ARTS AND CULTURE POLICY.  Most of the positive achievements in the fields of the arts occurred under a Labour Government. Among these were the restructuring of the Queen Elizabeth Arts Council, the setting up of the regional councils and many community arts councils throughout the country, and the expansion of the level of financial assistance to $1.5 million in 1974.  However, since 1975 subsidies have not kept pace with rising prices. Substantial professional bodies that rely on Arts Council subsidies - such as theatre groups and orchestras - have had to curtail their activities. The visual arts, film and literature, continue to receive a small amount of Arts Council assistance.  Labour believes that the arts play an essential role in the moulding of a balanced society. Just as with other forms of recreation, all New Zealanders should have the same opportunities to take part in cultural activities. Encouragement of all forms of the arts must increase if they are to survive as economically viable structures. New Zealand artists should be able to make a living wage from their professions in the same way as other workers.  Therefore.  (1) A Labour Government will support steps taken by the Arts Council to encourage those community-centred projects which help achieve wider public participation in, and appreciation of the arts. Particular support will be given to wider travel by professional artists throughout the country.  (2) In order to ensure that there is a wider distribution of funds, Consultative Committees set up by local authorities to administer funds from the Ministry of Recreation and Sport must have representation from Community Arts Councils or, in areas where they are not established, local arts groups.  (3) Labour will establish Arts Council funding on a triennial basis This should help to maintain continuity of planning and stability of employment to our creative and cultural workers.  (4) Labour will maintain the Authors' Fund and revise annually the sum of money granted to the fund. More fellowships for writers, such as the Burns Fellowship, to encompass a wider range of creative workers should be established.  (5) Labour will actively encourage New Zealand productions for television and radio, and will make every endeavour to ensure that adequate opportunities exist in this country for artists to earn a living from their talents.  (6) Labour will assist arts education in the schools by encouraging the training of more teachers specialising in art, crafts, poetry, music and drama, and encourage more interchange between schools and touring artists.  (7) Schools should be eligible for funding from the Education Department for the development of original creative ventures.  (8) Labour will ensure that special attention is given to the study and appreciation of Polynesian art and culture.  (9) Support will be given to the establishment of a National School for Performing Arts. This school will include the National Drama school, orchestral trainees, ballet, dance, opera, singing and film making. It will not necessarily be a centralised organisation.  (10) There will be a central fund for the purchase of New Zealand art works and artefacts which appear in overseas markets. The works purchased would then be available on loan to galleries and other venues around the country.  Labour will investigate the introduction of a requirement whereby the developers of major non-residential buildings should pay a contribution towards such a fund. They would then become eligible to participate in the display of such works.  Labour believes in the vital necessity of promoting and preserving our unique New Zealand culture. While we would encourage artists to gain overseas experience, there must be sufficient incentive for them to return and share their wider knowledge. We will, therefore, examine ways and means of adapting the taxation system to accommodate their special needs and talents.  CONSUMER POLICY.  The consumer is not getting a fair deal. Protective laws are limited, and they are scattered throughout a wide range of Acts. Consumers seldom know their rights, and when they have problems they find that support services are inadequate.  The next Labour Government will move to remedy this unsatisfactory situation. As a first step it will set up a Ministry of Consumer Protection. The Ministry will be a small, compact body, acting mainly to develop and implement policies that protect consumer rights, and to promote and extend the valuable work done by various consumer organisations.  The Ministry will act to ensure.  * the outlawing or inhibiting of misleading advertising, wasteful or deceptive packaging, and worthless guarantees.  * the mounting of further Consumer Rights Campaigns.  * the establishment of more Small Claims Tribunals.  * the provision of information and financial support to organisations such as Consumers Institute, Citizens Advice Bureaux, and voluntary consumers' groups such as the Campaign Against Rising Prices.  * The initiation and co-ordination of consumer law reform.  * that special attention is given to contracts between businesses and persons to ensure the full intent of any contract.  is clearly set out in the main clauses.  is fully explained to the person concerned.  is not further limited or restricted by provisos in small print.  and is accompanied by an explanation in layman's language that is attached to and forms part of the contract.  The Ministry will act with all Government departments, agencies and voluntary organisations to perform a co-ordinating and initiating role in an attempt to overcome the haphazard and ad hoc arrangements that currently pass as consumer protection.  COMMERCIAL POLICY.  The present rules controlling prices, trade practices, monopolies, mergers and takeovers are not working. They do not serve the interests of consumers or efficient manufacturers and retailers. They encourage inefficiency, they do not reward, and at times even penalise productivity gains. They have not prevented widespread speculative investment, large uncontrollable monopolies, higher costs and commercial inertia. In order to correct this most unsatisfactory situation, the next Labour Government will.  * make access to the regulatory mechanism freer for consumer groups.  * strengthen the competitive forces in the economy.  * create opportunities for initiative.  * simplify control mechanisms and make them less expensive.  MONOPOLIES, MERGERS AND TAKEOVERS.  Labour believes there must be more rigorous and effective scrutiny and control of activities in this area. Labour, would therefore, amend the Commerce Act and other appropriate legislation to ensure where necessary, that the growth of monopolistic expansion is positively inhibited and competition encouraged.  TRADE PRACTICES.  Labour will provide an effective method to protect all consumers from profiteering. Labour will review relevant legislation to ensure that commercial trade practices which raise or maintain prices, or discourage the initiative of new entrants to a particular market, are outlawed. A vital commercial climate will be promoted in the interests of consumers and traders alike.  Commercial policy will be restructured to produce fair, balanced and workable rules for all.  PRICE CONTROL.  Price control will.  * concentrate on those companies or groups of companies which have established control over the fixing of prices.  * reward productivity gains and cost savings.  * disallow speculative costs incurred in buying out and obtaining monopoly control of an industry, or in excessive advertising in New Zealand.  * re-establish public price control hearings.  * permit consumer groups a wider and more effective role in pricing.  CRIME PREVENTION AND RULE OF LAW.  THE LIKELIHOOD OF DETECTION IS A MAJOR DETERRENT TO CRIME.  Labour recognises that there is an urgent need.  * to deal with crime, violence, and drug trafficking.  * to provide for the safety and protection of the people.  * to build a better and more law-respecting society.  Labour will.  * Provide the police with more manpower, transport, and communications equipment to deal with the immediate situation.  * Put more police on the beat.  * Increase community policing.  * Mount a vigorous, full-scale attack on drug trafficking and review penalties to deter crime.  * Increase crime prevention.  * Improve lifestyles and the environment in which people live by tackling the social and economic deficiencies which lead to crime. unemployment is socially harmful to the worker, his family, and the community. Labour will pursue full employment policies.  * Avoid overcrowding by providing more and better housing.  * Encourage the wiser use of leisure through recreation, sport and cultural activities and hobbies.  COMMUNITY POLICING.  Police community liaison offices, established in suburbs, have been a success. This service will be expanded.  Foot patrols will be increased.  A police presence and co-operation with youth and leisure activities outside school hours can encourage worthwhile youth activity in a desirable environment. Labour will promote such policies and encourage mature policemen with practical experience to offer their services for such appointments.  A true and wider function of the police is to foster acceptable standards of behaviour by other than punitive measures.  A Labour Government has done much to achieve this very desirable social objective and will continue to work strenuously towards these ends in the best interests of the community and those who protect the community, the police.  POLICE STAFFING.  The police strength will be increased by approving a three-year programme of staffing. This will enable forward planning to be carried out and ensure that present and future staffing needs are promptly met. This policy will apply equally to sworn members and civilian support staff. Current vacancies will be filled immediately.  Conditions of service and career prospects must be such as to encourage suitable applicants to join the police and want to stay.  Because of stress and demands of police work, Labour will review career structure to reduce progressively length of service to 35 years and provide for early retirement. Special Superannuation rights will be negotiated to allow for early retirement.  Suitable members will be offered community work so that their experience is not lost (see Community Policing).  LONG SERVICE LEAVE.  Police will be given the option to take long-service leave either during or at the end of service.  TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION.  Labour will maintain the Police motor vehicle fleet at high efficiency High mileage cars will be regularly replaced.  Radio and telecommunication will be modernised and expanded as quickly as possible, so as to give police a link both with police operations and in country areas with their homes.  BUILDINGS.  As well as pressing on with the completion of the Police College, Labour will re-locate New Zealand Police headquarters at a more strategic site, and rebuild the Wellington District Headquarters and Central Police Station.  Labour will implement a building programme with sufficient funds to complete deferred building projects, and replace or extend inadequate police stations.  HOUSING.  The housing backlog will be tackled and more housing, to cater for the increasing police service, will be provided.  Because of their special conditions of service, a system of housing rehabilitation loans will be negotiated with the police.  PENALTIES.  Where crime is running at a high level, or increasing significantly the law needs to be reviewed to ensure that penalties are appropriate. Especially should this be so where attacks occur on police, prison, and traffic officers, who shoulder onerous responsibilities in serving the public in the law and order field. The time has come too, when, for rape, hard drug trafficking and other vicious assaults against the person, consideration must be given to no remission of sentence.  VIOLENCE AND THE MEDIA.  Television is great conditioner of immature minds. Regular exposure to scenes depicting violence can cause - and in many cases has been proven to have caused - some people to act violently.  Labour will urge the Broadcasting Council to ensure that programme standards are continually reviewed, to discourage programmes which feature, as normal standards of conduct, violence and similar anti-social behaviour.  DRUGS.  Drug traffickers prey on youth, destroy lives, badly affect communities, and force addicts into crime to get money for their craving. Against all such traffickers in drugs Labour will launch a major law-enforcement drive, backed by increased manpower and modern scientific equipment.  Strenuous efforts will be made to cut off the supply of drugs from overseas by preventing their importation. Penalties will be reviewed to make the punishment fit the crime. Educational and rehabilitation programmes will be upgraded. Customs and Health Department staff and facilities will also be expanded.  Increasingly, people are losing their savings and investments by fraudulent practices and abuses of trusts. Action against such forms of commercial crime will be intensified, and persons with specialist qualifications will be recruited for such work.  RESEARCH.  Labour will provide funds for research into crime prevention, and enable police training to include research into methods of work effectiveness.  CRIME PREVENTION.  Sufficient funds will be provided to enable the police to educate the public to play a wider role in helping the police to build law-respecting communities. The Crime Prevention Section, Youth Aid, and J-Teams will be strengthened.  SURVEYS . AUCKLAND POLICE DISTRICT  Labour will commission special surveys of the Auckland Police District so as to ascertain the type of organisation and the manpower and other resources required to enable the police to operate with maximum effectiveness, and similar surveys will be undertaken in other growth areas as required.  DEFENCE POLICY.  * A Labour Government pledges to defend the independence and territorial integrity of New Zealand, the security of our channels of trade, and the protection of our economic fishing zone.  * Labour believes in defence systems consistent with the United Nations Charter.  * Labour will provide conditions of service which will encourage suitable persons to join and remain in the Armed Forces.  MANNING.  The Defence Forces will be manned by volunteer career service personnel with provision for a continuing element of Territorial Force volunteers. There will be no peace-time conscription.  DEFENCE FORCES.  The regular service will be.  (a) Adequately equipped, highly trained and capable of maximum mobility.  (b) Capable of fulfilling our obligations as a member of the United Nations and as a Treaty partner.  (c) Deployed on a basis which is mutually acceptable to provide constructive assistance with social and economic aid in the South Pacific and South East Asia.  (d) The Territorial forces will continue to be on a volunteer basis, adequately equipped and trained for rapid mobilization. The protection of civilian employment for Territorial Force personnel will be maintained.  CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.  * Labour will embark on a concentrated programme to meet Defence housing requirements. The same approach will be pursued for single quarters accommodation.  * There will be a continuing review and improvement of Defence Forces' superannuation.  * Every opportunity will be taken to expand the programme of individual exchange postings, unit exchange postings and unit exercise postings.  * Labour believes that those in the Services receive valuable support from their families and that this support should not be denied to those posted on overseas training programmes. Therefore the current limits on " accompanied postings " will be reviewed.  * Pay and allowances will be adjusted to give recognition to the responsibilities involved in order to retain trained, skilled, personnel for longer periods.  * The utmost consideration will be given to the needs of families when postings are involved.  * A Labour Government will negotiate for mutual troop exchanges to provide overseas duty and leave, recognizing the inevitability that our battalion commitment in Singapore will end.  EQUIPMENT PROCEDURE.  Labour will establish a programme for a time table and replacement of major defence equipment and will undertake negotiations with New Zealand's allies for access to equipment and training opportunities.  PEACEKEEPING AND CIVIL AID.  Labour believes that New Zealand's international standing should enable her to take part in United Nations peacekeeping and civil aid activities. A contingent of personnel should be trained and be readily available for mobilization.  CIVILIAN RE-ESTABLISHMENT AND RECOGNITION OF SKILLS.  * Labour will undertake programmes to ensure the level of skills and training in the Defence Forces are recognised by Trades Certification Authorities.  * The Third Labour Government made much progress in organising full civilian recognition for trade skills obtained within the Armed Forces. Remaining anomalies will be removed.  * Where possible, terminal postings will be to an area as close as possible to the community selected by servicemen/women. Where such a posting is not possible removal expenses on retirement will be paid.  EDUCATION POLICY.  In education, Labour asserts that all people must have the same free access to education, regardless of sex, race or socio-economic status. We recognise, however, that the education system cannot, on its own, achieve social justice. Labour will implement a coherent policy which encompasses all social services, incomes and employment policies. The community is placing new demands on the education system as social changes cause basic shifts in our attitudes towards employment, housing, government, the way we bring up our children and the part women play in society.  From this unified approach, Labour will develop education services which.  1. Promote equality for all New Zealanders.  2. Promote growth out of savings from falling rolls and increased efficiency.  3. Promote active participation by parents and the community in all aspects of the services.  4. Develop competence and confidence in all children, in a spirit of co-operation rather than competition.  5. Encourage excellence, develop talents to their full, and.  6. Actively encourage and support the development of small units rather than large ones.  Under a Labour Government the aims of the education services will be to provide children, teenagers and adults with.  * the skills necessary to survive in a complex world.  * the ability to read, write, listen, talk and understand.  * competence in mathematics.  * the ability to think for oneself, and the flexibility to adapt to change.  * the capacity to live and work effectively with others.  Labour's priorities in education, therefore, will be.  * Free access for all those with special needs to the education or training to which they are entitled.  * The provision of educational facilities which contribute to the development of the communities in which they are based.  * The provision of services designed to meet the variously expressed needs of the diverse cultural communities in New Zealand.  * A vigorous and ongoing review of all education services to ensure that sex-role stereotyping does not limit the development of girls or boys. and to ensure that the roles of women and men working in the system are not restricted.  To ensure action based on these priorities, Labour recognises.  * The need for continued growth in early childhood care and education and in continuing education.  * The need to maintain current levels of spending on the primary and secondary sectors, while improving services by the use of savings' from falling rolls, by increased efficiency and by greater use of community resources.  * The need to stabilise capital expenditure by more efficient and comprehensive use of existing educational and community facilities.  * The need to establish a Programme Analysis and Review Unit designed to evaluate existing and newly implemented programmes and to monitor standards.  EDUCATION FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.  * Labour undertakes to provide.  Free access for all children to the education or training which they need. For example, intellectually handicapped children will have education and training at no cost to their parents, and that tertiary education will be made more readily available to the deaf and the blind.  * To ensure children with special needs receive that education or training, Labour will have as priorities.  - Early identification of handicapped children and regular counselling and advisory support for their parents.  - Earliest possible identification of children with special needs, and incipient learning problems in the pre-school years.  - Early identification of gifted children so that their special needs for extension and motivation can be met within the existing system.  - Special attention to be given to children who may be at a disadvantage because of socio-economic conditions.  - Special attention to be given to children in rural communities.  * To meet the needs of these children, Labour will.  - Improve staffing ratios in pre-schools (especially kindergartens), lengthening and upgrading of the training of pre-school workers, and better back-up support for pre-school staff.  - Expand full-time, continuing education, and in-service training courses for teachers involved in working with children with special needs. pre-school, primary and secondary.  - Concentrate on provision for educationally handicapped.  In particular, greatly improved resources for the identification of learning difficulties (especially reading) in the primary school, and provision of well-trained advisory and remedial staff at all levels of the system.  - Provide rural schools with more flexible staffing patterns and advisory services to ensure the survival of small schools and, wherever possible, re-open rural schools that have been closed. In particular, facilitate the upgrading of area schools.  - Provide financial support for parents from rural and urban areas who are devoting time to assist children with Correspondence School courses.  * To provide for young people with special needs, Labour will ensure the.  - Development of after-care services, and training and work-shop facilities for handicapped children beyond school age, and the provision of community-based residential facilities for those who are not independent and who cannot live at home.  - Development of support services for young people who are failing in, or disenchanted with, the school system. This will include the fostering of alternative schools, the provision of 'timeout', residential places for young people who need short stay care, and a careful look at truancy and absenteeism.  - Continued development of guidance, psychological and support services, but in a coherent way, and after an inquiry into the effectiveness of, and relationships among, such services.  EDUCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY.  Labour is committed to the development of strong local communities.  To ensure that educational facilities contribute to the development of the communities in which they are based, Labour will.  1. Provide support for the development of more services like the Wairarapa Community Action programmes and the Nelson Continuing Education Service and those provided by voluntary agencies.  2. Encourage the development of community education councils.  3. Community Schools.  Designate more schools as community schools which will mean they will have.  -   additional staffing.  -   extra facilities.  -   a creche attached.  to enable them to provide, in partnership with other community groups, educational, cultural, recreational and social activities.  The finance for such services should come from the Education Department, the Ministry of Recreation and Sport and the appropriate local body, with some further assistance directly from the community, if possible.  4. Libraries.  Libraries are a primary community service. There should, therefore, be a more equitable distribution of library facilities throughout communities and in schools.  To promote a better distribution of library services, Labour will.  - set up a committee to establish an overall plan for the development of a library establishment and services through-out New Zealand.  - set up a system of regional libraries in line with other aspects of its regional development policy. These libraries would take over the work of the Country Library Services, and thus qualify for Government subsidies.  - complete the construction of the National Library building.  - provide more mobile libraries for areas where there are no proper library outlets.  - encourage the development of information services for business and industry.  - make the School Library Service an integral part of the Resources Unit of the Education Department.  - implement the recommendations of the Fenwick report, especially those relating to the training of school librarians and teacher/librarians.  5. Learning at a Distance.  Education is a means of stabilising communities. It is important that people in remote parts of the country should not be obliged to move to urban areas to seek education. Labour will, therefore, encourage the growth and co-ordination of programmes for learning at a distance.  6. Human Development and Relationships.  As part of the development of a healthy community, Labour believes that schools must continue to work in the area of human relationships. However, we would seek to broaden their responsibilities so that all children have equal preparation for their future lives. This requires courses in human relationships and development, but only introduced following full discussion with parents on the recommendations of the Johnson Report on Health Education and the Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion.  7. Educational Broadcasting.  Television and radio are powerful forces for community education, and as such Labour will be working with the Broadcasting Council to ensure that.  * there is a higher New Zealand content as a first priority in children's programmes.  * there is a reduction in the amount of violence presented in programming during the hours when children may usually be expected to be the main audience.  * the programmes present people in non-stereotyped roles, preserving a balance of sexes and reflecting the true multi-cultural nature of our society.  * ventures such as the Continuing Education Unit of Radio New Zealand are strengthened and enlarged in scope.  * Broadcasts to schools are evaluated by the Education Department, in consultation with schools and parents, with a view to increasing the amount of time given to children during school hours and holiday periods.  EDUCATION FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY.  To ensure the provision of education services designed to meet the variously expressed needs of the diverse cultural communities in New Zealand, Labour will.  1. Provide financial support for schemes which have developed outside the traditional educational system expressly to provide for ethnic minority groups, and in direct response to the needs of such groups.  2. Increase staffing in multi-ethnic schools, to allow for further counselling, visiting teachers, health and social services, and the teaching of English as a second language. the majority of such staff to come from the Maori, Pacific Islands and other minority cultural communities.  3. Make Maori an option at all levels of the education system, and by offering other languages where they are the first language of significant numbers in the community. Encouragement will be given to the further development of bi-lingual schooling.  4. Assist development of appropriate programmes and educational materials to be shared among schools.  5. Provide for minority representation on governing boards, committees or any other body dealing with matters of relevance to ethnic minorities.  EARLY CHILDHOOD.  Labour believes.  (a) that early childhood care and education services should continue to operate as a partnership between parents, trained staff, voluntary organisations and the State.  (b) that all preschool children should have equal access to early childhood care and education services.  (c) that no one type of early childhood care and education is right for all children, families and communities.  (d) that there should be one body responsible for the planning and implementation of a co-ordinated range of early childhood services.  * Therefore, the first priority of the Labour Government will be to establish all early childhood care and education under one independent statutory body - the New Zealand Children's Commission - to be funded through the Education Department.  Amongst its functions will be.  - research local needs.  -   channel funding to ensure sufficient support for a variety of     diverse services at the local level.  -   provide services which fit the variously expressed needs of the     different cultural groups in New Zealand.  -   ensure that all services get the same kind of recognition and     financial support.  -   evaluate with the local communities all existing and new schemes.  -   review and co-ordinate the training of personnel.  * As immediate measures.  -   Labour will subsidise the salaries of trained staff in approved     child care centres, and actively support the development of such     centres.  -   Labour will increase the number of trained staff in kindergartens -     giving priority to those kindergartens with a number of children     with special needs.  -   Labour will actively promote the development of mobile pre-school     units, particularly in new suburbs and rural areas, play groups in     homes and other developments in early childhood care and education     which meet the needs of families.  -   Labour recognises the importance of early childhood groups working     with parents and not just with children, and will provide support to     ensure. this aspect of their work is developed to the full.  -   support will be given to organisations seeking to provide education     for parenthood through schools and with adults.  PRIMARY.  Primary schools must provide the basic skills needed to give children the ability to think and learn. They must also give a sense of achievement, feelings of belonging to a community, and skills in social co-operation.  Labour is concerned at the trend toward larger schools. We are concerned at the decline in the size and number of country schools, and would support and strengthen them as part of a policy of rural and regional revival. Central city schools will receive similar support because of their vital contribution to the life of the local community.  Labour will ensure that sufficient resources are available to implement at the primary level the four priorities of.  * education for those with special needs.  * education for community growth and co-operation.  * education for cultural diversity.  * education for equality of opportunity for women and men.  Labour will ensure that local communities - that is, the parents, the teachers, the pupils and members of the neighbourhood - are able to implement these priorities in the way they believe is best for their children. This will entail greater local control and participation by parents, especially in elections to Education Boards and regional educational councils. It will also mean that when any new school, such as an intermediate school, is to be established, the wishes of the local community be taken into account.  As part of the commitment to small units, reduce the size of junior classes as resources allow.  To promote community involvement and more efficient use of facilities.  Make fuller use of schools by encouraging local communities to use their facilities, including empty school rooms, by pre-school groups.  Restore such services as ancillary staffing and the discretionary hours for special needs to at least the level established under the third Labour Government.  Continue the upgrading of area schools.  SECONDARY EDUCATION.  Labour recognises that secondary education is under growing strain. Teachers are faced with increasing pressures with less support than ever before. We believe that immediate measures must be taken to improve the conditions of service under which secondary teachers operate.  * Labour believes that greater parent and community involvement is highly desirable.  * So also is the urgent need for more flexibility in secondary school attitudes toward the learning needs of students.  * We are concerned at the continuing dominance of the schools by the examination system.  * The needs of all students should be considered carefully and we must provide a range of appropriate courses leading to different but equally important futures.  As part of the implementation of the four priorities at the secondary level, Labour will.  1. Review school finances and support schools according to their special needs.  2. Review the rights and opportunities for women teachers, including the position of part-time teachers and the allocation of positions of responsibility.  3. Maintain and expand existing schemes of alternative education and encourage and support further experimentation.  4. Extend the provision of guidance networks to all schools.  5. Encourage schools to develop work experience and other vocational, awareness programmes to enable all students to gain a better idea of varied work opportunities.  6. Strengthen links between schools and their neighbourhoods by ensuring that high school Boards are more closely representative of their communities, and by encouraging the greater use of ancillary staff from the community.  CONTINUING EDUCATION.  Technical institutes and community colleges, like all continuing education services, must respond to community needs for vocational, personal and social education. Their chief emphasis should thus be on people and outreach, with special assistance for previously disadvantaged groups to continue their education, e.g. handicapped, unemployed, women, minority ethnic groups.  Therefore Labour will.  * Review the content of existing courses, including the social education people need in order to take active part in community activities.  * Improve teaching methods by developing and implementing the recommendations of the working party on in-service training courses, providing back-up services, granting refresher leave.  * Reduce the waste which occurs because of duplication of courses, lack of co-ordination between technical institutes and universities, high drop-out rates, or training more people than industry can absorb.  * Work to make existing educational opportunities more widely known through.  (a) improved vocational counselling for both adults and secondary school leavers. This will require full-time training courses for vocational guidance counsellors.  (b) publicity in shops, offices, libraries, radio and television.  (c) work experience courses in secondary schools.  (d) brief courses for secondary teachers in industry, technical institutes and universities.  Provide greater autonomy in buildings, finance, staffing and course approvals to enable institutions to respond to community needs and priorities and use alternative courses where appropriate.  LITERACY.  Labour will increase research into and support for adult literacy programmes.  APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING.  Labour believes that apprentice training should concentrate on the development of broad skills applicable to a range of jobs. We are concerned about the reduction in apprentice numbers, the decline in status of apprentices, and the present system of apprentice education and training.  * In conjunction with employers and employees' representatives, training centres, personnel, community representatives and local and central planning authorities, Labour will undertake a major review of the place and appropriateness of apprentice training in overall education and employment programmes.  Labour will.  * Place greater emphasis on groups of skills developed in block courses, but also with flexible training periods.  * Examine the present emphasis on academic qualifications in selection with a view to adopting more relevant criteria, with special provisions for adults and minority ethnic groups.  * Consider the provision of appropriate residential accommodation for apprentices and other technical institute students.  * Ensure that tutors at Technical Institutes and Community Colleges have greater time and opportunity to keep up with new trade developments, improve assessment methods of trainee skills, and strengthen links between the institutions and industry, commerce and the community.  TRADE UNION EDUCATION.  Labour accepts that the overall aim of Trade Union education programmes should be in accordance with the UNESCO Recommendation on Adult Education (1976).  "Civic, political, trade union and co-operative education activities should be aimed particularly towards developing independent and critical judgement and implanting or enhancing the abilities required by each individual in order to cope with changes affecting living and working conditions, by effective participation in the management of social affairs at every level of the decision-making process."  Therefore, Labour will.  * Encourage the provision of effective training programmes within unions that will enable them to function more effectively by informing and educating members so that they may be active in society as citizens and as workers.  * Provide in all education institutions more effective education about trade unions.  * Encourage individual unions to plan and conduct their own officer, delegate and membership educational programmes in response to the requirements of their industries, award provisions, union rules, policies and organisational structure.  * Consider the provision of a central agency such as the Trade Union Training Board of the Vocational Training Council to co-ordinate and help service these activies.  * Grant a statutory right to release for approved trade union training courses on full pay.  * Subsidise the establishment of training institution by the trade union movement.  TEACHER EDUCATION.  Labour believes that teacher education should be flexible and continuous.  Labour will.  * Consider seriously the recommendations of the review of teacher training.  * Broaden the functions of existing Teacher Colleges to include.  (a) the education and training of a range of groups associated with     child care and teaching functions.  (b) use as teacher and resource centres.  (c) for in-service training courses.  * Encourage the further development of teacher centres in areas with no ready access to a teachers college.  * Further develop school based programmes of in-service training.  * Strengthen the teaching service by recruiting more mature people, and including more Maoris, Polynesians and people from other cultures to train as teachers, and by investigating ways of raising the entry age to Teachers Colleges.  * Seek to develop a co-ordinated system of resource information services and possible interchange of personnel among Teachers Colleges, teachers centres, the N.Z. Council for Educational Research, universities, and the Department of Education.  * Develop qualification structures appropriate to teachers programmes so that those with non-degree qualifications are accorded comparable status with graduates.  * Explore the possibility of community based training for trainee teachers to complement that provided in schools.  THE UNIVERSITIES.  Labour believes that the universities should continue to make a contribution to teaching and research, but that to serve society with greater effect, they should be encouraged to become as flexible and innovative as possible in these capacities.  Labour will.  1. Introduce a system of indexation to the cost of living for the standard tertiary bursary, and seek to remove present bursary anomalies.  2. Review the quota system for both private and sponsored overseas students.  3. Encourage a shift in emphasis from the education and professional training of school leavers to that of men and women at all stages of their adult lives, and create more opportunities for extra-mural study, especially in the South Island.  4. Examine ways in which universities can further develop continuing education programmes in consultation with technical institutes, Teachers Colleges, and other agencies of continuing education.  5. Encourage universities to examine their methods of teaching, examining and student guidance, to develop more effective learning and motivation.  6. Foster temporary exchanges between universities, the State services and other relevant sectors.  7. Encourage universities to increase involvement in both relevant social, economic and industrial research.  EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION.  To achieve Labours aims, a system based on centralised planning and decentralised implementation is required.  Centralised planning means.  1. The development of an education system which meets the long term economic priorities of New Zealand.  2. Defining national standards.  3. Consistently evaluating, with the help of the local communities, all existing and new developments.  4. Researching local needs and providing local people with the results of that research.  5. Examining and channeling funding to ensure sufficient support for a variety of diverse services at the local level.  Decentralised implementation means.  1. That local communities themselves implement the national priorities, determined in consultation with them, in the way that best suits their community.  2. That parents actively participate in the decisions about what their children will learn.  3.  Allowing the development of services designed specifically to meet     the expressed needs of the various cultural communities within New     Zealand society.  4.  That the local communities are active in evaluating all existing and     new developments.  EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS POLICY.  EMPLOYMENT.  Introduction.  It is basic to Labour's philosophy that all people who want to work should be able to do so. Labour reaffirms its dedication to the restoration of growth and full employment. Unemployed people are deprived not only of their right to a livelihood, but also to their dignity, their self respect and the opportunity for self fulfilment through work. Unemployment also wastes our human resources, so our level of production remains below its potential maximum.  Labour rejects the growing situation of more and more people on unemployment benefit. Research shows that the effect of such unemployment is loss of confidence, and that after eighteen months of unemployment many people become unemployable. The Labour Government will get all those on unemployment benefit who are capable of working into some form of productive work as quickly as possible.  Labour believes that if full employment is to be restored in New Zealand it will only be achieved by vigorous and innovative policies. It is necessary to employ an array of labour market, regional development and industrial policies designed to create and maintain jobs and where necessary, to ensure that job seekers are adequately trained for the jobs available.  1. The Labour Government will, as an aspect of upgrading the Department of Labour, provide a more active employment agency facility, which makes registration more accessible and combines registration with the necessary support and direction towards new employment opportunities.  2. Incentives will be developed to enable companies to train their employees more easily. The retrainee will receive his or her normal pay during the retraining period.  3. Employment Promotion Committees will be strengthened and expanded into all areas of high unemployment so that they are more representative of all those directly concerned, and can work more directly to create new employment.  4. The New Zealand Conservation Corps will be established (see Youth Policy).  Women in Employment.  Labour has always seen equality of opportunity as vitally important. Although considerable progress has been made in access to careers and in actual rates of pay, in employment, as in other areas, women still lag behind men in equality of opportunity and in achievement of equality in practice. There is still much to be done to actively promote the principles of equal pay. It is also necessary to move increasingly towards the provision of part-time work opportunities and more flexible working hours. But such movements can proceed only by protecting existing award provisions and in response to initiatives by unions and employers.  The active involvement of non-governmental organisations is important for the effective implementation of socially progressive policies.  The Labour Government will.  1. Provide funding for organisations, such as the Working Women's Council, which are prepared to commit themselves to work towards long-term goals for the promotion of equality of opportunity in women's employment.  2. Give effect to the I.L.D. Convention 103 concerning maternity protection by introducing legislation to provide for maternity and paternity leave.  3. Legislation for the removal of all orders, awards, industrial agreements and statutory regulations, clauses which discriminate against female employees.  4. Increase subsidies on approved child-care facilities, provide finance for Local Government projects and provide taxation incentives for companies which establish such facilities.  5. Alter the criteria covering discrimination in hiring and promotion in the Human Rights Act to include age, parental status, sex preference, a more positive coverage of pregnancy and economic status. The Labour Government will also ensure that the Equal Opportunity Tribunal is headed by a woman with experience in the employment area.  6. Any person who has been on full-time employment for at least twelve months and who becomes unemployed, will be able to apply for unemployment benefit. Particular attention will be given to developing policy for those whose hours have been cut back from full-time.  INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.  Introduction.  Labour's objective is to build an environment that provides for effective consultation and co-operation, based on shared decision-making between management and labour at all levels of New Zealand society. The working environment must take into account the dignity of the individual, the skills of the work-force, security of employment, involvement of workers in all aspects of industry and provide a living wage which meets family needs.  The Industrial Relations Council.  In dealing with industrial problems at national level the Industrial Relations Council can make a major contribution to the development of effective industrial relations and the formulation of industrial and economic policy. Under a Labour Government all proposals for industrial legislation will be considered by this Council before enactment.  Through the Labour Department the Council should receive financial support for research into such things as planning, training, industrial safety and manpower.  The Labour Department.  To stress the importance of Labour to the economic well-being of the nation, and to assist retention of talented staff in a top career department, the Labour Government will.  (a) Raise the status of the Labour Department.  (b) Expand the conciliation and mediation services.  (c) Increase the back-up resources available to the Arbitration Court to enable the speedy handling of matters referred to it, and.  (d) Increase the funds available to Industry Training Boards.  Industrial Democracy.  Labour believes that there is a need for critical examination of our industrial relations system as the basis for sound, balanced economic progress. Industrial democracy is an important part of this development. This is needed at three levels, with unions as an essential part of the co-ordinating process.  (a) the Unions.  Labour believes that trade unions are a vital part of industrial society. Labour policy will provide for trade union freedom to bargain in accord with I.L.D. standards.  To achieve these objectives, the Labour Government will.  (1) Repeal repressive and provocative industrial legislation.  (2) Provide for collective bargaining as the basic element of wage fixing, rather than direct Government intervention.  (3) Introduce for all workers paid leave for Trade Union education training purposes on the basis of recommendations from the Industrial Relations Council.  (4) Encourage unions to provide a wider range of services to their members by removing arbitrary restrictions on union subscriptions, and.  (5) Establish a fund to assist Union amalgamation and the training of Union members in the administrative and organising skills.  (b) In the Industry.  As different industries have different requirements and potential for industrial democracy, those working in each industry must develop the forms most appropriate to them. The Labour Government will provide for the following common basic aspects.  (1) The incorporation of employees into decision-making structures, through the existing trade union machinery, and guidelines within the Industrial Relations Act to govern these procedures.  (2) Legislation to ensure that information essential to industrial bargaining and industrial planning is available under appropriate safeguards.  (3) Joint management-union industrial councils set up in major industrial sectors, e.g. retail, transport, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing to maintain an overview of industrial relations, investment and technological developments.  (4) Development of co-operative ownership and production where suitable (e.g. Freezing Works), with finance available for such development.  In the Wider Economy.  The development of a democratic industrial system requires greatly extended involvement of organised management and organised labour in economic planning. In this process the proposed industrial councils should be a major component. And the public generally must be allowed access to information which bears strongly on costs and prices and the general interests of consumers.  Accordingly, the Labour Government will.  (1) Provide for the right of the public scrutiny and participation in proceedings on price control, mergers and takeovers, and will amend the Commerce Act to provide for consumer and union representation on the Commerce Commission, and increased consumer initiative in trade practice proceedings.  (2) Increase direct control of financial centres to channel investment productivity on the advice of industrial councils.  (3) Provide for paid work time as an insertion in all awards, to be allocated all employees for consideration of major policy developments in their industry and in the economy as a whole.  Injunctions and Industrial Law.  By long established practice under our industrial conciliation and arbitration system industrial disputes have been dealt with by the specialist Arbitration Courts. It has been widely recognised overseas that to allow the ordinary Courts to intervene in industrial matters will only inflame industrial disputes, and this has been borne out by recent experience in this country. Jurisdiction in industrial matters should be left to the Arbitration Court, which has the requisite knowledge and experience of industrial relations and will, therefore, be able to ensure the just settlement of industrial disputes.  Accordingly, Labour will.  (1) Restrict the use of injunctions and other common law remedies against unions and their officials for normal and non-violent industrial action taken in the course of an. industrial dispute.  (2) Amend the law to give the Arbitration Court jurisdiction over alleged 'unfair industrial practices' occurring during industrial disputes. This will allow a party to seek redress where action is taken over a non-industrial matter in a Court with expertise in and understanding of industrial relations.  The State Services.  The aim of the Labour Government will be to ensure that Government departments operate efficiently. Where necessary they will be streamlined to ensure they better meet the tasks assigned to them. In consultation with employee organisations, steps will be taken to facilitate the interchange of employees between the different sectors of the State Services.  The public sector must be in the forefront of the drive for industrial democracy and progress towards more effective forms of participation in management in the State sector must be made. The scope for such action differs from department to department, and the democratic control over the organs of government will involve some constraints, but such things as prior consultation on all issues of concern to the labour force, information sharing and representation on management bodies are obvious areas of positive innovation.  (1) The Labour Government would commence early negotiations to improve the Government Superannuation Scheme, consistent with the resources of the Fund, on such matters as the calculation of retiring salary, cost-of-living adjustments, the treatment of payments for taxation purposes, and allowances paid to surviving spouses.  (2) The industrial penalties in the State sector will be removed.  (3) There is need for pay rates to be compared on a group-to-group basis so pay research surveys should be extended on a basis acceptable to the parties concerned. The results, once negotiated, should be applied without delay.  (4) Where there exists within the State Services groups of employees who have no private sector equivalents, negotiations will be held with the employee organisations to link these groups, where possible, to other appropriate State Service groups for salary adjustment purposes.  (5) In State Service industrial relations, the role of the Minister , of State Services needs to be more clearly defined. The minister should not act as the employer or as an active protagonist on one side, but rather as a mediator of last resort.  (6) Labour believes it is necessary to retain specific Tribunals for public sector wage determination so as to recognise its special characteristics.  Trade Union Education.  Labour recognises the need for information on the aims and objects of trade unions to be better understood both by those in the work-force and in the community generally.  Therefore, Labour believes in.  (1) The need for effective training programmes within unions that will enable them to function more effectively by informing and educating members so that they may be active in society as citizens and workers.  (2) The need in all education institutions for more effective education about trade unions, about the relationship of worker to employer, and about the nature of the economic and social system in which they operate.  (3) The need for individual unions to plan and conduct their own officer, delegate and membership educational programmes in response to the requirements of their industries, award provisions, union rules, policies and organisational structure.  (4) The need for a central agency, such as the Trade Union Training Board of the Vocational Training Council, to co-ordinate and help service their activities.  (5) The need for a statutory right to release for approved trade union training courses on full pay.  (6) The need to subsidise any move by the trade union movement to establish their own residential training institutions.  ENERGY POLICY.  Labour's energy policy will have as its guiding principles.  * Self reliance.  * Exploitation of renewable resources.  * A cleaner environment.  * Regional generation and use of energy.  * Non-nuclear power.  * Accelerated research.  * Rewards for conservation.  * A fair pricing policy for the family.  * Greater efficiency in the use of New Zealand's own fuels.  * No cheap New Zealand energy for export.  New Zealand must aim to be self reliant for its energy needs as soon as possible. Quite apart from the energy question itself, the economics of a policy of import substitution for our energy needs will go a long way towards solving our now chronic balance-of-payments problem.  There can be no doubt that this is technically possible, and it is now likely to be economically possible and desirable, given known technology and the likely supply/price situation for oil imports.  Regional development is a key factor in future energy production and consumption. The objective must be to utilise the natural resource available either on site for energy generation and/or as a primary source of energy, i.e. gas should be used as gas. coal as coal. Where possible, forms of fuel and power from renewable indigenous resources will be accorded highest priority.  There must be every encouragement for the development of small plants and projects - by industries, local authorities, groups and individuals. Such development must have its own clearly defined criteria.  On the evidence available there is no necessity to develop nuclear power in New Zealand in the foreseeable future. Labour will not permit such development.  The Ministry of Energy must be charged with the Authority to Plan Develop and Co-ordinate New Zealand's Energy, in both the short and the long term. Moreover, all aspects of the planning and impact reporting must be subject to public scrutiny.  The role of the Gas Company must be re-examined to ensure complete co-ordination within an overall energy policy.  Supply Authorities.  Every encouragement will be given local supply authorities to merge into wider Regional Authorities. They should develop local power resources, be responsible for reticulation of energy, and set local charges within an overall concept of regional development.  Hydro Power.  At the present time we have developed some 3,500 MW in hydro stations. We will have another 5000 MW for development up to the year 2000, and there is still a further 2000 MW that could be developed after that date. Although some of this will be difficult and increasingly expensive, it will be better in every sense, including environmentally than any other alternative.  The hydro potential includes 1000 MW in additional small projects sponsored by local authorities and possibly industry. These schemes must be made feasible in relation to the cost of buying "national-grid" electricity. We envisage a new era where territorial local authorities can make a significant contribution. As with other sources of energy, possibilities that were once considered uneconomic are now viable and should be developed in the regional and national interest. Nevertheless, Labour, for the sake of the last "1% of power" will not wreck a valley as National has needlessly done for Clutha. There must be a balanced view.  