is still one of New Zealand's major sources of heat and energy and the industry must be preserved and expanded. Greater encouragement will be given to research and a Labour Government will:  1. Take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the fullest utilisation of coal both for domestic and industrial purposes.  2. Introduce modern methods of production, distribution and marketing.  3. Encourage Hydro mining in areas where this form of production is suitable.  4. Reduce rail freight rates on coal to lower distribution costs.  5. Encourage the use of pulverised fuel in industry and investigate improved transport methods.  6. Introduce new marketing methods for domestic coal and make provision for adequate stocks to be available where required.  Conduct a survey of the Grey Valley with a view to ascertaining the economies of establishing a coal fired Electric Power Station based on the coal resources of the district.  Mineral resources. Labour would ensure that government, industry and science all played a much greater role in the discovery and development of our mineral resources. It would also ensure that overseas interests did not obtain greater advantages in exploiting our mineral resources than would accrue to New Zealand, would establish priority needs for capital requirements, and would determine the extent and need for any government participation or support for any specific projects for development of our mineral resources.  News media. GENERAL POLICY.  1. The freedom of the press, the right to publish the truth, the right to free expression and discussion are strongly upheld.  2. We believe that a healthy and lively democracy is a well-informed democracy that has available to all its people freely and fully the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and news.  3. A free and balanced press is not something the people get automatically. It is something the people could lose automatically as pursuit of normal commercial procedures eliminates rival newspapers and establishes a monopoly of news dissemination throughout whole regions. In our view this trend already exists. The restrictions placed on newspaper ownership by the News Media Ownership Act, and the absence of general legislation designed to cope with monopolies, unrestricted take-overs and mergers have tended to inhibit if not defeat the maintenance of a free and impartial press. We believe that the climate in which a free press can flourish should be fostered.  4. In our view proposed takeovers and mergers of newspapers should be considered in exactly the same way as takeovers and mergers of other New Zealand undertakings.  5. It is our belief that whether or not the activities of a monopoly are detrimental to the public interest can best be considered by a statutory authority acting in accord with judicial procedure.  POLICY DETAILS.  1. The News Media Ownership Act will be repealed.  2. Takeover offers for the shares and assets of a newspaper will be considered in terms of the general law governing takeovers and monopolies.  3. No provision will be necessary for other forms of news media, e.g. Broadcasting, since these are effectively administered under separate statute.  4. The appropriate authority to which matters arising out of takeover bids for newspapers will be referred is a five-member Takeover, Monopoly and Foreign Investment Authority. All takeover proposals whether initiated by New Zealand or overseas interests will be liable to scrutiny by this Authority. Its decisions will be based on the broad principle of public interest. Its hearings will be conducted in accord with judicial procedure. There will be a right of appeal against the Authority's decisions to the administrative division of the Supreme Court.  5. We believe that the establishment of a Press Council modelled on the British Press Council could be advantageous and a Labour Government would be willing at all times to discuss with the Journalists' Association and other press organisations this and any other matter that affects the direction of the newspaper industry.  Overseas trade. Unless New Zealand can earn more from the sale of its products overseas, standards of living cannot be maintained or improved. A LABOUR Government will embark upon a vigorous trade expansion programme. A LABOUR Government will:  (1) Establish an Export-Import Corporation.  (2) Expand the Trade Commissioner Service.  (3) Offer improved export incentives.  (4) Establish a State Shipping Corporation.  (5) Appoint people experienced in marketing to the Producer Boards.  POLICY DETAILS. EXPORT-IMPORT CORPORATION. In its first session legislation will be introduced to establish an Export-Import Corporation charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating and expanding overseas trading opportunities.  2. The Corporation will be empowered to establish overseas, either by lease or purchase, warehouse and cool store facilities where required for the better servicing of existing or potential markets.  3. The Corporation will accept and market goods from local food processors or manufactures wishing to export and who do not possess marketing resources.  1. The Corporation will be the agency through which bilateral trade transactions will be transacted.  2. The Corporation will negotiate bulk freight agreements with Air New Zealand and shipping services so that small individual shipments can, through unitisation, obtain the benefits of lower bulk rates.  COMMISSIONER SERVICE.  1. New trade posts will be opened in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East.  2. An experienced commercial executive salesman will be appointed to each trade commission for a period not to exceed three years to act as a commercial officer in conjunction with the Export-Import Corporation.  