Geothermal Power.  New Zealand is a world leader in the development of geothermal power. We have adequate resources to allow geothermal production to grow throughout this century. The possibility of recycling waste back into the ground leading to increased efficiencies must also be considered, as must its impact on the tourist industry. Labour will initiate a programme to develop at least 1000 MW more by the year 2000 and after that time, with re-injection and deep well techniques, we could probably develop considerably more.  Thermal Power.  Coal-fired power stations are preferable to gas stations, leaving gas and oil free to be used as primary fuels. Also coal usage allows for the resources of a region to be used for that region. However, coal too, has a limited potential and the greatest potential lies in the development of Co-generation and/or Combined Cycle stations that enable smaller units to work more efficiently in industrial urban areas where the need is greatest.  The above outlines Labour's Electric Power Policy up to year 2000. It is realistic, and has the following main advantages.  * It uses our own renewable resources for 80-85% of our development up to the year 2000.  * Our own skilled work force will be kept fully employed in New Zealand.  * There is less dependence on overseas funds.  * It is well within the economic capacity of the country, which is not the case with oil and nuclear stations.  * It has much less environmental upset.  HOUSEHOLD AND INDUSTRY ENERGY USES.  For the household and industry consumer, however, there exists a great number of alternatives that can be developed to take the edge off electrical energy bills and effectively supplement the traditional sources of energy.  Auxiliary Water Heating/Space Heating.  These are two areas where we can save tremendous quantities of electric power by using alternative direct heat sources, by combining heat uses, and by good insulation of buildings.  Labour will encourage savings by.  * Further extension of subsidies on all approved forms of insulation.  * Subsidising space heaters with "wet-backs" etc, so that space heating and water heating are combined.  * Insisting on adequate lagging of all hot water pipes.  * Encouraging the installation and further development of efficient New Zealand manufactured solar heating units and clean wood burners.  Revised Domestic Tariff.  Every encouragement to save power will be given by the introduction of a series of graduated tariffs based on fair criteria as to size of households, so that householders making the greatest efforts to conserve power will benefit, and those wasting power will be penalised. Wasteful users will subsidise the needy users. The unfair penalties 'on families inherent in the present pricing policy will be removed.  Industrial Usage and Re-Cycling.  Our traditional industrial relations on cheap energy has gone. Increasingly the cost of energy has a direct bearing on the price of goods and there should be a built in incentive for industry to seek alternative cheaper sources of energy other than electrical power.  Nevertheless, where large scale electrical energy is required in industry, the user should be able to buy directly from NZED or Gas Corporation, so that there are uniform charges, but in no case in future contracts will the price charge be below the average production and supply costs.  Encouragement will be given to industry to generate its own energy by recycling of waste and the use of plant, which is either of the co-generation type or combined cycle operation, where both heat and electric power are being produced.  COAL.  Coal remains one of our most important and largest potential resources of energy. Labour will guarantee the utilisation of this resource to its best advantage. The programme of mechanisation of underground mines commended by the previous Labour Government will be accelerated and the benefits of this development will be shared by those engaged in the industry and its customers.  State coalmining operations will be judged not only on their individual economies, but also on the social and regional development contribution they will make.  A vigorous exploration programme will be pursued to prove our resources of indicated inferred coal. As a conservation measure Labour will take steps to bring coalmining recovery rates nearer to those now being achieved overseas. Smokeless fuels will be encouraged and new techniques will be applied as far as possible.  OIL AND SUBSTITUTES.  Oil supplies 57% of our energy needs and costs 1/6th of our export income. By 1980 $1 in $4 will be needed unless we act now to conserve oil and to switch to alternatives.  While every reasonable effort must be made to find oil, even greater efforts must be made to develop alternatives from our own renewable resources of forestry and agriculture.  Labour's aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in liquid fuels, as soon as practicable, and certainly by the year 2000. In research into and development of new forms of energy, Government will participate to whatever extent necessary to achieve this goal. LPG will be supplied to major distribution points throughout New Zealand at a uniform price.  Ethanol and Methanol are two major alternatives. Methane and LPG must be developed for nation-wide benefit. Simultaneously, conservation through research and development of other promising means of propulsion will be accelerated.  It should be emphasised that one quarter of New Zealand's agricultural land today is devoted to producing exports to pay for current oil imports - at present prices - whereas only one-tenth of our land would be required to grow the crops for conversion into liquid fuel to satisfy that same need.  ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.  Philosophy.  We cannot waste our irreplaceable resources and we cannot continue to pollute our environment. New Zealand must manage its resources so that development is in harmony with nature. Conservation and development must be integrated. The physical and social environments are complimentary. Social justice and a balanced environment go hand in hand. Labour is planning not just for today, but for the benefit of future generations.  Administration.  The Commission for the Environment should be the environment's watch-dog. Under National, the Commission for the Environment has been downgraded into little more than a speech writing department for the Minister for the Environment who has also the conflicting portfolios of Lands and Forestry.  Labour will.  (1) Pass legislation to give the Commission for the Environment statutory independence. The Commission will be empowered to speak out fearlessly before decisions are made to proceed with projects that could adversely affect the environment.  (2) The Commission for the Environment will be given two tasks.  (a) The Commission must audit the environmental impact (both social and physical) of all projects that may adversely affect the environment and the Commission's duty will be to act as the environment's "friend".  (b) The Commission for the Environment will carry out a programme of public education, for adults and for school children, on the need to protect our natural environment.  (3) Reports from the Commission for the Environment will be published before decisions are made to proceed with projects that may affect the environment, not afterwards when it is too late, as is the practice under National.  (4) As it is Labour's policy to have open government, a freedom of information law will be passed. This will enable the public to take part in decision making because all relevant facts and policy options will be made available.  (5) All environmental and planning legislation will bind the Crown.  (6) Grants will be made available to environmental organisations to assist in the conducting of research and to support undertakings such as seminars and the running of regional environmental centres.  (7) Labour will ensure that the Labour Minister for the Environment is independent and does not hold conflicting portfolios as does the present National Party Minister. The Labour Minister for the Environment will be able to take an independent stance in the Cabinet to protect the environment.  Recycling and Waste Management.  Labour recognises the vital importance of preventing waste and where waste is occurring recycling so as to recover valuable resources will be encouraged. Labour will undertake pilot studies of sewerage and garbage recycling. Waste management will include.  (a) Reduction at source by a programme of education.  (b) Financial incentives to manufacturers for product durability and/or penalties for unnecessary package and waste.  (c) Maximum reuse of waste.  (d) Maximum recycling of what is not immediately reuseable.  (e) Inoffensive disposal by pelletising and burying or judicious land-fill of non-recycable waste.  (f) Labour will actively discourage the tipping of rubbish which is polluting our harbours, rivers and lakes.  Natural Waters.  Our coastal and inland waterways are vital to the environment. Our waterways must be kept free of pollutants and Labour will therefore insist on the highest practicable standards of water quality.  (a) Inland Water.  Labour will not drown a valley for the sake of one percent of power as National is intending to do with the Clutha River.  Labour will implement the scheme agreed to by the Third Labour Government to clear up Lake Rotorua. Labour recognises that our lakes are part of our natural heritage and that Lake Rotorua and Lake Taupo are of national importance.  (b) Coastal Water.  A working party will be set up under the Environmental Council to bring forward a scheme for the protection of New Zealand's coastline, and with the establishment of a scheme for coastline reserves.  Planning.  If we are to protect the environment for future generations of New Zealanders it is vital that future development be carefully planned. Labour will encourage citizens to play an active role in environmental planning. Labour will.  (a) Pass a freedom of information law to allow public access to information on which planning decisions are made so public discussion and comment can be made before and not after the decisions are made.  (b) Labour will set up an inter-departmental committee to examine the operation of the new town and country planning legislation. Local government will be requested to forward comments on the operation of the new law. After the Town And Country Planning Act has been in operation for a full year, full public discussions will be held in the form of regional seminars to examine both the working of the Act and to hear the view of local government and citizens on what amendments are necessary.  (c) The planning system will be kept as simple as possible to allow maximum public participation in the planning process. The Commission for the Environment will carry out education programmes to show people how they can take part in the decision. making process.  Urban Environment.  Labour recognises that over eighty percent of New Zealanders live in our towns and cities. The urban environment is just as important as the environment of our countryside. Labour supports measured systems for urban development linked with constant revaluation of land use patterns. Labour will.  (a) Limit the urban sprawl on to good agriculture land and encourage urban renewal through the provision of incentives to local authorities.  (b) Labour will encourage the preservation and upgrading of existing housing by making loans available to people wishing to purchase existing homes or upgrade existing homes.  (c) Labour will ensure that urban development is flexible enough to cater for various community services as well as allowing for ample open space.  (d) Airborne lead levels will be monitored where there is a possibility of health risk. Oil companies will be required to submit proposals for the abolition of lead additives in petrol.  (e) Encourage less dependence on the use of private cars in cities by upgrading and encouraging the use of public transport.  Countryside.  New Zealand's beautiful landscape must be protected from pollution and abuse. Only specified areas should be zoned for heavy commercial development. More effort will be spent restoring neglected areas and maintaining reserves. Labour will.  (a) Further develop and encourage the Historic Places Trust and the Walkways Commission.  (b) Ensure any commercial enterprise in parklands is concentrated in small areas.  (c) Enlarge the concept of national parks to include more virgin land and examples of modified landscape.  Native Forests.  Our native forests are unique. They are a valuable scientific, cultural and commercial resource. Our native forests must not be abused, misused or wasted. Labour recognises the position in the North Island where only the remnent of virgin State forest remains is very critical. Labour's policy recognises the difference between the situation in the North Island and the South Island. Labour believes that the logging of native forests should be reduced by a careful programme to replacement levels.  Rural communities depending on sawmilling must however be protected. Labour will use the State's available radiata pine resources where this may be needed to protect sawmill employment.  In the North Island the logging of virgin indigenous State forests will be phased out and legal protection will be extended to the remaining areas of virgin forests.  On the West Coast of the South Island the sawmilling industry must be sustained at a level which contributes significantly to the regional economy. Consistent with this Labour will  (a) Support the beech forest utilisation based largely on renewal of beech forests.  (b) Plant sufficient fast growing trees to sustain and expand the timber industry in the future.  (c) Support the creation of reserves and extensions to national parks where these are considered ecologically desirable. Such decisions will be made only after.  (i) studies are held to identify the social and economic impact on the     community and the total potential of the resources in the proposed     areas.  (ii) submissions are sought from the public on these matters.  (iii) there is a recommendation from the scientific co-ordinating     committee. And.  (iv) the national park extensions are recommended by the National Parks     Authority.  Industry.  Labour recognises the economic environmental need to conserve raw materials and energy and to avoid wasteful pollution. To this end Labour will, in industry.  (a). Encourage the adoption of productivity measures, foster industrial design for conservation, encourage the development of industries based on the use of renewable resources.  (b) Give due emphasis to the advantages of small scale production of high quality goods based on the use of brain, skill and low energy technology.  (c) Actively support regional small-scale industries, and those which foster a working environment in which greater participation of all workers is provided for.  Noise.  Labour recognises that noise is a form of pollution. Labour endorses the Committee of the Board of Health Report on Noise, and will establish acceptable levels of maximum noise and progressively. introduce requirements for new manufacture of transport, construction, and similar equipment to meet noise standards.  Labour will support the lowering of noise levels in the community generally.  Nuclear.  Labour recognises the very real threat that nuclear technology poses to the environment. Labour therefore.  (a) Rejects completely any form of nuclear power stations.  (b) Labour will promote internationally the concept of a nuclear weapons free zone in the South Pacific.  (c) Labour will oppose the international stock piling and testing of nuclear weapons.  (d) Labour will press for the international banning of nuclear weapons.  Energy.  Labour recognises that the energy policy is fundamental to the development of a sustainable environment. Labour's energy policy is therefore based upon the maximum use of renewable indigenous resources. Labour will encourage actively by financial incentives and penalties the conservation of energy. Labour will therefore.  (a) Introduce a comprehensive energy policy.  (b) Encourage the use of renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, solar and wind power, and energy farming.  (c) Reject completely nuclear power.  (d) Continue to expand and intensify research for the development of alternative forms.  (e) Ensure that future pricing of energy reflects the social and environmental costs while protecting the position of the family.  (f) Foster and support the development of lower energy transportation.  (g) Aim to achieve self sufficiency in energy through the development of energy farming.  International Responsibilities.  International responsibilities.  Labour recognises the fight for a balanced environment is an international one. Labour will therefore.  (a) Co-ordinate and integrate by information to enable effective participation by New Zealand in OECD environmental programmes.  (b) Labour will continue to participate in the work of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) including full participation in international United Nations conferences on the environment.  (c) Labour will ensure that New Zealand's two hundred mile zone is so managed that it continues to be a valuable resource for future generations.  FISHERIES POLICY.  There are two important aspects.  1) Commercial fishing.  (a) for home consumption.  (b) for export.  2) Recreational fishing.    Conservation and management  Whatever methods are employed to help the fishing industry to develop, the conservation of marine and fresh water resources and the protection of this environment for the benefit and enjoyment of New Zealanders now and in the future must be paramount.  Accordingly, we re-affirm a policy to restrict commercial exploitation - if necessary to the point of prohibition - of any scarce or threatened species. Such restriction will be on a regional basis and may vary both over time and between areas, depending on existing circumstances.  In addition Labour will expand further research and will encourage marine and fresh water farming and the propagation of scarce or endangered species.  The Fishing Industry.  The Fishing Industry will be designated a front-line industry for development assistance purposes. Labour will expand and co-ordinate the work of the Rural Bank, the Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Corporation to facilitate this.  The 200 mile Economic Zone.  Labour supports the declaration of this zone and will adopt policies to ensure.  (1) Efficient policing of the zone.  (2) An accelerated program to enable New Zealand fishermen to harvest our share of the agreed sustainable quantity.  (3) An attitude of goodwill and co-operation towards other fishing nations with legitimate interests in this zone.  (4) The provision of modern on-shore processing facilities under New Zealand control.  (5) Efficient and modern techniques of marketing and market research.  (6) Guaranteed access on competitive terms for New Zealand fish in exchange for fishing rights by foreign nations.  Labour rejects as unrealistic the present view that the rights of our fishing industry can or should be traded for right of access for unrelated products. We believe that the asset of our 200 mile zone can and must be used to ensure maximum advantage for the development of the New Zealand fishing industry.  The Fishing Industry Board.  There have been long-standing disagreements between the Board and the Ministry over both the areas and the extent of responsibility.  This must be resolved immediately if the twin policies of conservation and commercialisation are to proceed smoothly.  The function of the F.I.B. is the orderly and accelerated expansion of the fishing industry, catching, processing and marketing. Thus the Board will direct and control relevant research in these areas.  However the ultimate responsibility for conservation and policing rests with the government. Thus species research is a Ministry function and catching methods research is a joint function involving both conservation and commercial aspects.  A Labour Government will extend further financial assistance to the Board to enable it to fulfil its proper role. We will negotiate with the industry to ensure that the functions of the Board are clearly defined and understood and its financing is on a secure and adequate basis.  Co-operative Ventures.  Labour believes that the requirements of a modern fishing industry can best be met by the development of co-operatives for both catching and processing.  Only by working together will New Zealand fishermen obtain maximum benefit from the 200 mile zone.  Labour will actively encourage the formation of co-operatives and assist in their financing.  Small Ventures.  Labour does not want to see big companies and big ventures excluding small and innovative individual effort. Encouragement will be given efficient small-boat operators including finance for the purchase of suitable vessels.  Sub-Arctic Fishing.  Southern New Zealand is well placed to establish a specialised fishing industry to exploit the wealth and variety of sub-arctic marine species. As part of our regional development policies we will negotiate with interested parties with the necessary expertise to establish such an industry.  The Local Market.  The local market must be developed. In this, variety, price and quality must receive greater attention. Labour will initiate discussions with the fishing industry with the Fishing industry board and Consumers to achieve more cohesion between the local and export marketing and to ensure greater understanding between the industry and the consumer.  Policing local fishing.  Fisheries protection is primarily a conservation role. Although effective policing of our entire coastline is well nigh impossible, a further increase in the number of fisheries protection officers is desirable. Their role must emphasise education for conservation. There must be an active programme of conservation awareness throughout our schools and within the community.  Regulations must be simplified and reduced. Fewer regulations and more effective enforcement will be Labour's aim.  FORESTRY POLICY.  New Zealand's forests will be managed for the benefit of New Zealanders. Labour will utilise the potential of our forests for New Zealand's social, recreational, ecological, and economic wellbeing.  NATIVE FORESTS.  (a) Labour believes that the logging of native forests should be reduced to the replacement level as quickly as possible. Rural communities dependent on sawmilling must be protected from abrupt decline, and Labour will use the State's available radiata pine resources where this may be needed to protect sawmill employment.  (b) In the North Island the logging of virgin indigenous State forests will be phased out and legal protection will be extended to the remaining areas of virgin forest.  (c) On the West Coast of the South Island the sawmilling industry must be sustained at a level which contributes significantly to the regional economy. Consistent with this, Labour will.  - support beech forest utilisation based largely on renewal of the beech forests.  - plant sufficient fast-growing trees to sustain and expand the timber industry in future.  The adoption of forest reserves and the extensions to National Parks as recommended by the Scientific Co-ordinating Committee and the National Parks Authority, will only be agreed to following studies to identify.  (a) the social and economic impact on the community and.  (b) the total potential of the resources in the proposed areas. Submissions from the public will be sought and given full consideration.  (d) Labour will encourage all afforestation companies to adopt a code of "environmental ethics" applying to any land to be afforested by those companies. This will include.  - compliance with the Government's indigenous forest policy, as this is applied to State forests.  - acceptance of procedures for full public participation.  - consultation with the Scientific Co-ordinating Committee and the Wildlife Service regarding the need for reserves.  - energy conservation principles must be incorporated in planning for new forests and processing industries.  (e) Encouragement and assistance will be given for local government involvement in.  (i) production forests.  (ii) sand dune reclamation.  (iii) native tree planting in parks, streets, etc.  RECREATION.  (a) More State Forest Parks will be created.  (b) Access to indigenous State forests will be liberalised.  (c) Exotic forests near urban centres will be managed to meet a wider range of community needs.  (d) Recreational hunting will be facilitated.  (i) on unoccupied lands of the Crown.  (ii) in selected State forest areas.  PRODUCTION.  (a) Labour's afforestation will be designed to meet local wood requirements and to diversify our export economy by providing for forest industries.  (b) Labour will encourage those industries which.  (i) aim to maximum utilisation of wood.  (ii) process to the maximum within New Zealand.  (iii) expand production for export.  (iv) develop new products.  (c) Where required, exotic forest plantings will be expanded.  (d) Advisory services will be increased.  (e) Forest planting and the establishment of forest-based industries will reflect Regional Development needs.  MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH.  (a) The present Commercial Division of the Forest Service will engage in a full range of trading activities.  (b) Research will aim towards optimum multiple use of forests.  (c) Increased emphasis will be given to the rehabilitation of eroded (Class 7) land by the establishment of protection/production forests.  FARM FORESTRY.  Labour believes there is scope for forestry and farming to be combined, and will therefore.  (a) Intensify research in suitable areas.  (b) Commence a programme of demonstration to interest both the farmers and foresters.  FORESTS FOR ENERGY.  In time Labour's determination to achieve self-reliance in energy production by the year 2,000 - and the commitment to regional development in energy production, a Labour government will.  * Adopt flexible forestry development policies that will facilitate tree cropping for energy generation.  * Accelerate research into all aspects of this proposition.  * Establish pilot schemes.  * Ensure close liaison between the Forest Service and D.S.I.R. in the development of research into the most efficient methods for the conversion of wood into energy.  HEALTH POLICY.  CONTENTS.  A. GUIDING PRINCIPLES.  Help Where and When You Need It.  The Present Crisis in Health Care.  B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE.  1. Child Health.  2. Primary Care and General Practice.  3. Community Health Centres.  4. Nutrition Policy.  5. Other Preventive health Measures.  C. HOSPITAL SERVICES.  D. AREAS FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION.  1. Care of the Elderly aid the Disabled.  2. Mental Health.  3. Occupational Health.  4. Women and Health.  5. Dental Services.  6. International Health.  7. Medical Research.  8. Pharmaceuticals and Prosthetics.  9. Alternative Health Interventions.  E. ADMINISTRATION.  1. Regional Health Authorities.  2. Health Manpower Policy.  F. A STRATEGY FOR RATIONAL ACTION.  A. GUIDING PRINCIPLES.  The phrase "HELP WHERE AND WHEN YOU NEED IT" embodies the main principles of Labour's health policy.  HELP.  In the provision of health and related human services, emphasis should be on help and care rather than on simply expanding sophisticated and costly technology. Given our present relative inability effectively to treat or cure major diseases (eg. cancer, heart disease and stroke), emphasis must now be shifted to effective ways of caring. Caring or helping professions and organisations (eg. nurses or social workers) must become equal members of the health team - alongside the traditional medical occupations.  WHERE & WHEN.  All necessary health and related human services should be free, equitably distributed and equally accessible to all New Zealanders - regardless of race, sex, age, creed or geographical location.  NEED.  Any necessary service supported by public should be designed to meet needs (whether for cure or care) rather than seemingly insatiable demands that self-interested groups promote. Need  should not be expanded or contrived to fill an oversupply of services.  THE PRESENT CRISIS IN HEALTH CARE.  The health care industry in New Zealand continues to expand at a faster rate than any other sector of the economy. As a percentage of the gross national product, it has risen from 3% in 1951 to nearly 7% in 1978, or about $1 billion a year.  According to the latest report of the New Zealand Planning Council, Planning Perspectives 1978-83 our country is entering a period with.  -   a continuing national deficit which requires heavy overseas     borrowing.  -   negative economic growth, and a fall in real income.  -   unemployment higher than at any time since the depression.  -   continuing high inflation.  These economic realities require immediate and rational action aimed at containing Government expenditure. As a voracious consumer of a dwindling public purse, the health service is an obvious candidate for action.  Health experts and professionals now agree that there have been negligible improvements in the overall health of New Zealanders in the last twenty-five years.  -   Life expectancy has not improved and, for the older age categories,     is actually declining.  -   The infant mortality rate, in relation to other western countries,     has deteriorated.  -   Four of the five major killers in 1900 (heart disease, cancer,     accidents and chronic lung disease) are still with us in 1978 and     now account for two-thirds of all deaths. Tuberculosis has now been     replaced by strokes.  -   We are now confronted with a host of new epidemics, including     alcoholism, automobile accidents, mental illness, obesity and VD.  Given the drain of health expenditure on the New Zealand taxpayer and the health problems presently besetting us, it is clear that we are not getting value for money in health care.  -   There is no relationship between what is being spent on health care     and the rates of disability, sickness and death.  -   Hospital services are expanding at the expense of both community     care and public health at a time when changing patterns of disease     require a greater use of community-based caring facilities. New     Zealand spends today more proportionately on hospital services, as     compared to community health services, than any other western     country.  -   40% of our doctors, trained each year at a cost to the taxpayer of     $70,000 each, are leaving New Zealand. In 1977, this cost us over     $500,000.  B. COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE.  The next Labour Government will give priority to all aspects of community health care because disease patterns require it, it is known to be cost effective, and the public find it more acceptable. Labour will not continue to expand institutional services at the expense of community health care. This priority is evident in all sections of this document.  Labour's health policy initiatives in Community Health Care can be conveniently grouped into five sections. Child Health, Primary Care and General Practice, Community Health Centres, Nutrition Policy and Other Preventive Health Measures.  1. CHILD HEALTH.  Labour is aware of the evidence that standards of child health have deteriorated in New Zealand and special efforts will be made to ensure that they improve again. Children are increasingly subject to accidents, dietary problems and some forms of cancer - all potentially preventable. Our infant death rate has not improved in recent years and is appalling in comparison with other western countries. We believe that good health habits cannot begin early enough. People are not born with good health habits - they learn them.  Labour will.  Launch a nationwide drive to ensure that all infants receive adequate vaccinations against infectious diseases before they reach school age. Health nurses operating in schools will ensure that all school age children in their area have received vaccinations.  Ensure that health nurses become the key to improved child health care in the community. Their role will be greatly expanded so that they are responsible for monitoring, maintaining and promoting the health of children in their region. This will involve visiting homes and schools.  As a first step, a health nurse will be attached to every New Zealand school.  Immediately expand effective health education programmes in schools to cover all age levels. This must of course, be undertaken in appropriate co-operation with the Department of Education and will include such important subjects as alcohol, drugs, venereal disease (for older children), nutrition, food preparation and handling, physical fitness.  Promote programmes to enable every primary school child to be taught how to swim. At present, death by drowning is one of the two most important killers of children aged 5 to 10.  Consult with the New Zealand Society of Chiropodists to assess foot disorders in school children and the need for programmes and child and parent education in this field.  2. PRIMARY CARE AND GENERAL PRACTICE.  Because the general practitioner or family doctor is usually a person's first point of contact with the health system, it is essential that sufficient GPs practise in the community, that they are appropriately trained and equitably and accessibly located. Labour regards the general practitioner as the person in the best position to provide Help Where and When it is Needed. At present, we are not training general practitioners in New Zealand. Our medical students continue to be trained to work primarily in hospitals. Those who have recently established themselves as GPs in New Zealand either come from specialist or hospital services and are therefore not appropriately trained or they are doctors who have been trained abroad.  Labour will.  Remove any economic barrier to necessary health care by meeting the full cost of an initial surgery consultation with a GP. As a first stop, Labour will negotiate with the medical profession with a view to offering a consultation fee in full and final payment for all pre-school children and for those 60 years and over. Doctors who are reluctant to accept this proposal may carry on under the present scheme.  Ensure a sufficient number of doctors in general practice by sponsoring general practitioners training programmes.  Introduce appropriate incentives to ensure that enough GPs are practising in the areas where they are most needed. Labour is not convinced that people in need are able to get help where and then they need it, particularly in rural and some urban areas.  Introduce and evaluate alternative forms of payment for GPs.  Labour believes that a fee for service arrangement is not necessarily the most cost efficient or the only way to remunerate GPs. Alternatives, such as salaries practice and capitation payments, will be offered experimentally at first and participation by GPs will be voluntary.  Arrange for GPs to have proper access to their own patients while in hospital and to participate, along with hospital personnel, in their ongoing treatment. Labour will also ensure that general practitioners become involved in other hospital activities (eg. workshops, case presentations, ward rounds and refresher courses). Such arrangements will require the adoption of a new form of payment to be decided by those concerned. Labour believes much will be gained from reinforcing links between the GP and the hospital. GPs will keep up to date with developments in hospital-based medicine and effective medical technology. Hospital doctors will be aware of and sensitive to the health needs of the total community and competing demands for scarce resources. The GP will be able to brim to the care of the patient in hospital the important family perspective.  In consultation with the medical profession, explore the desirability of introducing the periodic recertification of doctors. Other service organisations involved with human (e.g. airline pilots, train and taxi drivers) are required to undergo periodic examinations to ensure the public safety. And yet, in the case of medicine where potentially lethal drugs and life endangering technology are routinely employed, no such safeguards exist. Other countries are already beginning to explore periodic rectification requirements for doctors. Medical associations are concerned that there is no administrative obligation for doctors to keep up to date with developments in medical care. With a system of periodic recertification, doctors would then be required to keep up to date with recent developments, thereby enhancing the quality of medical care.  Explore and evaluate new approaches designed to foster a more efficient management of general practices. At present, most doctors are burdened with work overloads and administrative hassles with the result that, although they are trained in science, they are seldom able to function as scientists. Labour believes this to be one of the wasteful tragedies of modern medicine.  3. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES.  Community Health Centres were first established by the Third Labour Government. Experience now reveals that we were correct to view them as a significant focus of community health care.  Labour will.  Establish additional and expand existing Community Health Centres, beginning first in areas of high priority and pressing on vigorously as economic circumstances permit.  Co-ordinate, within Community Health Centres, a full range of essential primary health services, including general practice, community health nursing, specialist consultations, mental health services, social welfare, necessary X-ray and pathology services, gynaecology and all activities relating to family planning, geriatric support services, home aid services, ante-natal and post-natal services, prevention and treatment of dental disease, and health education.  Establish such Health Centres under the jurisdiction or Regional Health Authorities (as described in Section E), and introduce, on an experimental basis, into these Health Centres, the alternative forms of payment for health professionals, also described in Section E.  4. NUTRITION POLICY.  Dietary problems among New Zealanders have now reached epidemic proportions. Scientists report a nationwide decline in the quality of our diet. Children are bombarded with advertisements for sweets and other nutritionally worthless foods. The poor eating habits which result are continued into adult life and reflect themselves in such sicknesses as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  Recognising these worrying trends, Labour will, for the first time in New Zealand, institute a nationwide nutrition policy. In particular, Labour will.  Establish a separate Bureau of Nutrition within the Department of Health to co-ordinate the nutrition-related activities of such departments as Agriculture and Fisheries, Education, Social Welfare and Health itself.  Enact law requiring clear labelling of the content of all processed foods.  Examine food and drink advertising directed at children with a view to requiring more responsible action on the part of advertisers and manufacturers.  Actively support Community Health Nurse Training Programmes and the involvement of these professions in local school nutrition-related health education. Labour believes good eating habits cannot begin early enough.  Initiate discussions with primary school authorities on the introduction of nutritionally balanced school lunch programmes.  5. OTHER PREVENTIVE HEALTH MEASURES.  Alcohol.  Labour recognises alcoholism as one of the largest, most damaging medical problems facing New Zealand, costing the taxpayer nearly $500 million per year. There is a close link between the excessive use of alcohol and the high road accident toll. Labour believes that the solution lies in accepting that this problem is as much one of health as it is of road safety.  Labour will.  Launch a major drive to tackle the excessive use of alcohol, involving inter-departmental committees, local authorities and interested members of the public.  Develop more early screening techniques to identify drinkers with an alcohol problem.  Embark on an education campaign to familiarise both health professionals and other New Zealanders with the early signs and symptoms of alcoholism.  Publicise and support services offered by such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous. We also support those groups who are able to help relatives and friends of those with drinking problems.  Expand treatment centres able to deal with patients on a daily basis. Ensure that all urban centres have sufficient detoxification facilities.  Smoking.  Labour recognises that regular smoking, particularly by young people, has an adverse effect on the health of those who smoke. Labour believes that positive steps should be taken to discourage those who smoke excessively and will.  Increase the amount of the community health vote for education programmes, particularly to school pupils.  Support the establishment of "quit-smoking" centres. These centres would offer a variety of methods to help people stop smoking.  Expand the work now done by the Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, making full use of overseas studies and legislation.  C. HOSPITAL SERVICES.  New Zealand now spends proportionately more (over 70 percent of our health budget) on hospital services than any other developed country. This expenditure continues to increase at a faster rate than any other category of health expenditure. Yet, there are still people waiting for certain surgical and medical services. Simply increasing the number of new hospital wings and specialist blocks, which are obsolete before they are occupied, will not reduce these waiting lists or improve the health of New Zealanders.  Under National, the supply of hospital services continues to expand at the expense of community medical care and public health. This expansion is in exactly the opposite direction to New Zealand's life style-related chronic illnesses. With the active support of the present Government, self-interested groups continue to foster the mistaken belief that more hospital medicine means better health care. Studies show that it does not.  Labour's aim is to ensure access to needed hospital treatment for everyone. Waiting lists for necessary operations in public hospitals will be tackled inmediately by a Labour Government. To this end, Labour will.  Use all available bed capacity in public and private hospitals.  Encourage more specialists to take up full time appointments in public hospitals on either a salaried or a contract basis. Labour believes such a development is preferable to the present system.  Provide incentives for specialists and theatre staff to work in provincial hospitals.  Introduce and evaluate incentives to foster the provision of specialist services on an outpatient basis in appropriate areas of practice. Many specialists could provide consultations and undertake minor surgical procedures at times more convenient to patients.  Actively support through programmes and scholarships in New Zealand and overseas, the training of competent administrators and managers for our hospitals. Labour believes that the people's health business must be run at maximum efficiency.  Abolish the distinction between medical and other qualification in order that the most qualified and experienced administrators and managers run our hospitals.  Ensure that the Guidelines, established by the Department of Health relating to the number, types and distribution of hospital beds, are adhered to. Labour unashamedly challenges the wisdom of allocating resources on the basis of bed provision for the health needs of the population of 100 years ago.  D. AREAS FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION.  1. CARE OF THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.  An increasing segment of new Zealand's population is made up of older people, who have devoted their productive years to our economic development. Labour believes that, as of right, they can expect ready access to all needed services.  Labour is committed to the view that, as far as possible and for as long as possible, elderly and disabled people should be supported in their desire to remain in the familar setting of their own home. To ensure this independence, Labour will.  Expand Home Health Care and supporting Social Services through Community Health Centres and voluntary Agencies. It will be the responsibility of Regional Health Authorities to co-ordinate and integrate the many different helping activities to ensure the most effective and efficient provision of services to the elderly and disabled.  Make available interest free loans for home modifications required in order that the elderly or permanently disabled may avoid institutionalisation and continue in the community, either independently or with their families.  Introduce and, where appropriate, expand out-patient support services on a day-care basis.  Recognise and enhance the valuable contribution that voluntary agencies make in the care of the elderly and disabled by increasing subsidies for necessary support activities. It is neither humane nor cost efficient to shut old people away in institutions when, with little effort, alternative social support can be provided at home.  Expand training and research programmes in all the professions involved in some way in geriatric care.  Review with the New Zealand Society of Chiropodists the methods of subsidy payments for chiropody treatment, with particular concern for the needs of the elderly.  2. MENTAL HEALTH.  At present their is no information on the extent of mental illness in New Zealand and only limited, effective community support services are available. In Labour's view, a person's mental health and well-being is as important as his or her physical health and well-being. Ideally, comparable attention and resources should be allocated to mental as well as to physical health care. Labour's policy is a significant move in this direction.  Labour will.  Institute studies, through the Mental Health Research Foundation, the Medical Research Council, the Department of Health and other bodies, to determine the extent of mental illness in the community. Without this information, no rational action can be taken in this field.  Establish family-type accommodation for patients during assessment and before admission to hospital care. The same "intermediate" facilities will be available to patients requiring help to adjust after hospital discharge, before rejoining their families and the community.  Ensure that mental health services become an essential component of the range of services offered within Community Health Centres.  Establish separate child and adolescent psychiatric units on a regional basis in recognition of the special needs of these groups.  Provide adequate psychiatric assessment facilities in the prison system, thereby removing the need for psychiatric hospitals to accommodate remand prisoners undergoing psychiatric assessment.  Give urgency to the training of more psychiatrists, especially for the care of children and provide more psychiatric and psychopaedic nursing courses.  Immediately investigate problems of rapid staff turnover and low morale in our psychiatric institutions with a view to improving working conditions and developing a more rewarding career structure. Labour is aware of the difficulties experienced by the many dedicated staff in this field.  3. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH.  National would have workers believe that the protection afforded by the efforts of Trade Unions is a thing of the past, that Trade Unions are now redundant. Labour is mindful of the evidence concerning not only the extent of every day death and injury on the job, but also the hidden diseases caused by exposure to chemicals and production processes, which may not be manifest for 30 years or more. Trade Unions have a new battle to fight - that of the hidden health hazards confronting workers in a technological era.  Labour will.  Expand safety measures to protect workers and the public from toxic substances in all stages of processing, packaging and transporting.  Provide industrial Safety Courses at Technical Institutes.  Ensure that occupational safety information is readily available in the languages of the people working at a particular plant.  Provide more industrial health nurses and encourage industries to hire staff or consultants to monitor noise and dust levels, hygiene and safety.  4. WOMEN AND HEALTH.  Labour believes that all people should have easy access to a health service which caters appropriately for their special needs. Research has shown that there is considerable dissatisfaction among women with many aspects of the existing health services. To this end, Labour will.  Encourage community health centres to set up special facilities for women. In such centres, the health and practice nurse scheme will be extended to provide nurses and counselling, without extra costs, to women patients.  Re-examine the provision of maternity services, so that the range of wishes and needs of mothers and children are given greater consideration and sympathy.  Hold an early referendum on the subject of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act.  Provide a wide variety of education programmes on family planning. This information should also be available in the Maori and Pacific Island languages.  Ensure that contraceptives should be more readily available from general practitioners and others as defined by the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act, and that such contraceptives are free.  Ensure the provision of full public and professional education on the risks associated with particular contraceptives.  5. DENTAL SERVICES.  Labour accepts recent findings of the World Health Organisation study showing that dental care declines seriously in New Zealand once the individual has to pay the full cost. In line with its belief that there should be no financial barriers to necessary health care, Labour will investigate the feasibility of extending free dental services. In particular, Labour will.  Carry out a complete review of the dental health care of children and adolescents. As a first step, Labour will reconvene the Dental Committee of the Board of Health.  Negotiate with all interested parties with a view to extending school dental care services to secondary school pupils.  Ensure that the, Accident Compensation Commission provide sports mouthguards for those who play contact sports.  Expand the recently established training system for dental technicians at the Central Institute of Technology.  Offer bursaries for post-graduate dental studies in New Zealand and overseas and especially in the field of orthodontics.  Provide courses in preventive dental care in both the graduate and dental nurse programmes.  Review country dental services with the object of introducing incentives for servicing isolated regions.  Expand public hospital orthodontic facilities to make them more widely available and, as an initial step, make a partial refund towards the cost of therapeutic orthodontic charges incurred outside public hospitals.  Encourage the fluoridation of the water supplies of those areas not yet fluoridated by setting up a task force drawn from the New Zealand Dental Association and the Health Department and local authority officials.  Introduce, on a voluntary basis, alternative forms of remuneration for dentists as described in Section L. Again, Labour is not convinced that fee-for-service is the only way, or the most cost-effective means, of remunerating health professionals.  Encourage dentists to take regular courses in continuing dental education as part of their responsibility to maintain quality of care to the community they serve.  6. INTERNATIONAL HEALTH.  Through the financial interdependence of nations and modern systems of communication, the world has become a smaller place. Labour believes New Zealand is relatively well off and recognises a humanitarian responsibility to the outside world - especially our neighbours in the Western Pacific region.  Labour is convinced that New Zealand can make a major long-term contribution to the positive development of nations in the Western Pacific by helping these countries to improve their own public health standards. This is much better than merely underwriting sales of Western technology. People cannot farm, build or learn if they are hungry and sick. With this in view, Labour is ready to assume the unique opportunities for leadership in this region by co-ordinating the activities of the External Aid Division of Foreign Affairs, the Departments of Health, Education and Social Welfare, with the various activities of such international agencies as WHO, OECD, UNESCO, the IMF and the World Bank. There are clearly limits to the monetary aid New Zealand can give to other countries. Labour will forge closer health links with these countries by sponsoring co-operative and innovative programmes with local health workers in the area of public anti preventive health. By investing in the health and economic development of neighbouring nations, New Zealand is surely also investing in its own future economic well-being.  7. MEDICAL RESEARCH.  The Medical Research Council is the major taxpayer-supported medical research agency in New Zealand. Despite the formation of special committees, the research currently supported by this council is almost exclusively designed to further scientific knowledge of disease.  Labour will.  Encourage the Medical Research Council and related research agencies and foundations to put more research into.  a)  health care organisations and delivery.  b)  the costs, the benefits and effectiveness of current medical care.     And.  c)  health education and preventive medicine.  Establish, within the Department of Health, an autonomous Bureau responsible for monitoring and evaluating overseas health care research. Labour recognises that, as a small country with limited resources, New Zealand must take advantage of experiences gained in other countries - both innovations and mistakes.  8. PHARMACEUTICALS AND PROSTHETICS.  Labour reaffirms the policy it introduced in 1938 of free medical prescriptions. We are concerned at the high cost of drugs to the patient (through taxes) and the nation. To this end, Labour will.  Immediately investigate the current cost of drugs to the Health Department, matters of effectiveness, standards of safety and the source and cost of possible alternatives. Labour will eliminate unfair profiteering at the public's expense in this area.  Reduce drug wastage through public education, and by developing an effective system to monitor the issuing of prescriptions.  Require doctors to prescribe generic forms of drugs wherever these are available and of a quality acceptable to the Department of Health. Overseas experience has clearly demonstrated the unnecessarily high cost of brand-name prescribing.  Require the use of safety caps on all prescribed medicines. This simple action, already adopted abroad, will immediately reduce the alarmingly high incidence of childhood poisonings.  Labour will extend the present subsidy for first breast prosthesis to cover replacement prostheses and review financial provisions for a wider range of additional aids.  Labour will provide free glasses fitted with shatter-proof lenses for all pre-school children.  9. ALTERNATIVE HEALTH INTERVENTIONS.  Labour recognises that there are alternative forms of treatment, some of which have long traditions of legitimate use in other cultures, for example, acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy.  In accordance with the strategy outlined in the final section of the policy, if these alternative interventions can be demonstrated to be effective, cost efficient and socially acceptable, Labour can presently see no reason why such interventions should not be supported by public funds.  E. ADMINISTRATION.  1. REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.  The fundamental structure of health services in New Zealand has not changed this century. Resources continue to be allocated on the basis of needs which pertained a century ago. At present, hospital services and physician-trained administrators dominate our health system. It is surely time to bring our health system up-to-date in order to take account of new disease patterns, different approaches to health care and changes in the distribution and composition of our population.  Labour will.  Re-allocate public funds for health services so that community service s receive proportionately more of the health budget. This will mean that much greater emphasis will be placed on the efficiency of hospital and on the funding of effective, cost-efficient community programmes.  Establish Regional Health Authorities to ensure a positive preventive community approach to the total health care of a region. These Regional health Authorities will be responsible for the provision and co-ordination of all health-related activities in their region - prevention, institutional care, rehabilitation, health education, community health centres and other areas. Given real autonomy from central Government, these Regional Health Authorities will be able to identify and respond to local needs and determine health priorities for their own communities.  2. HEALTH MANPOWER POLICY.  Health manpower in New Zealand continues to grow haphazardly, without the Direction of a coherent informed policy . Salaries and wages of health personnel now consume 80 percent of our total health budget. National's gestures towards Community Health are contradicted by their perpetuation of traditional ideas of specialisation and training.  Labour recognises that.  Health needs are changing and that health manpower requirements must change accordingly.  No change in our health system is possible without appropriately trained personnel to effect these changes.  Emerging health needs require the co-ordination of many different workers as equals in a team approach to caring.  Labour will.  