3. Such appointees will be from outside the public service and will not in any way affect the normal appointments or promotion within the Trade Commission Service.  EXPORT INCENTIVES.  1. All export incentives will operate for a period of five years.  2. The existing taxation deduction of 15% will be immediately increased to 20%.  N.Z. SHIPPING CORPORATION  1. A New Zealand Shipping Corporation will be established to develop freight services to traditional and new markets.  2. The Corporation will be authorised to obtain ships by charter and purchase of suitable tonnage to ensure regularity of freight service especially to prospective markets.  PRODUCER BOARDS.  1. Without affecting producer representation on Producer Boards, a Labour Government will appoint as its representatives two persons experienced in commercial marketing to be members of the Dairy Board, the Meat Board and the Wool Board.  2. One of the two Government appointees will be the Chairman of the Export-Import Corporation or his nominee.  RAILWAYS. The Railways Department has a splendid tradition of service to New Zealand. One among the proudest and most efficient of Government Departments, it has now fallen behind. Its administration needs and will get from LABOUR a through shake-up. It will be strengthened and revitalised. The objective is to restore the to its former level of effectiveness and efficiency. Instead of mainly relying on cutting costs by withdrawing services and closing lines, greater emphasis will be placed on initiatives that attract increased business and expanded earnings. Like rail services elsewhere in the world, ours has lost out to aircraft and road traffic, but unlike many ours still lags behind. It needs and will get new equipment, new methods, new efficiency, new morale. Outmoded techniques will be eliminated, plant and rolling stock modernised. The Department will be given a commercial, competitive aspect. Where possible, it will co-operate with other transport services e.g. in the development and handling of container units, the adoption of rolling stock that can interchange their load with road transport but where it must compete the competition it offers will be hard, keen and efficient.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. The continuing run-down of certain rolling stock and equipment will be arrested; plant, rolling stock and administration will be modernised and workshops equipped to handle not only railway needs but to contract for other departmental and private work. This will extend to workshops in secondary towns so that greater use may be made of labour and equipment.  2. Improved suburban passenger services will be used to ease the congestion on roads. The deepening traffic problems of Auckland are ample evidence that road and rail systems must be integrated if they are to carry more people.  1. The Wellington-Paekakariki main line will be electrified beyond present terminal of Paekakariki. Existing plans for increased passenger use of the Wellington-Auckland main trunk will be intensified.  2. The Department's protected right to carry goods over limited distances is being whittled away in favour of private road operators. This right should remain to safeguard a huge public investment but not to protect inefficiency.  3. The wholesale closing-down of branch and railcar services will be reviewed. The yardstick will be the national interest and usage, not just the isolated profitability of individual operations.  4. Many railway workers are forced by their occupations to transfer from centre to centre during their careers and are unable to acquire their own homes. The establishment of a housing scheme for such employees will be discussed with various railways organisations and other like groups.  5. The railway system has an important part to play in facilitating the development of industry. To this end, the industrial development policy provides: Where it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Industrial Development Corporation that an industry is substantially disadvantaged in servicing North Island markets by high freight costs the Railways Department will negotiate a special contract rate for that industry, as a means of aiding regional development of industry.  6. Rail freight concessions will be authorised up to 50% for approved industries towards the cartage of finished products to internal markets and export outlets.  7. Goods travelling inter-Island by rail will be at a unit rate as if the consignment was for a single rail journey.  SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. As the growth of industry and the advance of technology will be so vitally dependent on the country’s scientific and research resources, it is essential that the personnel in this field work in an environment, which offers them the maximum opportunity to exploit their talents and, at the same time, to take their full share of responsibility in New Zealand's development. Recognising this need, LABOUR will:  1. Ensure that salaries, conditions of work and research opportunities are so related tom those of nations competing for this talent that there will be no undue drain on New Zealand's research potential.  2. Co-ordinate many of the activities of the D.S.I.R. and the Scientific and Research Sections of other Government Departments and private industry.  3. Make greater use of non-departmental personnel in special research programmes.  4. Provide greater opportunities for original research.  5. Continue and expand incentives which encourage individuals and industry to finance and/or carry out research work in the national interest.  SHIPPING.  