Determine what the health needs of New Zealanders are likely to be in the next decade. It is pointless to continue, as now, to train future health workers on the basis of present or past needs.  Involve health providers and users in the planning of future health services, by setting up a series of Health Care-Conferences in 1979/80. Conferences will be held for health professionals, health service administrators and users, and regional meetings will also be convened to draw together the opinions of all 'health service users'.  Provide incentives for students to pursue careers in the occupations and specialties required to meet these projected needs. Areas for immediate attention are community health, geriatrics, mental illness and general practice.  Revise, as necessary, the limits on the number of places available each year in medical schools and redirect released funds to the training of other needed health personnel.  Remove the distinction between medical and other qualifications in order that those with training and expertise in management and administration are eligible for the most senior administration positions in all branches of our health services.  Introduce experimental programmes of alternative forms of payment for a variety of health professionals, both in the community and in institutions. Labour recognises that the fee-for-service form of remuneration is not necessarily cost-effective and can hinder the efficient organisation of services. Salaries, contracts and capitation systems have all proved workable alternatives in other Western countries and should be considered in New Zealand.  Recognise the important role of the nursing profession by fully involving nursing leaders in all areas of decision making about future health care policies.  Continue to transfer nursing education from hospital schools to technical institutes and set a time limit for the completion of this task. In addition, post-graduate clinical nursing courses will be introduced throughout New Zealand.  F. A STRATEGY FOR RATIONAL ACTION.  Recognising our present economic dilemma, we cannot, in the face of sluggish economic growth, simply lop off proportions of overall health expenditure, because this may mean less of the same and could even result in a reduction of what we now know to be effective.  Labour will.  Determine, in an objective and independent fashion, what the health needs of the overall population are likely to be.  Establish a moratorium on any further centralisation of medical services.  Implement a co-ordinated health manpower policy tailored to fit New Zealand's health care needs in 1980s.  Ensure the objective evaluation of all new health services and procedures before spending taxpayers' money.  Begin the even more difficult task of evaluating those services and procedures, already part of our health system, which have never been shown to be effective.  Fully fund and support those programmes which.  (a) are shown to be effective.  (b) are least expensive, and.  (c) are socially acceptable.  In contrast to National's strategy of indiscriminate cut-backs, such a course of action will result in a more rational health system, while at the same time curtailing the present irrational and uncontrollable expansion of services. It is conceivable that such a policy could result in actual savings in health expenditure, but it is not likely to. What it will ensure is that the basis for the allocation of whatever funds there are will be demonstrated effectiveness and not, as at present, the ability of some self-interested group to secure funds.  HOUSING POLICY.  Labour's objective is the creation of the best possible social and cultural environment.  This begins with the home itself, the fundamental right of all New Zealanders, its quality, standard and size as a place for private living in security and peace, surrounded by opportunities for social contact and community activity.  This applies to both existing and new communities. Labour's policy will be implemented step by step within the constraints of the resources available.  EXISTING AND NEW HOUSES.  New Zealand will always require the production of new dwelling units to meet projected needs, but consistent with the capacity of the industry to adjust, Labour will give equal emphasis to lending on existing and new homes.  The New Zealand Housing Commission will be required to complete a survey of existing housing stock, its occupancy and related factors to provide a sounder basis for projected new housing needs and targets.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  Existing communities must be improved, older homes renovated, older suburbs rejuvenated and centred around community focal points.  For new housing areas, due recognition and early planning for shopping, transport, education facilities, community centres, environmental and recreational facilities, where appropriate, will be a requirement. In larger schemes these needs will be developed simultaneously and embrace planning for employment opportunities.  Such developments must harmonise with the real needs of the people so that life will be enriched and varied, according to the tastes and preferences of those who comprise each community. To ensure this, there should be community involvement, where practicable, right from the planning stage.  ROLE OF TIT STATE.  A Labour Government's aim is to facilitate private home ownership and to organise the availability of mortgage finance to ensure that home seekers may buy or rent new or existing homes at a reasonable cost tailored to their personal circumstances.  HOME FINANCE.  * Labour will make the best possible use of the financial resources available for home lending. Flexibility will be the keynote.  * If the housing needs of New Zealanders are to be adequately met and past fluctuations avoided, the provision of long term finance at reasonable rates is essential.  * Lending for home ownership by the Housing Corporation will be adjusted initially to bring the average loan to at least, 80 percent of cost of house and section.  * Supplementary loans for applicants with dependent children will be restored.  * Lending levels will be regularly reviewed.  * All prospective home owners will be encouraged to open a Home Savings Account at an approved savings institution, or start repayments on the purchase of a section.  * Each qualifying applicant will be satisfied according to a scale of priorities, which will include their savings record.  * Applicants with an urgent need may be temporarily housed in Corporation rental housing.  * Where better utilization of housing will result, or where there is genuine need, portability of mortgages will be facilitated.  REPAYMENTS.  * Greater use will be made of Labour's variable mortgage repayment scheme, tailored to suit more closely the individuals' circumstances. This option may be applied in the early years of marriage with young family, where family or financial circumstances later alter, or health or hardship intervene. The guiding principle will be "One day's pay, one week's mortgage repayment", that is one-fifth of one week's income.  * Capital repayments and interest rates will be varied according to personal circumstances and may be re-negotiated without prejudice with any significant change of circumstances.  * In order to make the maximum use of existing Housing Corporation funds, "incentives for more rapid repayment will be provided, but in no case will the breadwinners of a single income family have to pay more than one-fifth average income to house the family.  * Applicants with lower priorities will be offered loans through regular ballots. As industry capability and circumstances improve, this will increase.  * Those qualifying for Housing Corporation loans will have the option of buying either a new or an existing home.  * Extended loans will be made available to handicapped people. Homes will be purchased in appropriate localities and altered to suit the needs of the individual.  * Capitalization limits for the first child will be set aside where applied for the purchase of the first basic home.  * Greater emphasis will be given to home improvement loans for upgrading or enlarging the family home and will encompass deferred maintenance.  HOUSING MORTGAGE REFINANCE AND INTEREST RELIEF.  Labour is aware that the high interest rate policies of the present government, together with inadequate mortgages have forced many people to pay excessive interest rates often on several mortgages in order to provide an adequate home.  Where necessary, and as quickly as finance permits, the worst of the cases will be refinanced under more satisfactory arrangements that home owners can afford. The Housing Corporation and Post Office Savings Bank will assist directly and indirectly in this work. Such cases will be dealt with in strict priority according to need. In addition, others who are slightly loss urgent may participate in ballots in terminating groups for refinance. The frequency of these ballots will depend on the finance available.  For others who cannot qualify for early refinance, the Labour Government will introduce the Home Mortgage Interest Tax Rebate.  Home owners paying excessive interest on home mortgages arranged for the purpose of buying their home will receive a tax rebate on part of that interest. The rebate will apply to that part of the interest between the equivalent of one-tenth of the family income and $2,000 of interest paid each year. The tax rebate will be 35 cents per dollar for first home owners, and 20 cents for those home owners who have previously owned a home.  CORPORATION RENTAL HOUSING.  Labour recognises the need to provide for those who, for various reasons, cannot, or do not desire to own their own homes.  * Each year the Government will build or buy 2,000 - 3,000 additional homes.  * Suitable Corporation rental homes will be available for sale. Many of these will be available for low deposit home ownership for those who are on the priority waiting list. For those who receive homes on the low deposit plan, the right to sell during the first five years of occupation will be negotiated through the Housing Corporation.  * The compulsory purchase or eviction threat to occupants will be removed. Labour will replace this repugnant system with a policy to encourage purchase. Tenants with a satisfactory rent and maintenance record will be accorded a priority transfer, rebate, or equivalent sum towards a deposit on purchase of their units.  * An ongoing purchase policy will provide for those whose circumstances are better suited to living in inner city areas and will provide for a better spread of age, income and family groupings.  * Labour will build carports and garages on request on existing Corporation rental homes, and charge rent accordingly.  * Rental Review. Inflation has created serious anomalies in the rental formula. On becoming the Government, Labour will undertake a complete review of the Corporation Housing Rental formula. Overtime will no longer be a factor in the assessment of rentals.  NEW SERVICES BY THE HOUSING CORPORATION.  * The scope of the present Citizens Allocation Committees will be expanded and be re-named "Home Assistance Committees". Home ownership will be emphasised.  * The concept of Home Advisory Bureaux will be extended inside the Corporation.  * The Housing Corporation will provide a service to handle transfers, conveyancing and mortgage documentation.  BETTER UTILIZATION OF EXISTING HOUSING.  The better utilization of our existing housing stock is important to ensure the best use is made of our housing resources.  Labour will.  * Make more loans available to first home seekers for the purchase of existing properties.  * Provide loans where the purchase of a property will increase its occupancy rate.  * Give second eligibility for a Housing Corporation loan to owners of existing dwellings who wish to sell and purchase a smaller unit.  * Provide loans to families who have financed existing dwellings other than through the Housing Corporation and who need further finance to bring the dwelling up to a reasonable standard.  * Extend the Housing Corporation policy of purchasing existing homes, particularly in established localities for modernization and re-sale to young families. Encouragement will be given to local authorities to involve themselves in this activity by providing money for the purpose.  * Build or buy smaller units suitable for the elderly, in settled localities, and offer these on a reciprocal sale basis with bridging finance in suitable circumstances.  * Extend Labour's policy of purchasing or building smaller home units to encourage retired people without dependents to transfer to more desirable and appropriate accommodation, and thus make available more family housing.  RETIREMENT HOUSING.  * Local authorities and welfare organizations will continue to be encouraged and policies updated to ensure that the housing needs of our retired people are met for own-your-own flats on the subsidised rental scheme.  * The existing asset limitation for qualification for subsidised flats will be raised and will be reviewed at regular intervals.  * For those largely dependent on National Superannuation, Labour will provide the difference between the amount realised from an old family home and the cost of providing a new town house or flat. The government contribution will later be a charge on the estate.  * The planning of future housing developments will include a higher proportion of smaller units and town house developments. A proportion of these units will be made available for the elderly who are living in homes which are too large for their needs, and ownership provided on a reciprocal sale basis, or rental.  BUILDING INDUSTRY.  A Labour government means a confident, busy and long-term building industry.  Labour believes that the present now housing "targets" are unrealistic and ignore the true demand of our people given realistic financial policies, confidence in our economic future and subsequent turn around of population outflow. The present Government, claiming to take the state out of housing , has taken housing away from the people.  High interest rates, inadequate first mortgages, impossible repayment terms, inflation and reduced real incomes have forced many home seekers to abandon hope of a home of their own.  At the same time fire, 'condemned' orders, demolition or changed usage reduce our housing stock by some 4,000 - 5,000 homes annually. Clearly present production is seriously deficient of real need and will be progressively advanced as resources are built up.  The capability of the industry to achieve the required level must be restored, step by step, within the constraints imposed by the limited resources of land labour and materials, to ensure that speculative activity does not create a further surge in costs.  Apprenticeship training and contracts will be reviewed, adult re-training schemes will be introduced. Continuity Of Contracts will be instituted by realistic home lending policies and a steadily increasing number of contracts for rental housing including the design and build Scheme.  Better utilization of existing homes means additional opportunities for the building industry. In addition to refurbishing and maintenance, town housing flats and redevelopment of inner city areas are part and parcel of the overall development plan.  Confidence in the industry Will be restored as Labour's policy develops.  LAND PURCHASE AND SUBDIVISION.  Land purchase and development are an integral part of Labour's Housing Policy.  * The objective of creating a land bank to produce reasonably priced sections will be restored. These sections will be released on to the market in increasing numbers as part of Labour's land price stabilisation policy.  * Joint ventures between the Government, local authorities and private enterprise for the development of sections will be initiated particularly to encourage a wider variety of housing styles and types to meet the varied needs of the community.  * The Housing Corporation will be authorised to purchase land in each area of likely expansion, including land not presently zoned urban where such land is necessary to ease pressure in existing urban areas.  * Sections will he made available to small builders.  * To facilitate development, a New Zealand-wide code of engineering standards will be introduced.  * Land development planning will embrace concepts to ensure preservation of the environment and thorough consideration of the community social and recreational requirements.  * The emphasis will be on the development of smaller estates, particularly those based on the Village concept.  IMMIGRATION POLICY DETAILS.  For the first time in our history, Labour gave New Zealand a comprehensive immigration policy designed to meet but not over-supply present and future requirements. The level of immigration can and will be regulated to meet the employment, cultural, social and economic needs of this country.  1. Policy will be directed towards.  (a) Assessing and meeting New Zealand needs but without discrimination as to creed or race.  (b) Our responsibilities to the international community.  (c) The need to enhance the impact of immigration on our way of life by aiding early and permanent integration.  (d) Safeguarding employment opportunities for our people.  2. The Research and Planning Survey Section of the Department of Labour will be strengthened to determine the requirements of industry and to pursue these policy objectives.  3. New Zealand's immigration policy will stress not only our own self-interest but will be humane in its application and give due to family needs and social factors. Overall intake will be strictly limited and controlled but permanent New Zealand residents may sponsor.  (a) Their spouses, dependent children, aged or otherwise dependent parents, or a sole remaining member of the immediate family not resident in New Zealand.  (b) Their parents, even if they are not dependent, if their presence in New Zealand will complete the family unit.  (c) The renunion of a member of the immediate family, i.e., brother, or sister who may not be the sole remaining member of the family, should this be considered to be in the best interests of the person concerned or the sponsoring family and where accommodation and maintenance are assured.  The Pacific.  4. New Zealand recognises a special responsibility towards the Island Territories and countries of the South Pacific anti for their mutual benefit has entered into self-regulating sponsored work permit schemes with the Governments of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. These are equivalent to treaty obligations and will be honoured, but full consideration will be given to the effect on Island economics of any outflow, especially of young, active people.  5. The objective will be to couple immigration policy with aid programmes so that in the longer term the Island nations may develop their economics and improve the standards of living of their people to provide better opportunities for purposeful employment at home and less need to emigrate. Of those authorised to come to New Zealand, higher standards of skill and better preparation for a changed way of life will be required. On their arrival training and assistance schemes will aid immigrants to adjust quickly to a new life and work within a new environment and to enable then to enjoy a full life and to make their contributions to the country's social, cultural and economic development.  6. The recommendations of the interdepartmental Committee en Settlement commissioned by the Third Labour Government following consultations with interested agencies as Polynesian councils, Government Departments, Church and welfare groups.  Australia.  7. Every effort will be made to maintain the "open door" movement of the citizens and long-term residents between Australia and New Zealand. Any evidence that this traditional and cherished right is being abused by third parties will be met by means that do not erode this longstanding freedom.  Refugee's.  8. The Labour Government will continue to co-operate with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the New Zealand Inter-Church Committee for Refugees to admit refugees and others in comparable circumstances.  INCOME MAINTENANCE POLICY.  Labour reaffirms the right to financial security of those who, for one reason or another, are unable to adequately provide for themselves or their families. Labour believes that there are sound social and economic reasons why beneficiaries and their families should have an acceptable standard of living, in keeping with the New Zealand way of life.  While a Labour Government will not tolerate abuse of the income maintenance system, it does not believe that the actions of a minority should penalise those in need.  Labour also believes that income maintenance assistance should be as unobtrusive, automatic, and as closely integrated with the taxation system as possible.  Further, Labour believes that the majority of benefits are designed to be temporary support. A Labour Government will encourage and facilitate a return to the workforce. Such a transition from dependency to self-support should be achieved gradually by providing a method of benefit abatement, and a smooth absorption into the taxation system at a level that is fair and just.  Labour believes that not only are National Superannuitants entitled to financial security, but also that those unable to adequately provide for themselves or their families have the right to similar consideration.  Accordingly, Labour will.  1. Progressively raise means-tested benefits until they equate with the net rate of National Superannuation.  2. Raise the general level of means-tested benefits to meet the added costs of inflation.  3. Encourage all who can to supplement their benefit incomes by allowing tax-free weekly earnings up to the point where the benefit, plus earnings equals the non-taxable male income of other earners with similar family commitments.  4. Beyond the levels of the non-taxable income, the earnings of beneficiaries will be taxed at the standard rate.  5. Beyond the first $50.00 per week of additional income the benefit will be abated at a rate of 50 per cent, i.e., by $1.00 for every $2.00 earned.  6. Continue to provide telephone and television concessions for means-tested beneficiaries up to the current income maxima, with c.o.l. adjustments as at present.  7. Encourage beneficiaries who are able to work to return to a normal employment situation, by promoting closer links between income maintenance policies and training and retraining programmes.  8. As part of its commitment to use social research findings as a guide to developing effective policies, immediately commission a further survey of the Aged. Since the last survey was held substantial movements in the cost of living, rents and incomes have occurred. thus the results are no longer necessarily an adequate guide as to the needs of the elderly. Surveys will also be undertaken to assess the needs of persons living alone and others in receipt of pensions and benefits. The opportunity will also be taken to study the position of other groups in the community of relatively low incomes. This will provide the basis of a fully-integrated income maintenance policy.  Four general types of need can be identified, which require different approaches.  1. Where withdrawal from the workforce is unanticipated, as in the case of SICKNESS, LONG-TERM DISABILITY, ACCIDENT, UNEMPLOYMENT.  (a) Sickness and long-term disability.  Labour will move towards introducing a comprehensive earnings-related sickness scheme, with a minimum floor and a maximum ceiling. A Labour Government would immediately set up a Commission, similar to that established under Justice Woodhouse, to make recommendations to Government.  (b) Disability Allowance.  A Labour Government will move towards providing an allowance as of right to all disabled persons.  (c) Unemployment.  Where possible, unemployment benefits should be replaced by retraining, relocation, or adequate redundancy schemes.  Any person who has been in full-time employment for at least 12 months who becomes unemployed will be able to apply for unemployment benefit.  2. Where society has decided that a person has reached an age where he/she need not work.  National Superannuation.  Labour will not alter or modify the National Superannuation scheme. Most superannuitants, like other taxpayers, will benefit from Labour's taxation reforms.  The immediate effect of the implementation of the tax scheme will be a substantial increase in the net income of superannuitants with little or no other income.  This will mean that, based on the current rates of superannuation, a married couple with no other income will receive a net increase of $13.02 each in every fortnightly payment, or $338.52 per year.  Similarly, single superannuitants with no other income will receive a net increase of $15.68 in every fortnightly pay, or $407.68 per year.  Most superannuitants earning additional income will be better off.  Single superannuitants will be able to earn over $175.00 per week and still be better off.  With very few exceptions, married superannuitants will each be able to earn $85.00 per week and still be better off. If only one partner is earning additional income, they could get over $200.00 extra per week and, as a couple, still be better off.  Labour will ensure that no former means-tested beneficiary who transfers to National Superannuation will be worse off.  Labour recognises that, regardless of the level of National Superannuation, there will always be some people who will require additional assistance.  Accordingly, Labour will.  (a) Restore to National Superannuitants with limited income and assets the right to receive additional benefit.  (b) Restore to National Superannuitants in receipt of additional benefit the right to receive telephone and television concessions.  (c) Restore to National Superannuitants with limited income and assets the right to receive the additional benefit for dependent children of $5.00 a week.  (d) Restore to all National Superannuitants railways concessions.  Retirement Overseas.  All persons eligible for National Superannuation who wish to retire to the Cook Islands, Tokelaus, Niue, Tonga, Western Samoa or Fiji may continue to receive their superannuation in the country of choice at a rate approximating the local average wage in the case of a married couple, or 60 per cent of the local average wage for the single superannuitant.  Other Unilateral Provisions.  Under a Labour Government, all foreign-born New Zealand residents wishing to return to their country of birth will be entitled to receive not less than 60 per cent of the rate of National Superannuation, provided they are eligible for National Superannuation and have been working and living in New Zealand for not less than thirty years.  Reciprocal Arrangements – Pensions.  A Labour Government would be prepared to enter into normal reciprocal arrangements with countries seeking them.  WAR PENSIONS.  Labour will restore to those receiving War Veteran's Allowance or War Service Pension who transfer to National Superannuation the right to receive the age supplement of $1.50 a week at age 65, widows' gratuities (payable at double rate), and will retain the disability allowance.  In addition, Labour will.  (a) Restore to War Pensioners with limited income and assets who transfer to National Superannuation the right to receive additional benefit.  (b) Restore to all War Pensioners who transfer to National Superannuation and are in receipt of additional benefit the right to receive telephone and television concessions.  (c) Restore to War Pensioners with dependent children and limited income and assets who transfer to National Superannuation the right to receive the additional benefit, for dependent children of $5 a week.  3. Where there are necessary financial commitments, as in the case of care of children, the aged or disabled persons.  (a) Family Benefit will be adjusted periodically for C.P.I. changes.  (b) Married Beneficiaries.  The additional benefit payable for dependent children will be increased to $5.00 per week for the first and second children of married couples in receipt of means-tested benefits.  (c) Caring for the aged and disabled.  Labour will move towards the payment of a benefit as of right to all persons engaged in the full-time care at home of aged dependents or disabled persons.  As a first step, a Labour Government will pay a benefit as of right to parents caring for a severely handicapped child under the age of 15, who would otherwise be admitted for full-time care to an institution. The rate of payment will be based on the invalid benefit at present paid to 15-year old handicapped persons.  4. where the opportunity for family income from other sources is absent.  (a) The full domestic purposes benefit will be reinstated to apply to all beneficiaries.  (b) The allowance for the second and third children of widows and domestic purposes beneficiaries will be increased to $5.00 per week.  INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.  The key to New Zealand economic survival and recovery lies in our ability to.  1. Add more value to the existing volume of production for export.  2. Increase production.  3. Increase productive efficiency.  (a) per unit of land.  (b) per unit of labour.  (c) per dollar of overseas funds invested.  (d) per dollar of capital invested.  (e) per unit of energy expended.  4. Become more self-reliant in the production.  (a) of the range of goods we consume.  (b) of renewable forms of energy.  (c) of the raw materials for industry.  5. Expand market research and market intelligence to ensure that our production is attuned to demand in the market-place.  To achieve the necessary changes will require a decade of consistent effort.  It should be emphasised that in this restructuring Labour's commitment to balanced regional development and the social and economic consequences which flow from such development must always be kept in view.  Labour's aims and the criteria to be developed from these aims therefore include.  (1) The processing of products as near as possible to the source of supply of the raw material.  (2) Encouragement for existing industry to specialise, restructure, diversify and expand.  (3) The encouragement of the new, the small, the innovative, in the processing and value-adding industries.  (4) The encouragement of producer and employee participation in such industry.  (5) The co-ordination of seasonal productivity peaks within regional industry to ensure greater continuity in local employment.  (6) The co-ordination of transport and shipping services both in the supply of raw materials for processing and the transporting of finished goods.  (7) To establish a sound basis for industrial harmony.  To achieve these objectives requires comprehensive and complementary policies in agriculture and fisheries. forestry taxation and monetary policy. transport. industrial relations. energy. science. customs and overseas trade. Industries that meet the necessary criteria set out based on the above objectives will be designated front-line industries and given maximum assistance and encouragement.  Having determined the criteria for front-line industries  - each industry will be assessed accordingly.  = maximum developmental assistance will be accorded those industries with the highest priority.  The forms, quantities and qualities of assistance will vary in direct proportion to the grading.  It must be emphasised that this is a ten-year programme to restructure the nation's industries.  Thus the developmental plan must be so arranged to ensure that there is no undue strain on scarce resources.  At the same time, the incentives for restructuring must be real and rewarding.  Every industry participating must do so within an agreed time scale.  The Immediate Strategy.  Because of the need for a major expansion of the manufacturing sector and of manufactured exports, it is necessary that the Economic Growth Strategy announced by the Labour Government in October 1975 and warmly welcomed by the commercial community, should be implemented.  While considerable stress has been placed on exporting, efficient domestic industries must also be encouraged.  Industry Review Programme.  International cost comparisons are only a partial and static measure of an industry's desirability, efficiency or potential. For a total assessment, many other factors must be taken into account, including those set out later in this paper.  In order to achieve the healthy growth of the sector a general climate embodying the following features will be required.  - Adequate protection of the home market, particularly as a base for exports.  - Positive incentives for exports.  - Incentives for investment.  - The supply of labour at all levels of skill.  - The increased application of science and technology to industry.  - The application of advanced management techniques and labour relations techniques to the sector.  - Training and re-training programmes to provide the necessary skills.  Within this general climate there will be many different needs, different problems, and different criteria applicable to various industries. For this reason, a programme of individual industry studies is important. Such a study should include.  (a) an assessment of the industry's objectives, contribution, potential, problems, needs and required skills.  (b) specific recommendations on how the objectives could be achieved.  (c) The planned retraining and re-employment of persons affected by technological and economic change.  Industry studies should actively involve the appropriate labour organization.  Export Incentives, Company Taxation.  The present collection of tax-based export incentives is a conglomeration that is often not fully understood by exporters and leads to waste, evasion and inefficiency among others.  The present system of company taxation is an important factor in entrenching the cost plus attitude in industry. It is Labour's view that both of these important areas need a thorough re-examination.  The foreign exchange surcharge will discourage imports and encourage New Zealand industry. Flexibly applied, it could well be used to reward the exporter.  On becoming the Government, Labour will enter into immediate discussion with industry and other interested organizations with a view to re-examining these present systems and replacing them with one cohesive, simplified and self-regulatory approach. Firms who have planned their exports on existing export incentives will have the opportunity of choosing between the present incentives and any new or modified scheme for the next four years.  Labour's objectives in such a system would include.  1. The gradual reduction of taxation on company profits balanced against the possible introduction of input or expenditure taxation.  As a first step Labour envisages a gradual scaling down of present company taxation and the removal of certain items of expenditure from the area of tax deductibility.  2. The gradual reduction of tax-based export incentives and a more direct linking between the earning or savings of foreign exchange and the right to import related requirements of industry.  3. A phasing out of the present system of import licensing.  4. The dismantling of price control except in monopoly or near-monopoly situations (see Consumer Policy).  It should be emphasised that the changes envisaged will be gradual and will depend on the co-operation of industry. Clearly those industries that are satisfying the agreed criteria to the greatest extent will obtain the maximum benefit from the transition. In addition to the taxation changes envisaged there will be wide-ranging cohesive forms and levels of assistance available dependent on their assessment.  It is clear that the work of a number of government agencies must be effectively co-ordinated to ensure consistency of approach and continuity of services. These include the Development Finance Corporation. the Export-Import Corporation. the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation. the relevant sections of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.  Forms of Assistance.  1. Financial.  This will include.  (a) direct lending for a wide range of purposes - development and restructuring.  (b) guarantees for other finance.  (c) guarantees of income and bridging finance.  2. Marketing.  In many instances this will be the starting point. Market research and feasibility studies must precede any development. Government and industry must work together to seek out market possibilities. Where necessary, government to government negotiation on access. term contracts. reciprocity. levels of participation - both technical and financial - will be undertaken.  3. Technical and Scientific.  The services of government, research institutions and industry must be co-ordinated and made available. Additionally, overseas negotiation will frequently involve exchanges in technical and scientific expertise which must be readily available to industry.  4. Transport.  It is absolutely vital that efficient transport both within New Zealand and beyond is assured. The location of industry, its supply of raw materials, delivery to market, regularity and reliability of supply, are all factors of importance. Government transport policy is therefore vital to the success of the whole concept. While overall efficiency must be the keynote in a restructured government transport system involving rail, road air and costal shipping, Labour's regional development approach demands that special attention be given to providing adequate modes of transport at a cost to industry to ensure they are not disadvantaged by a regional location.  POLICY ACTION.  The Labour Government will.  1. Establish a special section of the Development Finance Corporation to give special assistance in technology, financial management and productivity.  2. Abolish the 10 per cent sales tax on plant and equipment introduced by the Nation Government so that industry can be encouraged to modernise.  3. Provide through the Development Finance Corporation funds, either by direct low-interest bearing loans, suspensory loans or grants, to enable manufacturers or processors with export opportunities to expand production and improve productivity.  4. Negotiation with importers, exporters and manufacturers to re-organize import licensing with a view to creating opportunities for new importer entitlement whilst abolishing the need for exporting manufacturers to require import licenses on raw materials, parts or components where substitutes are not available in New Zealand.  5. Provide for exporters of finished manufactured goods to deduct from taxable income 150 per cent of the transport charges incurred in transporting finished products for export from the point of manufacture to the port or airport of despatch.  6. Provide on an agreed basis grants from Trade and Industry to the NZ Shipping Corporation to offset any loss incurred in opening new services to promising markets, or where stabilisation of freight charges over a defined period causes loss to the Corporation.  REGIONAL CENTRES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.  To make regional development really work there is a real need for efficient, well-directed examination and assessment of regional. potential - both human and physical. An active promotional organization based on sound development technology providing professional back-up for Regional Development Councils.  A Labour Government will immediately examine the feasibility of establishing within the Development Finance Corporation Regional Centre for Technological Development (R.C.T.D.).  The function of the R.C.T.D.  1. To foster advise and assist in the planning of projects. the design of processes or products appropriate to the region with regard to financial viability job opportunities, population, ecology and environment.  2. To collate information on primary production, present levels of processing with a view to deversification and extension.  3. To co-operate with local industry by providing consultancy services, design and prototype development services on a fee for service basis.  4. To co-ordinate fundamental research for the establishment of possible new industry.  5. To provide an assessment service for projects measured against establishment criteria as set out in the Industrial Development Policy.  6. To work closely with the Development Finance Corporation, the Rural Bank and the Export-Import Corporation.  7. To maintain intercommunication with other Centres for the exchange of information of mutual interest and the avoidance of wasteful duplication.  N. B. Overseas experience indicates that similar centres generally return between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of their annual running costs in fees royalties and rights.  Staff.  1 Director of Technical Co-operation. 3 project engineers. 2 senior and 2 junior designers. 1 typist.  Net annual cost around $80,000 p.a. 5 centres would cost $400,000.  INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.  Preamble  The LABOUR PARTY feels a strong sense of responsibility for the good name of New Zealand and the future relationships between our country and the rest of the world. We aim for the achievement of mutually beneficial international co-operation and support the emergence of a new international economic order in which all countries, not just rich ones, may prosper. At the same time we reaffirm our adherence to an independent foreign policy. We will continue to reflect overseas the true spirit of the harmonious New Zealand way of life. the progressive nature of our multi-racial society. and our, economy based on hard work, inventiveness, and fair reward. We are totally dedicated to the preservation of New Zealand's territorial integrity within a framework of international responsibility.  LABOUR AND THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER.  ++ LABOUR will make New Zealand a proud member of the New International Economic Order.  ++ LABOUR will back the proposed Common Fund and contribute to it in proportion to New Zealand's resource base.  ++ LABOUR will undertake to reduce barriers to the marketing of poor country products in this country, taking adequate measures to alleviate any domestic dislocation that may result.  ++ LABOUR will contribute constructively to recently set up international forums on issues of concern to poor nations, such as, fertiliser supply, food production and stockpiling, energy supplies, water, women, pollution, and the law of the Sea.  ++ LABOUR will give sympathetic consideration to poor countries' interests in such well-established groupings as the United Nations and the Commonwealth.  LABOUR AND THE UNITED NATIONS.  ++ LABOUR believes that the UN is the "last best hope" for mankind. A LABOUR Government will not waver from the determination first shown by Peter Fraser to participate fully in the UN.  LABOUR AND THE COMMONWEALTH.  ++ A LABOUR Government will endeavour, as have all previous LABOUR administrations, to maintain the Commonwealth as an effective forum.  LABOUR AND ASIA.  ++ LABOUR will renew its commitment to raising the living standards of all people of Asia by continuing to participate in joint and regional endeavours and to offer development assistance.  ++ LABOUR will restore cuts made in allocations of aid to selected Asian nations so that Asia and the South Pacific regain a rough balance as recipients of New Zealand's aid.  ++ LABOUR will stimulate the flow of information and persons between Asia and New Zealand by initiating a programme of cultural, scholarly and commercial exchange of individuals, particularly to Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia.  ++ LABOUR will reduce New Zealand's military presence in Singapore in an orderly manner, having regard for continued stability needs in the region, and after careful consultations with the governments concerned.  ++ LABOUR will make it plain that internationally supervised action to alleviate suffering and provide for political self-determination must precede and question of sovereignty in the territory of East Timor, and will participate in that action as appropriate.  ++ LABOUR will support ASEAN and other Asian regional groupings.  ++ LABOUR will negotiate without prejudice with the communist states of Asia for the mutual benefit of all parties concerned.  LABOUR AND THE PACIFIC.  LABOUR will strengthen programmes of job creation and job training within the island nations.  ++ LABOUR will redirect aid to projects promising to generate a self-help capacity in small island economies, and will assist in exploiting the resources of the new 200 mile economic zones.  ++ LABOUR will provide for the rational flow of persons between New Zealand and her island dependencies and other island states, recognising this as important sources of resources for both parties.  ++ LABOUR will encourage the orderly decolonisation of the remaining South Pacific colonies and will extend assistance to new states as appropriate.  ++ LABOUR will work toward re-orienting the South Pacific Commission to bring it into conformity with the decisions of the South Pacific Forum of independent Pacific states, and will work towards altering the role of the South Pacific Bureau of Economic Co-operation accordingly.  ++ LABOUR will seek to extend the scope of ANZUS to include economic and cultural exchange and consultation on long term causes of political instability in the Pacific region, thereby restoring a balance between military and non-military foci of the treaty.  NEW INTERNATIONAL OPENINGS.  The LABOUR Party is proud of the initiatives taken by the Third LABOUR Government regarding diplomatic, cultural, and trade relations with China, Southeast Asia, the USSR, the Middle East and countries of Eastern Europe. We look forward to closer contacts with Africa, South America and the Caribbean.  ++ The Fourth LABOUR Government will build on the successful initiatives of the Kirk and Rowling Governments to extend New Zealand's diplomatic outreach and trade links.  ++ LABOUR will adopt a global perspective in which bi-lateral, multi-lateral, regional and world-wide opportunities are balanced in the best interests of New Zealand.  ++ Having regard for the complex nature of modern global diplomacy, LABOUR will upgrade and strengthen New Zealand's diplomatic representation abroad, its research and backup capacity in Wellington, and will provide for release time for Foreign Affairs officers to do research and attend courses on world affairs.  LABOUR BELIEVES IN AID FOR DEVELOPMENT.  ++ LABOUR pledges to raise New Zealand's Official Development Assistance to 0.7% of GNP in successive yearly increments, directing the increases specifically to projects enhancing development among the poor and rural dwellers of recipient countries.  ++ LABOUR will replace loan aid with grant aid, and tied aid with untied aid.  ++ LABOUR will set up a project post-implementation evaluation unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assure that aid moneys are being used effectively for development.  ++ LABOUR will raise the legal status and level of financial support of the Advisory Committee on External Aid and Development, choose members with professional or scholarly expertise in development in poor societies, and encourage the Committee to undertake and publish studies of aid practices by New Zealand and other donors.  ++ LABOUR will encourage with a small start-up grant the establishment of a centre for the study of development in Asia and the South Pacific, to be associated with a New Zealand university and making use of existing staff, and will encourage close liaison between the centre and External Aid Division officers.  ++ LABOUR will encourage recipient countries to appoint aid advisory committees composed of representatives of grass-roots organisations, extension workers, and developmental specialists.  ++ LABOUR, recognising that the voluntary sector does invaluable work in reaching grassroots recipients, will increase its support to CORSO, VSA, and the Voluntary Agency Support Scheme.  LABOUR AND THE SEARCH FOR PEACE.  ++ The Fourth LABOUR Government will take up the struggle, by sponsoring a regional conference under United Nations auspices to promote a nuclear-free Pacific, where Prime Ministers Kirk and Rowling left off.  ++ LABOUR will also support the efforts of other nations such as Sri Lanka to obtain a nuclear-free Indian Ocean, and to keep the Antarctic nuclear-free.  ++ LABOUR will close New Zealand's ports and airports to all nuclear powered and nuclear weapon-carrying craft.  ++ LABOUR will encourage the study of peaceful international affairs by endowing a chair of Peace Studies within a New Zealand University.  DISCRIMINATION AND JUSTICE.  LABOUR believes that Justice is indivisible. There can be no justice or even genuine security for any until there is justice for all. Labour abhors any legal discrimination that denies equality of opportunity or human rights because of differences of race, colour, sex, religion or policial philosophy.  ++ LABOUR will support UN or other international efforts to end racial and religious discrimination wherever it is practised, and will continue a policy of assistance to those who suffer from such oppression.  ++ Because of its opposition to apartheid, wherever it occurs, Labour will actively discourage New Zealand sports teams from travelling to South Africa to play against teams in that country until the whole racist system of sport in that country is dismantled.  ++ A LABOUR Government will not interfere with the freedom of New Zealanders by denying them visas to any country, but will make it known to all sportsmen in the clearest possible terms that by playing against racially-selected teams they offend against the best traditions of sport and of racial equality in this country, and may damage New Zealand's reputation in many international forums.  ++ Above all, LABOUR will not tolerate the importation of apartheid into New Zealand. To do so would be a grave insult to our own Maori and Island people. No racially-selected team will be welcomed to New Zealand and a Labour Government will deny such teams the right to enter the country.  INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.  The resources of the world belong to all the people of the world. They may be traded between nations but no nation has the right to deprive others for its own profit. Nor has any nation the right to squander any irreplaceable natural resource. All nations must work to conserve natural resources.  ++ THE NEXT LABOUR GOVERNMENT will co-operate with international conservation movements for the benefit of New Zealanders and of mankind as a whole.  SUMMARY.  The Labour Party will continue to co-operate with international organisations, and will encourage individual New Zealanders to continue their work in non-governmental organisations, for the following ends.  (1) New Zealand's long-term independence, security, and prosperity within an emerging New International Economic Order.  (2) Eradication of poverty and its attendant social, economic and physical ills in Pacific and Asian societies.  (3) Changing trading patterns so that they will take into consideration the needs of the developing nations as well as the interests of the developed.  (4) Strengthening the workings of international law and justice.  (5) Strengthening the moral authority of the UN and giving practical support to all of its efforts as requested.  (6) Multilateral disarmament in the long term, and in the near term a slow down in weapons production and an immediate supervised cessation to the production and testing of nuclear weapons.  (7) The eradication of discrimination and privilege based on race, colour or sex.  (8) An aid target of 1% GNP.  (9) International conservation of precious resources.  (10) A better world based on the principles of social justice and the rights of every person to develop to the maximum natural talents and to achieve legitimate aspirations.  BACKGROUND NOTES TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS POLICY.  THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER.  In the early 1970s poor states began banding together to claim a fairer share of the world's trade and common resources. New Zealand has reacted negatively to such moves as the proposal to set up a Common Fund for world price stabilisation. But the poor nations comprise the majority of the world's population, and they control substantial political, natural, and financial resources when viewed collectively.  LABOUR believes that negotiations with the poor nations both individually and en bloc will lead to a mutually beneficial accommodation, whereas continued rebuff will only exacerbate North-South differences and lead to world-wide confrontations between rich and poor later. The world can be neither politically secure no morally at ease as long as gross inequalities between and within nations persist.  Further, LABOUR acknowledges that New Zealand has much in common with developing nations whose economies are based on agriculture. While retaining valued ties to rich, industrial nations, New Zealand is in a favoured position to mediate between these and the less well off, agricultural nations of the Third World, and should seize the opportunity that our intermediate status offers us.  THE UNITED NATIONS.  The New Zealand Labour Party believes that the United Nations Organisation is an important framework within which all nations can make their contribution to the development of a better world society, irrespective if their size, material wealth or military power. It was this aim that led the first Labour Government to play an important part in the establishment of the United Nations.  Notwithstanding the fact that the United Nations has not always met with success in its endeavours, the existence of the body has restrained nations from precipitous action and provided a forum for consultation that on many occasions has served the interests of world peace. The various agencies of the UN have also made it possible for nations of opposing ideologies, and sometimes even those engaged in physical confrontation, to work together for the good of mankind in the fields of child welfare, education, disarmament, industrial relations and aid to developing countries. The UN General Assembly provides an international forum from which the voices of the smaller nations, if their governments choose, can be heard as loudly as those of the largest.  THE COMMONWEALTH.  This unique multi-racial community of nations has developed into a free and equal partnership of nations in voluntary association, with its variety of cultures and systems of government, the Commonwealth serves as a medium of communication that supplements other international organisations in relieving tensions and contributing towards greater tolerance and understanding between nations. Cutting across both the UN and the North-South dialogue, it represents a valuable moderating force.  ASIA.  Some of the world's wealthiest countries, as well as some of the least developed are contained in Asia. the largest nation on earth as well as the smallest. the oldest civilisation as well as the newest. and every type of regime. In the past New Zealand has enjoyed good relations with almost all nations in the region, and we can restore that situation. Particular attention must be given to regional groupings such as ASEAN whose potential as a political and trade bloc is growing, and to the emerging leadership of Japan, China, Indonesia, and India. Our contribution can best be made by enhancing the harmony of our own multi-racial society by encouraging the study of the travel of Asia, and by improving the quality of the assistance we give to the developing countries of the area.  We must also be prepared to offer our good offices in reducing armed conflict and easing human suffering.  SOUTH PACIFIC.  The closer we come to home, the greater is New Zealand's obligation, feeling of partnership and ability to use its limited resources to help others. New Zealand has in the past been a source of inspiration with its progressive social legislation and the egalitarian character of its society. New Zealanders must realise that to South Pacific Island States, New Zealand seems like an economic giant and a source of material, economic and moral assistance. Without active help from New Zealand these islands will be forced economically - and eventually politically - to seek aid from outside powers to the detriment of our whole region.  AID FOR DEVELOPMENT.  Now Zealanders understand the need to ease the plight of the underfed, underhoused, and underprivileged of the Third World, particularly in nearby South Pacific and Southeast Asian countries. While we recognise that aid is an imperfect and interim measure until a new, more just international economic order becomes a reality, Labour nevertheless believes it fills a desperate need.  New Zealand will benefit from aid in political good will, cultural understanding, and trade and service contract opportunities, but Labour will not allow these to dictate the main purpose of aid. development of the poorest and most needy groups within recipient societies. Aid will not be channelled through either private sector firms or recipient governments unless justified by clear benefit to needy recipient individuals. Likewise the 1 percent GNP target is meaningless if aid does not effectively help those who need it most.  THE SEARCH FOR PEACE.  The Labour Party knows from history that war seldom provides any lasting solution to any of the world's problems. Any conflagration between the Great Powers will certainly involve the most terrible instruments of mass destruction, and even localised conflicts could lead to mass destruction. Labour has always advocated controlled disarmament and will continue to work towards this end in the United Nations and other forums. Labour also believes in a nuclear-free pacific, and worked towards that goal during the Third Labour Government.  JUSTICE POLICY.  Labour commits itself to the creation of society where all citizens are equal at las and have equal opportunity in the social and economic life of the country.  Labour pledges itself to observe the rule of law, to be bound by it and to abstain from the political interference in the legal process which has been a feature of the last three years. Labour believes that people should have the opportunity to be aware of their legal rights and responsibilities and should not because of economic pressure lose their rights or shrink from their duties.  THE COURTS.  Labour supports the major recommendations of the Royal Commission which reported on the Court structure. We commit ourselves to the early establishment of a Family Court system with a heavy emphasis on counselling and conciliation to achieve either a recommitment to the marriage or if separation is inevitable, fairness to the spouses and the children.  We are concerned at the lengthy delays which are now a feature of our courts. We know of the frustration experienced by those who wish to be heard and the stress which can arise when cases drag on. We will.  1. Immediately increase the number of courts which small claims are heard under legislation introduced by the Third Labour Government.  2. Introduce a system of Family Courts dealing exclusively with family matters so that those who seek justice for their personal affairs will have a court which gives them priority.  3. Extend the minor offence system to include a wider range of offences. No-one will be excluded from a hearing should it be wanted but the Courts would be relieved from the clutter which is threatening to overwhelm them in some centres.  4. Extend the practice of law enforcement authorities having the power to impose a standard penalty. Most minor motoring offences could be dealt with in this way. None would be denied a hearing if it is required. If a person agrees that an offence has been committed then we believe that the penalty should be imposed rapidly and paid.  LEGAL SERVICES.  The present Legal Aid system is much overdue for review. It is also expensive. We can have a better system. We can do it without undue Government expenditure.  CRIMINAL LEGAL AID.  We will create one legal aid structure by merging the criminal legal aid system with the existing civil legal aid structure. The present system gives a higher priority to property than to liberty. Labour believes that a person should he convicted if there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. When the charge is laid a person needs a lawyer. We will see that one is available without the fear that legal assistance can't be afforded. As for civil legal aid now the lawyer of choice will act if that lawyer is agreeable. If later is it clear that a contribution to the fee should have been made then it will be recovered just as it is for civil legal aid. We will continue the Duty Solicitor scheme started by the Third Labour Government, but will ensure proper community participation in the working of it. Lawyers accepting briefs under the scheme for criminal work will be properly paid. We will change the existing haphazard system and give lawyers and their clients the confidence to put forward the best defence possible.  FEE FOR ADVICE.  At present people either pay to see a lawyer for advice or visit one in one of the many advice bureaux where lawyers give their services. We believe that people should not be prevented from receiving the best advice from their own lawyer because, they lack the means to consult him or her. On the certificate of a lawyer that the consultation was necessary a fee of $10 will be paid for giving that advice.  NEIGHBOURHOOD LAW CENTRES.  We commend the initiative of the Auckland District Law Society in establishing the Neighbourhood Law Centre in Auckland and work of Community Law Action Workshop and other groups throughout New Zealand in providing people with legal services in areas not otherwise served by lawyers and at times outside normal law office hears. We believe that more should be established and we commit ourselves to assist in the provision of these community services. We will pay to such groups the fee for advice and provide subsidy assistance in maintaining centres where they are clearly required as otherwise uneconomic.  We will finance these extended services without draining the taxpayer. As in Victoria Australia we will negotiate with the Bankers Association and the Law Society to establish a Legal Aid Board funded from interest on money currently lying in trust accounts earning nothing. Anyone may now or in the future direct their solicitor to place their money in interest bearing securities. In fact there are many millions of dollars lying idle benefiting no-one. The interest on that money could secure proper legal advice and representation for those who need it.  MATRIMONIAL LAW.  Labour will.  1. Renew the Matrimonial Property Act on a reference to Parliament's Statutes Revision Committee.  2. Make irretrievable breakdown of a marriage, evidenced by inability to live together, the sole ground for divorce.  3. Ensure that the law states clearly that when a marriage breaks down the parent, irrespective of sex, who can better provide security for the children, shall be granted custody.  4. Encourage post separation counselling to ensure an effective adjustment to the new situation and to protect the children from becoming the pawns of parental bitterness.  5. Change the form of the application under the Domestic Proceedings Act so that the applicant does not have to catalogue the alleged shortcomings of the defendant and thereby enhance the chance of consiliation being successful.  6. Complement the existing services of the Maintenance Officers by providing through the Department of Social Welfare social workers whose prime responsibility will be to assist in making effective arrangements between separated, never married, or divorced parents on issues of custody and access.  CONVEYANCING.  Labour believes that the increased use of standard forms and the high degree of mechanisation in the Land Transfer system makes a review of the Land Transfer Act imperative.  Pending that overall review we will direct Government lending agencies to prepare the mortgages for advances made by them if the borrowers wish, and to achieve for home purchasers a considerable reduction in their costs.  THE LEGAL PROFESSION.  Labour recognises the considerable sacrifices made by lawyers in voluntary work in Citizens' Advice Bureaux, community organisations and in Criminal Legal Aid and Duty Solicitor work.  We welcome the moves made to involve lay people in the profession's complaints investigations.  Labour believes that lay persons should be involved in the profession's discipline so that consumers may have confidence in the profession. We will therefore negotiate with the profession to achieve that and, if necessary, amend the Law Practitioner Act.  LAW REFORM.  Labour will.  1. Establish a Law Reform Commission with the responsibility of examining the existing body of law to delete obsolescence and to report to Parliament on the need for effective reform.  2. Repeal the Security Intelligence Service Amendment Act which gives power to a politician to order the interception of communications.  3. Reintroduce the listening Devices Bill to provide a comprehensive code to control the growing practice of electronic eavesdropping.  4. Legislate for Freedom of Information and ensure that the people of New Zealand are able to make informed decisions unhampered by bureaucratic limitations.  5.  Introduce the Summary Offences Bill promised by the National     Government for the last three years.  6. Amend the law relating to the Wanganui Computer system to ensure that the Privacy Commissioner has effective power to review its workings and to provide for the system to record every attempt to use it.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT.  GENERAL PRINCIPLE.  Labour believes in strong, adequately financed local government at the regional level. active, efficient community-minded local government at the territorial level. and grass-roots participation in decision-making by residents and ratepayers among the communities of the nation.  BACKGROUND.  Labour has provided the only governments in recent times that have had the courage and initiative to modernize local government in New Zealand. The National government in 1977 destroyed the work painstakingly carried out over thirty years by the Local Government Commission. It also weakened the voice of community councils which Labour had made an important part of local government. A Labour Government will give local government wider powers as well as new sources of finance. It also intends to increase opportunities for grass-roots participation in local government. Labour will ensure that decisions affecting a locality are locally arrived at.  ADMINISTRATION.  1. Labour will support and strengthen regional and local government. Where desirable, activities of a regional nature will be diverted from central government to regional authorities, and a reformed Local Government Commission will be asked to help achieve this end.  2 Labour intends to restore the concept of community involvement to the Local Government Act. Community Councils will be encouraged in the many parts of New Zealand where they already exist. Encouragement will be given to the formation of Community Councils on the outskirts of major urban areas where a sense of community is often lacking. Community Councils will be expected to involve themselves in matters relating to the provision and administration of community facilities and will help to foster a sense of neighbourhood. Labour will carefully study the operation of community councils, especially those that have been in existence for some time, with a view to strengthening their powers where appropriate.  3 In order to ensure neighbourhood representation on territorial local authorities, Labour will give the people who live in local authorities with a population of more than 20,000 the change to determine whether or not they want a full ward system of representation. In a local authority of such a size, Labour will require that a vote on the question be taken at the next triennial election. The local authority concerned will be expected to abide by the verdict of its electors.  4. Labour believes it is time that adequate recognition was given to the long hours and great responsibilities being undertaken by elected representatives on local authorities. Labour believes that no one should be debarred from standing for local office because he or she would be financially embarrassed by loss of wages as a result of attending Council or committee meetings. Labour will therefore review regularly the levels of remuneration of mayors and councillors.  FINANCE AND RATING.  Labour believes that the present system whereby rates are the primary source of finance for territorial local authorities should be maintained until such time as a better system of finance is revised. However there are important ways in which central government can assist local bodies and ratepayers to shoulder the burden.  1. In line with the recommendations of the Report of the Local Authority Finance Committee 1977, a per capita grant reviewable on an annual basis, will be made available by central government to regional and territorial local authorities to help them develop sport, recreation and community programmes and facilities within their areas.  2. Labour will maintain the Special Assistance Fund that it established in 1975 and will, as funds allow, increase the amount of money available from the fund. This fund, will, in time, become the main source of government assistance to local bodies. This money will be distributed according to a "special needs" formula to be determined by the government in consultation with representatives of local government.  3. Labour will make available to local authorities taxation revenue already being collected under the Land and Income Tax Amendment Act 1915 from the unearned wealth that is accumulated as a result of local authority zoning changes. This money will be channelled into the Special Assistance Fund from where it will be disbursed, like other moneys from the fund, according to the "special needs" formula. Labour believes that by this measure wealth will be returned to the community which created it, instead of passing into private hands or remaining in the coffers of central government.  4. Labour will encourage local authorities to avail themselves fully of the extra revenue-generating activities given them by the Third Labour Government. Commercial activities such as the running of camping grounds, buying of land, building of houses, urban renewal, commercial buildings and other facilities of public benefit will be encouraged.  5. Labour will restore and maintain the Rates Rebate Act 1973 and each 12 months will review the income limits for those ratepayers who qualify for assistance.  6. Labour will continue to support local authorities in the provision of pensioner housing, and will speed up the processing of all requests for assistance from local authorities for such housing.  7. In order to lessen the burden on ratepayers who find one big rate demand per year a difficult burden to carry, Labour will make the payment of rates by instalment mandatory for all local authorities. Besides helping the ratepayer, Labour believes this will assist local authorities who incur unnecessary interest bills while waiting for rate money to come in.  8. Labour will institute an inquiry into the incidence of differential rating and correct any inequities that have crept into the system as a result of the many changes in the law in recent years affecting differential rating.  9. In order to allow citizens and ratepayers wider powers, powers to monitor and control the decisions made by their councils, Labour will ease the rules governing the holding of loan polls and will provide for the holding of referenda on other major issues.  SOCIAL SERVICES.  It has been Labour policy for many years to encourage local authorities to accept more responsibility for providing community services. Labour recognises that such services cost money, and that central government must therefore help in sharing the cost of such services. Labour also recognises that the needs of all areas in New Zealand are not the same. Emergency housing, special community facilities, child care centres, and community advice bureaux are often needed more in city areas, although all parts of the country have their own particular needs.  1. Labour will, on becoming the Government, establish a committee of inquiry to take submissions from local authorities and from other interested parties on the question of what further assistance with social services is required from Government.  2. In the meantime, assistance with urban renewal projects, emergency housing, pensioner housing, and other programmes will be maintained.  MAORI AFFAIRS.  The Labour Party adheres firmly to a belief in multi cultural New Zealand. This belief recognises the right of free association and the need to effectively promote the enduring benefits of equal and diverse opportunities.  Labour further recognizes the fact that the values of the Maori people have an unchallenged place in the heritage and life-style of New Zealand.  Labour's principal aim is to provide the means which enable the Maori people to attain social, economic and cultural advancement on Maori terms. Labour will consult the Maori people on all matters affecting their interests and destiny.  PROVISIONS FOR THE YOUNG.  Recognizing that the most urgent and pressing need for providing for the needs of the young Maori lies with Maori elders, parents, tribal and voluntary organizations, Labour will.  (a) Restore the 'mana' and prestige of the Maori by encouraging the personal involvement of the Maori elders and the parents.  (b) Provide financial subsidies to Maori and tribal organizations to enable them to take full advantage of Maori elders, values, and customs of their people.  (c) Assist the establishment of urban and rural labour co-operatives and Maori Community self-help programmes.  (d) Ensure that the education system caters fully for the needs and aspirations of the young Maori.  (e) Expand the Trade Training and re-training programme for all levels of skills.  (f) Assist Trust Boards and other service organizations to provide hostel accommodation for the young.  (g)Assist young people in programmes designed to rebuild Maori communities and institutions and provide the young with an opportunity of sharing the responsibility of decision making.  (h) Establish new opportunity centres for social and occupational training in urban areas.  LAND.  Labour accepts completely the right of the Maori people to own and manage their land interest according to their customs and traditions. Labour's purpose will be to assist Maori land owners, utilise their land and aid the re-settlement of Maori families on their own land. Labour will.  (a) Improve procedures of the Maori Land Court. The Court will remain the arbiter on Maori land matters.  (b) Improve Maori land title services.  (c) Maintain a realistic utilisation and re-settlement policy for all categories of land use including horticulture.  MAORI LAND INCORPORATIONS.  Labour believes that incorporations will continue to play an important role for the Maori people. Labour will.  (a) Re-convene the conference of Maori Land Incorporations to consider the best means of assisting their work.  (b) Establish a Federation of Incorporations.  (c) Encourage Incorporations to undertake the re-settlement of Maori families and to assist in providing careers for their people.  MAORI RESERVE LAND.  Mindful of the injustice to owners, Labour will progressively implement the recommendation of the 1975 Maori Reserve Lands report.  A conference of Incorporations and Trusts will be called in the South Island to deal with the restrictive laws on rental payments.  The conference will also be asked to consider placing a time limit on perpetual leases.  MAORI LAND GRIEVANCES.  Labour recognizes the need to settle the long outstanding land claims of Maori people. The need to honourably settle many of these issues will receive early attention by.  (a) Expanding the powers and functions of the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal so that they can hear claims and recommend appropriate settlements.  (b) Restoring title to Bastion Point to the Ngati Whatua through their Trust Board and undertaking to enter negotiations with the Board to obtain the use of the area as a public reserve.  (c) Discussing with the Board the question of further housing needs in the area, and restoring the title and control of the Orakai Marae to the Ngati Whatua people.  MAORI ORGANIZATIONS.  Labour will undertake to enter discussions with the New Zealand Maori Council, Maori Women's Welfare League, and other Maori organizations dealing with the social needs of the Maori people, with the aim of providing permanent incomes to assist their work.  Labour will assist with the establishment of a permanent non-government Research Unit.  CULTURE.  Labour recognizes the underlying feeling of "aroha" and will.  (a) Expand the teaching of Maori throughout the whole of the education system.  (b) Replace the Maori Purposes Fund Board with a body appropriate for current and future needs.  (c) Provide every encouragement to Maori cultural activity both at home, abroad, and especially within our schools.  (d) Progressively implement the recommendations of the Marae Committee Report on 1975, particularly in urban areas.  (e) Strengthen rural Marae community enterprises.  (f) Provide financial assistance to Maori elders to travel among their people, more particularly the young, so that their understanding of their history, customs, traditions and practices can be enhanced.  HEALTH.  Labour is deeply concerned with the significantly lower standard of Maori health, and will take positive steps to improve the situation. While Labour's housing policy will apply to both Maori and Pakeha, the special needs of Maori people for better living conditions will be recognized.  FINANCIAL POLICY.  MONETARY AND ECONOMIC POLICY.  Labour is committed to promoting economic growth, full employment, and the greatest possible degree of stability in internal prices and the purchasing power of incomes. We recognise New Zealand's vulnerability to external economic and financial fluctuations. We will work towards a stable economy by developing policies of self-reliance. New Zealand under a Labour Government will determine its own levels of employment, consumption and growth, thus facilitating the achievement of desired social goals.  Since our financial and banking system is an integral part of our economic system - the monetary policy of a Labour Government will empower the Reserve Bank to issue and regulate both currency and credit, to achieve the greatest possible stability in prices as measured by the Consumers' Price Index. A statutory obligation will be placed upon the Reserve Bank to make this policy effective.  Labour is gravely concerned at the uncontrolled growth in money supply and the failure to channel that growth into desirable investment areas.  There is a need to focus more on the control of money and credit in the economy. These policies will facilitate this through improving control over the monetary base. Changes in the base are an important influence and major cause of instability and inflation in New Zealand. By achieving greater stability in the growth of the monetary base a major step towards overall stability in economic growth will be achieved.  A Labour Government will.  1. Develop price and income smoothing arrangements for all those who get their incomes from the export of commodities which tend historically to fluctuate widely in price.  2. Rapidly increase our capacity to further process and add value to these exports, to increase export income, lower relative freight costs, become exporters of finished consumer goods and to become price makers rather than price takers.  3. Achieve a better balance and a wider range in the goods we export to lessen the effects of sudden changes in single commodity prices and achieve an overall stability.  4. Follow internal policies aimed at reducing New Zealand's inflation rate to below the average rate of our trading partners in order to improve our long run price and cost relationship with the rest of the world.  5. Follow taxation policies which restore incentive, promote growth, protect the purchasing power of incomes, encourage economic efficiency, and which are anti-inflationary.  6. Encourage exports and import substitution.  7. Adopt strong measures to re-assert the sole authority of the elected government to control interest rates and to authorise the issue of currency and credit.  8. Charge the Reserve Bank with the responsibility of ensuring that the government's monetary policy is carried out.  9. Introduce a target growth in money supply and will work to meet the target which will anticipate growth in the economy, overseas price trends and government spending and taxation policies.  10. Make greater use of the exchange rate to minimise the fluctuations in export receipts and the balance of payments.  11. Improve the effectiveness of government involvement in the money market.  12. View government expenditure programmes from a longer term perspective, avoiding large cuts in spending and capital formation as a deflationary weapon.  13. Lower interest rates in a phased and controlled manner to the prime rates of 1975, in the first instance for housing, agriculture and other front-line industry.  14. Require all overseas owned and controlled financial institutions to have New Zealand boards of control for the New Zealand sector of their business. This covers trading banks, insurance companies, stock and station agents, merchant banks and finance houses.  15. Ensure that the Trustee Savings Banks, being regionally based and community owned will be encouraged to expand their roles in the development of their regions. As agents for Voluntary New Zealand Superannuation they will develop a new and increasingly important function.  16. Expand and co-ordinate the functions and scope of the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation, the Development Finance Corporation and the Export Import Corporation to provide the maximum of service and assistance in the growth and diversification of production.  17. Foster real competition in the finance field by examining the activities of the Bankers' Association, the Finance Houses' Association, and the Life Offices' Association. Any evidence of collusive or cartel practices will be referred to the re-vamped Commerce Commission.  The measures outlined in this monetary policy will be regarded as first priority, and the necessary action will commence in the first Session of Parliament after being elected, to ensure that this essential policy is fully and effectively implemented.  OVERSEAS TRADE POLICY.  The future prosperity of New Zealand depends on increasing export returns.  Labour will embark on a vigorous campaign to utilise all the productive resources at our disposal, to produce products for export as efficiently as possible and ensure that those products for export are marketed agressively and effectively.  The private and public sector of the nation must work in a real partnership to achieve success.  A Labour Government will.  Trade Commission Services.  1. New trade posts will be opened in markets of potential.  2. Labour will insist that posts are staffed with personnel experienced and knowledgeable in marketing. Where necessary, staff will be seconded from the private sector. Staff from the Trade Commission Service will have the opportunity to gain experience in the private sector.  3. The New Zealand Export Institutes work will be facilitated by increased Government assistance. The New Zealand Export Institute will be asked to help organise marketing surveys to identify markets and products with export potential. The results will be made available to all New Zealand exporters.  4. The New Zealand Export Import Corporation, the D.F.C. and Rural Banks will be granted extra resources to assist the private sector in expanding exports. They will be asked to give particular attention to the needs of smaller enterprises.  5. After consultation with industry, the present tax incentives and grants will be made more relevant to the needs of exporters and the requirements of New Zealand. Firms who have planned their export drive on existing export incentives will have the choice of choosing between the present incentives and any new schemes for the next four years.  6. Government assisted educational, technical and educational institutions will be asked to play a more co-ordinated and active role in the export drive.  7. The New Zealand Shipping Corporation and Air New Zealand will be asked to give greater assistance to our export drive, particularly by facilitating efforts to develop new markets at minimum cost.  8. Exporters will be able to deduct from taxable income 150% of the transport charges incurred in transported finished products for export from the point of manufacture to the airport or port of dispatch.  9. Provide through the Development Finance Corporation Funds by low interest loans, grants and suspensory loans of assistance to exporters and potential exporters.  10. Abolish the need for exporting manufacturers to require yearly export licenses for raw materials, parts and components, where substitutes are not available in New Zealand.  POPULATION POLICY.  New Zealand is a country of limited resources in the commonly accepted sense of economic wealth. However, those resources we do possess in relative abundance are, in the main, renewable. The rate of exploitation of these resources must not exceed the replacement level.  Our greatest resource is our people. New Zealanders enjoy a high standard of literacy, are resourceful, adaptable and innovative. They have access to a natural environment unparalleled by most other nations. Yet our economy is in a state of chronic imbalance, over-reliant on expensive imported energy, and overly dependent on a narrow range of unprocessed exports.  To recover our economic balance while retaining that which is best in the New Zealand way of life challenges us to employ our resources both human and material intelligently, and with a greater awareness of the consequences of misuse.  In these circumstances, Now Zealand must think in terms of an optimum and likely stabilisation level for population. The implications of the composition and distribution of population must be clearly understood.  THE MIGRANT FLOW.  The Third Labour Government put in place the only effective immigration policy ever implemented in New Zealand. This was done to provide effective control on the immigrant flow. The only population dynamic that can be controlled without prejudice to human rights and freedoms is immigration.  No democratic government can dictate to New Zealand citizens when they should leave, or when they should return.  Labour's aim is the creation of an economic and social climate that attracts and retains our citizens.  Under the Third Labour Government thousands of New Zealanders came home - today, as in 1968-69, many more thousands are leaving.  Immigration policies can now be linked to the flow of New Zealand citizens. The vast majority of New Zealanders new emigrating are young working people, at the peak of their productive value to New Zealand. Of those who are coming home, many more are at the end of their working careers - they come home to retire.  NATURAL CHANGES.  New Zealand's birth rate has declined across-the-board and continues to fall.  