1. New Zealand should not be entirely dependent on overseas interests for the means of import and export. Steps will be taken to reduce the dependence by establishing a New Zealand Shipping Corporation, such Corporation to have the authority to establish a shipping line and to develop freight services to traditional and new markets.  2. The Corporation will be directed by a Board on which representatives of the producer boards, the manufacturers' federation, transport and trade union interests will be appointed.  3. The Corporation will be authorised to obtain ships by charter and purchase to participate in any freight service that will assist in developing new markets.  4. Where South Island exporters are disadvantaged either by excessive freight rates or infrequency of service the Corporation would be empowered to ensure alternative services at rates which would offset these disadvantages.  5. In association with a special section of the Trade Practices Commission the Corporation will participate in all freight rate negotiations with overseas shipping interests.  6. Vessels operated by the Corporation will be manned by New Zealand crews.  SHIPPING (CONTAINERISATION). LABOUR will assist the introduction of containerisation to New Zealand in a manner which will best serve the interests of the nation as a whole, not primarily the interests of overseas shipping combines. Its policy will be designed to:  1. Safeguard the economic interests of those areas which are likely to be seriously affected by the loss of trade through the centralisation of container shipping.  2. Protect the interests of workers employed at the intermediate ports.  3. Serve the interests of primary producers. Modern sea transport should be an integral part of the transport system of the nation. Containerisation opens up the possibility of a challenging future for New Zealand coastal shipping. Labour is confident that in the long run and in the interest of the nation it could become one of the most important and economical means of transport. Labour accepts the development of container berths at Auckland and Wellington to service the initial container traffic principally with the United Kingdom and Europe, but will not agree that port facilities for container shipping provided in New Zealand by New Zealanders should be made available to only one Shipping Combine. Existing port facilities already established at ports other than Auckland and Wellington will be used to their maximum in order to ensure the continued prosperity of their surrounding provincial districts. Through the establishment of a feeder service to the container ports by barges or coastal container ships, existing export ports would retain a significant proportion of cargo generated in their own districts, while the Railways would benefit through increased traffic of containers from inland freezing works, cool stores, wool stores, etc. If present local shipping concerns are unable to handle the transportation of containers the Labour Government will not hesitate to provide these services through the New Zealand Shipping Corporation. It is imperative that maximum New Zealand content and ownership of both ships and containers be achieved. These should be constructed in New Zealand by New Zealanders. This policy will protect provincial ports and their districts against heavy loss of revenue. It will encourage the development of industry. It will avoid unemployment. It will avoid the serious social consequences which could result from diversion of traditional trade away from those ports. While the proposed container facilities at Auckland and Wellington should prove adequate to handle New Zealand's initial container traffic, Labour would strengthen the National Ports Authority and instruct that body to fully investigate the possibility of establishing an International Container Port for the future to meet the requirements of the nation's rapidly expanding export trade, and at the same time examine the future role of all New Zealand's existing ports, especially those in the South Island. There will be no decision on container ports which will detrimentally affect the coastal shipping of New Zealand.  SOCIAL SECURITY MONETARY BENEFITS. LABOUR believes that benefits should be sufficient to enable beneficiaries to maintain with dignity, both culturally and physically, standards of comfort which are reasonable in relation to general economic standards. To achieve this LABOUR will:  1. Increase benefits.  2. Conduct a thorough nation-wide investigation into the actual living costs incurred by single and married beneficiaries.  3. Ensure that the value of benefits relative to the level of wages and salaries and general standard of living is maintained by:  - Establishing, on the findings of the investigation, a special cost-of-living index which will record the actual living costs of beneficiaries.  - Adjusting all benefits which are subject to a means test every six months so that they keep pace with movements in the special pensioners' cost-of-living index.  1. Notwithstanding the above policy points, a Labour Government will make an interim payment to all means test beneficiaries.  2. Keep the operation of Social Security under constant review with a view to detecting and removing anomalies and generally improving the system.  3. Benefits will be paid fortnightly.  4. Widows' benefits will be increased by raising the allowance paid on behalf of each dependent child by $26 a year.  5. A telephone allowance equal to one-half of the relevant telephone rental will be added to the benefit of means test beneficiaries who are, or become, telephone subscribers.  6. Sickness benefits will be adjusted so that where both the husband and wife are employed and, therefore contributing to the Social Security Fund, a single sickness benefit will be paid if either becomes ill. Where the applicant has been in full-time employment for at least 12 months, the sickness benefit will be paid up to a maximum of three months.  7. The sickness benefit will be paid from the first day off work where the time lost is one week or more.  8. The age supplement payable to war veterans at age 65 will not be regarded as "other income" and will not, therefore, affect the rate of pension.  9. The Social Security Act will be liberalised to enable the benefit to be paid to people who care for relatives in their own homes and thus avoid their having to be admitted to medical institutions.  10. The qualifying period of residence in New Zealand before applicants are eligible for the age benefit will be reduced from 20 to 10 years.  11. Special rail concessions will be worked out for pensioners and their wives.  12. Merchant Navy men of the First World War, may at the discretion of the War Pensions Board, be granted a war veteran’s allowance.  13. Within three years a policy for a voluntary wage related contributory superannuation scheme for people in private employment will be introduced.  SOCIAL WELFARE. All aspects of social and physical welfare will be co-ordinated within a single Ministry. This will enable conflict of interest to be eliminated and ensure that this work is accorded an importance it is unlikely to assume when it is incidental to a government department's main purpose. POLICY DETAILS.  1. A Labour Government will establish a Ministry of Social Welfare. The functions and duties of the new Ministry will include:  a. assistance in establishing homes for the aged.  b. promotion of pensioner housing.  c. provision for the care and nursing of the aged.  d. encouragement of the provision and operation by voluntary organisations of elderly persons' clubs and social centres.  e. fostering, through voluntary organisations, of community services. such as laundry service and meals-on-wheels.  f. hostels for young people.  g. physical welfare and youth recreation.  h. fostering, through voluntary organisations of youth work.  i. assistance in the provision of short-stay homes for intellectually handicapped children.  j. child welfare work.  k. encouragement of the introduction of short-stay rest homes.  l. home aid service, district nursing services and occupational therapy.  m. co-operation with and encouragement of existing voluntary welfare organisations in their chosen work and in the maintenance of their present independent and voluntary character.  n. the work now undertaken by the Minister for Women and Children.  ACCOMMODATION FOR THE AGED.  2. Religious and charitable organisations will be encouraged by generous Government subsidies to provide accommodation for the aged. The basis of the Government subsidy will be either:  a. 90% of the total cost, or  b. 100% of the cost of the building, in which case, land and furniture will be the responsibility of the organisation.  PENSIONER HOUSING.  3. Urgent steps will be taken to accelerate the construction of pensioner housing. Local authorities will be encouraged to participate to the maximum. Special provision will be made to encourage families to care for their aged relatives. Where sufficient space is available on the section, the State Advances Corporation will provide removable living quarters adjacent to existing dwellings at the low rental. (See Housing Policy. State and Pensioner Housing.)  CARE OF THE AGED AND INFIRM  4. Care of the aged and infirm, both through official and voluntary organisations, will be fostered. The Social Security Act will be liberalised to enable a benefit to be paid to persons who care for relatives at home who would otherwise have to be admitted to a medical institution.  VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS.  5. The work of voluntary organisations will be fostered and the organisations will be encouraged to maintain their independence and voluntary character.  HOSTELS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.  6. Subsidies for the provision of hostels for young people will be continued.  PHYSICAL FITNESS.  7. A physical fitness campaign will be instituted. Assistance will be extended to encourage and develop existing youth organisations, recruit and train leaders, initiate new recreation activities, and build gymnasia in post-primary schools for the use of scholars and those who have left school.  SHORT-STAY HOMES FOR INTELLECTUALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.  8. Assistance in the promotion of short-stay homes for intellectually handicapped children will be continued and extended.  SHORT-STAY REST HOMES.  9. Assistance will be given to suitable voluntary organisations who are prepared to co-operate in establishing and operating short-stay rest homes for mothers who have been under medical care.  SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.  10. Provide financial assistance for the provision of sheltered workshops and the training of the necessary staff.  RESEARCH.  11. To enable public policies to keep pace with changing circumstances, research into social problems will be initiated.  WELFARE.  12. Rapid scientific and technological advance has created the means of achieving undreamed of economic advance and higher incomes. It has also had a major impact on the way people live and has created grave social problems. Disregard for law and order is increasing. In the midst of economic advance, we are rapidly falling behind socially. New suburban areas are built without basic community amenities such as halls, recreation centres, plunket rooms, play centres and kindergartens. Longer expectation of life has found the community lagging in proper housing facilities for the aged, and many are condemned to exist in squalor. Obligations to the handicapped are appreciated, but are inadequately met financially. The increasing mobility of labour, triggered off by industrial development has caused many young people to leave home at an early age. Labour recognises that a bold programme, adequately financed, is needed to provide basic community requirements for social, cultural, sport and recreation activities. The time is past when New Zealand should devote a specific share of the Gross National Product to enable the quality of life to progress, along with economic advancement. Labour will substantially increase government expenditure in this field by an amount rising by 1972 to an additional 1 of 1 per cent of the G.N.P., about $12 million per annum. The effect of Labour's policy will be to double the money available in the form of grants, subsidies and other assistance to voluntary organisations at present making such a fine contribution in this field and also to provide for new projects. Special, though not exclusive, emphasis will be given to newly developing areas and to those lacking decent social and cultural amenities.  TOURISM. LABOUR'S objective will be (1) to make every New Zealander a potential tourist, seeing his own country first, and (2) to put the utmost vigour into promoting New Zealand as a tourist attraction to others.  1. It will emphasise that tourism is for the many, not the few; for New Zealanders as well as visitors from overseas. To this end it will:  a. Promote and encourage a bold policy of reducing off-season rates and fares without lowering standards, so maintaining occupancy rates and maximum use of expensive capital resources.  b. Encourage the provision of low-cost family-type accommodation at holiday resorts, whether by private of public (including municipal) enterprise.  c. Review the standards attached to licensed premises to see whether they conform to all present needs and ensure that satisfactory but not grandiose hotel and restaurant facilities are available to the family man at modest prices.  d. Enlarge the operational scope of the Tourist Hotel Corporation and give it opportunities to compete with private enterprise in urban and other areas where more hotel accommodation is required.  2. For the tourist from overseas it will:  a. Ensure that the recognised tourist routes throughout New Zealand are adequately equipped to attend to the needs, not only of the tourists who now come to New Zealand but also the numbers likely to be attracted in the near future by "jumbo" jet aircraft.  b. Energetically attack the accommodation problem in Wellington and in other tourist, convention or administrative centres where the need for it is great. In particular it will complete the job that has been half done in Rotorua. Private and municipal enterprise have met the challenge of providing accommodation and civic amenities, but Government facilities at the Bath house and elsewhere have lagged far behind. If we are to continue making Rotorua a central feature of our overseas publicity we must and Labour will see that expectations are not disappointed.  c. Facilitate the entry of tourists to New Zealand by a review of Customs and Visa requirements.  d. Co-ordinate overseas publicity with other operators in the Pacific basin to persuade tourists already attracted to the area to extend their travel to New Zealand.  3. Generally, it will:  a. Integrate existing public and private travel and tourist agencies into a co-ordinated system to improve forward and alternative bookings.  b. Give aid to small tourist centres with a heavy influx of visitors during holiday periods, so that they can cope with what would otherwise be overcrowding.  c. Establish more training courses for those engaged in the tourist industry and continually confer with management and workers' representatives to make entry to it and working conditions in it more attractive.  d. Make tourism a major ministerial responsibility.  TRANSPORT. Transport, in all its forms, counts for more than 35 per cent of New Zealand's gross national product. As such, it is the most important single element in our economy. There is an urgent need to co-ordinate and improve all aspects of the carriage of passengers and goods.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. A Transport Commission will be appointed.  2. The Commission will be a statutory body consisting of a Judge of the Supreme Court and two others to be appointed by the Minister, but selected from nominations made by public corporations on the one hand and private enterprise organisations on the other.  3. The Commission's task will be to receive advice and recommendations from the Transport Advisory Council to decide on priorities, and generally to co-ordinate the transport industry as a whole.  4. A Transport Advisory Council, a much larger body representing all sections of transport, including employee organisations, will be formed.  5. The Council will meet at regular intervals, either as a whole or in specialised sub-committees.  6. The Council will be authorised to:  a. Study and recommend ways of co-ordinating and rationalising goods and passenger services by road, rail, sea and air.  b. Discuss with the National Roads Board measures to promote freer traffic movements and to clear clogged traffic routes.  c. Review internal freight rates to help develop areas where production is falling and population is declining.  d. Investigate the needs of particular industries and activities, such as forestry, to ensure they have satisfactory integrated transport services.  e. Review existing preference in the transport of goods to protect the public's investment in the railway system while at the same time promoting increased efficiency.  7. The findings and recommendations of the Council will be published at regular intervals in order that the public may be kept properly informed.  TRANSPORT LICENSING.  1. The transport licensing system will be streamlined.  2. Taxi operators will be encouraged to give improved services but will be freed from the absolute liability provisions.  3. The licensing and registration requirements governing farm contractors who use roads only to enable them to service the various parts of the farm will be reviewed.  4. The exemption from licence fees for certain classes of vehicle used by local authorities will be restored.  Transport (road and bridge tolls). LABOUR opposes the principle of toll roads and bridges. It believes that the toll on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Lyttelton Road Tunnel should be eliminated as quickly as possible, because they are not making a significant contribution to loan repayments and they are aggravating traffic congestion.  POLICY DETAILS:  1. A Labour Government will phase out existing tolls by annual reductions over five years. Increasing annual payments will be made from National Roads Board funds to meet bridge and tunnel costs.  2. Since greater use of public transport can ease mid-city traffic congestion, the authorities will be asked to eliminate in the first year all tolls on public passenger transport, with consequent reduction in fares.  3. Further public facilities of this kind which are part of the main highway system will be financed within the present Roads Board motorway policy  4. Arrangements will be made with the authorities concerned to ensure that the interests of staff are protected during the elimination of tolls.  WORKS. POLICY DETAILS. The Ministry of Works is the major government agency responsible for the development and growth of New Zealand. During the current year the department will spend $307 million on works and capital expenditure. Sound programming and adequate long-term planning of the development programme are therefore vital. It is equally essential that the development organisation within the Ministry be strengthened to ensure efficient administration, accurate estimating, and efficient planning.  1. The administration of the Ministry of Works will be strengthened to meet the planning and construction needs of an expanding nation.  2. The Ministry will be responsible for co-ordinating the extending Government activity in national development and research.  3. The Ministry will encourage and develop generally the use of new and rapid methods of construction and will standardise where possible the use of building materials and components in Government buildings.  4. The Ministry will act as a link with the construction industry to secure widespread dissemination of the most modern building and construction practices.  5. The engineering and technical staff of the Ministry will be strengthened. The Ministry will institute a drive to obtain overseas and in New Zealand additional professional engineers, architects and draughtsmen, so that the Ministry is adequately equipped to undertake more construction work in competition with private enterprise.  Roading. Labour will continue the National Roads Board. The present National Roads Board revenue, appears adequate to meet the roading requirements of the nation, but care must be taken to see that the taxpayers' money is not wasted. Labour will therefore strengthen the engineering services available to the Board through the Roading Division of the Ministry of Works, with particular attention being given to planning and traffic engineering.  Town planning.  1. Town Planning legislation and procedures are under increasing criticism. A far-reaching reappraisal of its effect on the rights of the citizen is urgently needed.  2. While accepting the principle that Central and Local Government planning is essential to preserve orderly development and the preservation of our heritage, an urgent need exists for an updating of the present legislation. The Town and Country Planning Act and the Public Works Act will be reviewed and consolidated.  3. The procedures for the taking of land will be amended to ensure greater protection for the owner. There will be an end to the practice of compulsory taking of houses and letting them stand empty for long periods. Where there is objection the taking of land or property will have to be justified to an independent Authority. Where a subsequent change in plans makes the land available again first option to repurchase must be given to the original owner.  4. Where an appeal is taken by an individual to the Town Planning Appeal Authority or to the Land Valuation Appeal Authority or to the Land Valuation Court reasonable costs will be met by the Crown or Local Authority concerned.  5. Separate titles will be issued for multi-storied flats without having to use the expensive and cumbersome device of forming a company.  Irrigation. Irrigation schemes will be promoted in areas where substantial increases in production are likely to result.  AUCKLAND RAPID RAIL. LABOUR believes that the traffic congestion in the Auckland city and the cross traffic service in the area is deplorable and should not be permitted to continue. It also believes that the future transport development should be in the form of a modern, fast, efficient rail service. LABOUR will, therefore, co-ordinate the construction and development of this scheme with the Auckland Regional Authority. LABOUR will accept the full responsibility for the capital cost and charges of the rail system providing the Auckland Regional Authority accepts full responsibility for the bus feeder service and the land purchase for parking associated with this service. Construction will commence in 1970 or early 1971. Speed of construction will be necessary to avoid undue interruption to the present rail services.