The natural increase - on the basis of present trends - is likely to be minimal in the foreseeable future. Labour affirms that it is the absolute right of all parents to determine the size of their families. We are concerned to encourage a social and moral climate where parenthood is honoured and babies are welcomed and wanted.  DISTRIBUTION.  New Zealand population distribution, like its development, has under successive conservative governments, been ignored. Today there is an unfortunate imbalance which can have serious consequences both social and economic.  The economic and social waste from under-utilized facilities is enormous.  A few major cities now contain the bulk of our population, adding greatly to property inflation, inadequate amenities, costly administration accelerating social problems and a host of other avoidable difficulties, the cost of which in both monetary and human terms is incalculable.  Labour's dedication to active regional development is founded in a recognition of these problems.  The Third Labour Government successfully slowed down this movement from country to city, and from south to north.  But since 1975 the old trends have resumed. The problem is now more urgent than ever. The next Labour Government will give regional development a number one priority.  Labour's population objectives are clear.  1. Every encouragement for responsible parenthood.  2. Every encouragement for New Zealand citizens to remain here, or to return.  3. Careful and gradual modification of immigration flows in response to changing flows of New Zealand citizens and the legitimate requirements of approved New Zealand industry.  4. A more even geographic distribution of population.  5. A gradual but slow growth in the New Zealand population towards eventual stability between 4 and 5 million.  6. Planning up to the year 2,000 to be based on a population estimate of 3.6 million.  7. Upgrading the statistics department to provide detailed compilation of statistics and early discernment of trends.  8. The formation of a small population advisory group to evaluate the implications of population trends and likely impact of proposed new policies, and to publicise their findings on at least an annual basis.  RECREATION POLICY.  A.. Labour believes that some form of recreation should be available to all those who wish to participate.  To this end.  1. Facilities to cover a wide range of leisure activities should be freely accessible within local communities.  2. Facilities should also be available at any large workplace.  3. We would encourage local authorities and consultative committees to appoint recreation and community development officers. These officers would assist in the distribution of grants from the Ministry of Recreation and Sport, as well as advising on other local authority recreation developments.  4. There should be Regional Councils of Recreation similar to, and, possibly co-ordinated with, the Regional Arts Councils. These Councils would provide a link between central and local government recreation personnel.  B. Labour believes that there should be public participation in planning for community recreation. This would attempt to ensure that administration of grants covers the needs of all who wish to participate, whether through an organisation, as a family or individually.  To this end.  1. Local bodies and their consultative committees should be encouraged to develop recreation plans, such as that being prepared for West Auckland. The plan should be prepared with widest possible public involvement, assisted by input from existing organisations, schools, and neighbourhood discussion groups.  2. Regional plans should be drawn up by the Regional Councils, again drawing on public involvement from all interest groups within the region.  3. These local and regional plans should be evaluated to ensure that areas of more acute social problems are selected as priorities for assistance.  4. Maximum encouragement should be given to broadening the use of existing facilities such as the community use of school halls and gymnasiums. In conjunction with local authorities, additional recreation officers will be appointed to assist with and ensure the best use of community facilities, provision of programmes, and the involvement of local people.  5. New facilities to be assisted will be multi-purpose, so that they can be used by a variety of community groups, families, clubs, as, well as catering for casual participants.  6. Encouragement should be given to schools to develop recreation and education for leisure programmes to cover areas apart from traditional sports. They should seek maximum utilisation of lodges and camps throughout the country, which should be available at a minimal charge to all school groups so that no child or school is denied access. School counselling services should include recreative guidance counselling similar to vocational guidance counselling.  C. Labour believes that the Come Alive campaign proved its success through an increase of up to 15% in general participation in recreational activities. However, this should be followed up in specific areas.  To this end.  Mini-campaigns should be launched to bring greater awareness of recreation possibilities for participation by.  (a) the elderly.  (b) the disabled.  (c) Youth.  D. Labour will work towards establishing one-quarter of 1% of the Gross National Product as funding for recreation and sport, community development and the arts.  THE REFORM OF PARLIAMENT.  Labour is committed to the restoration, of order, openness, decency and relevance in the proceedings of parliament. Ordinary New Zealanders must again regard Parliament as their own institution where they will be listened to on matters which affect their lives and liberties.  Parliament forms the central democratic institution in our society. New Zealand Parliament has fallen into disrepute. The way in which Parliamentary business is conducted has robbed Parliament of much of its ability to keep a check on Cabinet Ministers, Government Departments and Government policies. Parliament lacks the information necessary to question the conduct of Government and the policies developed by Government. Engulfed with a flood of legislation, Parliament has lost its sense of purpose.  Parliament passes too many laws and it passes them too quickly. In 1977, a total of 206 new Acts of Parliament were passed. Some of them were passed at break-neck speed in the dead of the night when Parliament was off the air. Some of them were so complex that the members of Parliament had only the vaguest notion of what they were about. Labour is committed to passing laws only after there has been adequate time for consultation and reflection. Every effort will be made to write new laws in language everyone can understand.  Regulations are laws but they are made by Cabinet, not Parliament. In 1977, there were 337 new regulations. Regulations can become law on the say-so of as few as two Ministers and the Governor-General - and the historical independence of the Governor-General has been undermined.  Labour's policy will mean that regulations will have to be justified. People will be able to make representations about the content of regulations to a Parliamentary Committee.  Labour is going to put a stop to the idea that passing laws can cure all our ills. What they often do, in fact, is to stifle our initiative, restrict our freedom, tie us up in red tape and needless bureaucracy.  Labour will ensure that Parliament can truly debate the important policy issues of the day in an atmosphere which is free from personal attack. Measures will be taken to avoid tedious repetition in debate. Parliament will be orderly and dignified. That goal will be achieved by impartial chairmanship at all stages of parliamentary procedure.  Labour will make New Zealand more actively democratic by seeing that the citizens know more about public policy than they do now. There are two aspects to Labour's policy of open Government. First, more and better information both to Parliament and the public will be provided. Secondly, an expanded role for Parliamentary Committees will give them a responsibility and status previously unknown in New Zealand.  More checks and balances against encroaching executive power and creeping bureaucracy are needed. These will best be provided by the new Parliamentary Committees working in the atmosphere of an invigorated Parliament.  We set out in detail 15 points of Labour policy needed to restore Parliament to its rightful place of responsibility and respect.  LABOUR'S 15 POINTS OF PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.  1. Labour will appoint a Law Reform Commissioner whose first priority will be to recommend how New Zealand's laws can be made more understandable and accessible to the general public.  2. Under Labour, new legislation will be passed with the inclusion of specific expiry dates. No law should remain on the statute book without periodic review.  3. Bills, except money Bills, or Bills necessitated by an emergency, will be sent to Parliamentary Committees for examination and receipt of submissions from the public. Where hearings are held, times and places will be widely advertised.  4. The Standing Orders of the House of Representatives will be changed to allow three months to pass between the introduction and final passage of any Bill except a money Bill, or Bill necessitated by an emergency or with the agreement of Parliament.  5. A special Parliamentary Committee will be established to review all regulations within three months of their being gazetted and becoming law. Public hearings may be held and the Committee will report to Parliament.  6. Parliamentary Committees will be given more power under Labour. Committees will be able to initiate their own inquiries. Minority reports will be permitted. Proper administrative facilities and staffing will be provided.  7. Two new Public Expenditure Committees will be established.  One will conduct thorough investigations of Government agencies on a systematic basis to see that they are properly responsive to the needs of the public. Another will carry out special investigations on selected topics beginning with a review of all statutory advisory bodies and Commissions with a view to eliminating as many as possible. Steps will be taken to ensure that all public bodies will be publicly accountable.  8. The Standing Orders of Parliament will be reviewed and revised as a matter of urgency to implement the policies of Parliamentary reform.  9. Under Labour, Parliament will be in session three days a week, three weeks a month, up to a maximum of ten months a year. Standing Orders will prohibit Parliament sitting beyond midnight.  10. All Parliamentary proceedings will be broadcast.  11. Standing Orders will provide for all Parliamentary Committees to be open to the public while evidence is being heard, except that publication of the evidence could be prohibited where prejudicial to National security or personal privacy.  12. Labour will increase the total number of members of Parliament to 121, while still continuing to use as a base for electorates the number of seats in the South Island.  I  13. Labour is committed to open Government. The Official Secrets Act will be reviewed and a Freedom of Information Act passed so that more information upon which Government bases its decisions can be made available for public scrutiny.  14. The antique weapon of Parliamentary privilege will be reformed so that it cannot be used for political purposes. Limits will be imposed upon the capacity of Parliament to punish people who are not members. The Privileges Committee of the House will be reformed by making the Chief Ombudsman the independent Chairman of a Committee comprising two Government members and two Opposition members. The hearings of evidence should normally be, as in the case of other committees, open to the press, and frivolous or malicious allegations of breech of privilege could be discouraged by giving the power all Courts have, namely that of awarding costs against an unsuccessful applicant.  15. Labour will mount an extensive programme to inform people about the nature and functions of Parliament. A copy of every Bill will be sent to every public library in p New Zealand.  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY.  "The fourth Labour Government will restore and expand the basic programme of regional development that was developed between 1973/ 1975.  The policies we have developed are necessary to rebuild the shattered industrial and employment base across much of this country. But they also represent the next stage in a programme to balance New Zealand's growth, especially in the South Island.  The key to those policies is quite simply 'equal opportunity'.”  BILL ROWLING.  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS.  * Those areas which now qualify as regional development areas will retain that designation. Three new areas will be included. These are HAWKES BAY, NELSON, and CHRISTCHURCH. The inclusion of the last two regions will mean that the whole of the South Island will, in effect, now be a regional development area. A co-ordinating South Island Council will be established.  * All Regional Development Councils will be given much greater autonomy. They will have the power to make the final decisions on applications up to $10,000 on a wide range of projects in their areas. At present, all applications have to be forwarded to Wellington.  * The basic form of assistance to regional development areas will continue to be the suspensory loan system.  * To encourage regions to help themselves, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BONDS will be issued. These will have attractive interest rates, and tax exemption provisions. They will be available for investment in the region NOMINATED by the investor. Funds raised in this way will be primarily earmarked for low interest loans, subsidised by the Government, for the establishment or expansion of small businesses approved by Regional Development Councils.  * The next Labour Government will extend the Small Business Agency to regional centres outside of the four main centres.  * Regional Development Officers will be attached to Regional Development Councils to help to establish small production units or cottage industries.  TRANSPORT.  * Labour regards transport as the key to successful regional manufacturing, especially in the South Island. We recognise that there are some problems with freight subsidies. However, there are cases where this form of assistance can be valuable.  * Where there is a proven need, FREIGHT SUBSIDIES will continue to be available.  * Labour will allow exporters to DEDUCT from their taxable income 150 PER CENT of the charges they incur in getting products from the point of manufacture to an export port. This is expected to provide a major encouragement for industries to develop in the regions close to the source of raw material.  Labour accepts the 'IRON' BRIDGE' CONCEPT of a through rate for goods moving across Cook Strait.  HOWEVER.  The Iron Bridge provisions will only apply to goods moving from SOUTH TO NORTH.  The cost of this subsidy will be met as a direct charge on Regional Development funds. It will NOT be met by an overall increase in rail freight charges.  ENERGY.  * There will be a STANDARD PRICE FOR LPG.  The gas will be supplied to South Island main ports at the same price as it is available throughout the North Island. It is expected that there will be one such main port in each region.  * Where power costs represent a major component in a regional industry, THEN THERE WILL BE PROVISION FOR A DIFFERENTIAL TO BE APPLIED.  INVESTMENT.  NOTE.  This section of our policies is not specifically earmarked for regional assistance, as it applies across the board. However, the changes can be expected to be very significant to regional industry.  * The ten per cent sales tax surcharge on plant and machinery will be removed.  * The depreciation allowance on plant will be changed. At present there is a write-off period of ten years. We believe that ties up working capital over a critical period. Therefore, we propose to write off plant over a shorter period.  This will be one year, if the equipment is used on a DOUBLE SHIFT BASIS. Otherwise it will be three years.  It does NOT alter a company's tax bills. It does improve the cash flow and investment situation.  The Labour Government will be imposing much STRICTER controls on GOVERNMENT AND OTHER OFFICIAL PURCHASING to ensure that New Zealand made goods are used as much as possible.  EMPLOYMENT.  In recognition of the critical employment situation amongst young people and the serious decline in apprenticeships and trade training, the Labour Government will provide direct assistance to employers.  * A DIRECT SUBSIDY OF 50 PERCENT OF THE FIRST YEAR'S WAGES OF ANY ADDITIONAL APPRENTICES, and TRADE TRAINEES TAKEN ON IN 1979 WILL BE PAID (additional, that is, to those taken on this year). That grant will be available in industries throughout New Zealand.  However, in REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT areas, where there are major unemployment problems, the subsidy COULD BE EXTENDED TO 100 PERCENT OF THE WAGES PAID.  In BOTH cases, the subsidy will reduce by half, the following year. Employers who have maintained a high level of apprenticeship and trade training throughout the current recession will also be assisted.  * The Labour Government will continue with its policy of DECENTRALISING Government Departments to give greater opportunities for more varied employment in provincial centres.  RURAL POLICY.  Labour recognises that the land and its production are the vital starting points of New Zealand's economic well-being. It is the application of skilled labour to the land and its reward that must be our first concern.  Labour's concern is for new farmers - young and heavily mortgaged farmers and workers who want to become farmers. Well established existing farmers should not need or require any special government assistance.  Farm Income.  Labour will enter into negotiation with farmers with a view to offering the option of stable and adequate returns for produce at the farm gate.  Labour seeks to encourage the concept that farmers produce the raw material for industry to process into finished consumer products - adding value before export. Only when this is the case can farmers be insulated against fluctuations in world commodity prices.  Small Holdings.  Labour believes there are many able New Zealanders who would like to own and develop a small holding to a higher level of productivity on either a part-time or full-time basis. Often they will start part-time and as their unit develops they will become full-time. Finance advice and assistance in both production and marketing will be made available.  Horticultural District Schemes.  Labour will introduce Horticultural District Schemes. Where market demand and the suitability of an area are established Labour will engage in the purchase and subdivision of larger blocks into smaller units. These will be developed and settled simultaneously with the provision of co-operative processing and packaging facilities nearby.  Families will be encouraged to take up these blocks under similar conditions operating for current land settlement schemes.  Part time and full time operators will be accepted provided the objective is increased productivity to full-time status. Existing farmers in the district will also be encouraged to participate and to diversify. Special encouragement will be given to facilitate the use of small blocks of suitable land within existing larger blocks for specialised production.  Quality Production.  Although greater production is needed, Labour rejects the over-emphasis on stock numbers. Quality is the first consideration.  New Zealand lives at the end of the longest trade routes in the world - what we sell must be off the top shelf to the expensive end of the market.  New Zealand has the finest climate and the least pollution - these are qualities to be exploited.  Any processing industry that starts with the best raw material has a head start and can go farther ahead with good technology and good marketing.  A Labour government will make this happen.  Finance.  Labour established the rank and the Import Export Corporation and the D.F.C. in its present effective form. These will be expanded to provide expert advice and the finance for production, processing and marketing at preferential interest rates and on flexible terms and conditions, consistent with the long term interests of the industry and the nation.  Co-Operatives and Small Business.  Every encouragement will be given to those with new and innovative ideas. Special preference will be accorded co-operatives and small business ventures being established close to sources of raw material.  Taxation.  Labour seeks to engender discussion on a radically different method of Farm taxation. The objective is to reward advanced productivity.  We will negotiate with farmers with a view to offering them the option of changing to taxation based on assessed potential productivity, i.e. Factor taxation.  Estate Duties.  Labour recognises that the existing system of estate duties is counter productive and in need of early reform.  Wheat.  With the expansion of on-farm storage of wheat, farmers are finding difficulty with their liquidity situation. Labour will therefore enter into negotiations to reimburse the grower with 75% of his contract price when quantity is established in the silos. This will serve as an interim payment on contracted grain.  Rural Rehabilitation.  Labour is concerned that our countryside has been depopulated during the last generation as thousands of small farmers have sold to their neighbours and moved to town. Rural population has been halved, schools, hospitals, shops and community services have closed or drastically reduced. Larger farms have generally meant lower productivity and year by year farms have grown larger, and fewer young families remain in the country.  Labour's objective is rural rehabilitation - we intend to reverse the trends by attacking the causes of this drift to the towns.  The key is greater intensity of land use combined with greater profitability per hectre.  Rural Rehabilitation will be achieved in several ways.  1. The settlement of Crown land will be accelerated.  2. Wherever possible large holdings will be subdivided and families encouraged to take up more intensive forms of farming - e.g. horticulture cropping etc.  3. Acceleration of irrigation, rural water supply and drainage schemes.  4. The encouragement of new processing industries large and small alongside the sources of raw material.  5. The Rural Bank will assist in the setting up of cottage industries and processing co-operatives.  6. Improved transport and communication industries including localised rural transport and farm servicing.  7. The restoration of local schools and the provision of rural education and training courses in technical, commercial and cultural pursuits.  8. Decentralisation of rural services wherever practicable.  9. The provision of good housing in servicing towns for those engaged in rural work.  10. The active fostering of new opportunities for recreation and cultural activities.  SCIENCE AND RESEARCH.  Labour's programme of guided economic development in harmony with the environment is dependent on our capacity to apply our research and development capability to the problems and challenges inherent in that programme.  The impetus of the increased real input into science, achieved by the third Labour Government has not been maintained despite the need for increased activity in such fields as energy and the urgent need to apply technology in the wide area of value-adding industry.  Throughout this policy are numerous references to research. This emphasises the importance of the role of science and the need to ensure that we attract and retain competent scientists and technicians in the various fields of scientific endeavour.  Labour will considerably increase the level of scientific effort in such fields as.  (a) The production and processing of our agricultural, fishing, forestry, mineral and other natural resources.  (b) Liaison, extension services and research in the manufacturing sector.  (c) The Social Services.  (d) Environmental and pollution investigations.  (e) Energy.  (f) Transport.  SOCIAL SERVICES.  A. Principles.  Labour policies are designed to ensure that.  (1) Social work services are better directed to where the need is greatest - children and families at risk.  (2) More emphasis will be placed on preventive services. Labour believes that there will be less anti-social behaviour, less loneliness and less mental illness when there is more neighbourliness, community spirit and stronger families.  (3) Social work services are more effective.  The Present Crisis in the Social Services.  Though social welfare services have been costing more and more each year, social problems continue to grow. Each year there have been more families under stress, more juvenile delinquency, more crime, more alcoholism, more mental illness and more inequality. Current approaches and programmes have not been shown to be effective.  There is evidence to show that standards of care for children dependent on the State are low compared with other countries. In addition, families under stress get little real help to cope with their problems.  The Social Welfare Department is too often regarded as a forbidding guardian of the taxpayers' money, rather than an organisation to promote the welfare of and preserve the dignity of the people it serves. This has the effect of making it even harder for the field social worker to function effectively. Consequently, social worker morale is low and staff turnover high.  A significant part of this malaise stems from the fact that the Department is over-centralised. In addition, the Department is asked to perform contradictory roles. On the one hand, a regulating and policing role, on the other a caring and supportive role.  There is a dearth of social research in New Zealand. In the absence of solid research findings, social policy is guided in the main by good intentions. Such an approach is inadequate at a time of fast moving social change.  Priority Areas in Labour's Programme Will be To.  1. Undertake a major review of the organisation and delivery of social services.  2. Strengthen support services for families at risk, and services for the care of children.  3. Encourage the development of strong communities by providing opportunities for local initiative and problem solving.  4. Promote flexible administration and decentralisation of Social Welfare Department services.  5. Provide adequate social research facilities.  6. Ensure the objective evaluation of all new social services and programmes before spending taxpayers' money.  7. Begin even more difficult task of evaluating those services and programmes already part of our social welfare system, which have never been shown to be effective.  8. Fully fund and support those programmes which.  (a) are shown to be effective.  (b) are least expensive, and.  (c) are socially acceptable.  B. Family Development.  Labour believes it is crucial for the State to support the role of the family in a variety of ways. Family lifestyles must be allowed to develop and adapt to changing social patterns. No government has the right to censure any but the most negative forms of family relations.  Labour will support the foundations of family development by.  * Using subsidies, where necessary, as a stabilisation measure.  * Making home loan finance available within the income range of the single income family.  * Making personal loans available for purchase of some basic household goods and home improvements.  * Ensuring the availability of home aid services to families in time of need.  * Providing education for home management skills, including budgeting, nutrition and self-sufficiency advice.  * Providing assistance for families with disabled children or aged dependants.  * Enabling all pre-school children to visit general practitioners free of charge.  * Ensuring that the Tourist Hotel Corporation provides a range of family type facilities at reasonable prices.  Families at Risk.  Labour recognises that.  Early marriage, housebound mothers, changes in the family life cycle, financial pressures, child illness, accident, sickness, death, unemployment and alcoholism in families are all potential stress factors.  Some families can cope better than others. Families under stress need unobtrusive support and sound helpful advice.  Labour will.  * Give the highest priority to strengthening State and voluntary support services for families at risk.  * Ensure that social workers are available throughout any crisis.  * Ensure that sound, helpful information is available from well publicised sources, including the Social Welfare Department.  * Provide means by which families in crisis situations can contact others who have been through the same experience.  * Make available small emergency loans to bridge difficulties.  Care of Children.  The Department of Social Welfare is entrusted with an important area of social responsibility, the care of children.  Children are the future of New Zealand, and their welfare is crucial to sound social development.  Labour believes that all services relating to children should be of the highest possible standard.  Pre-school development, including child care in all its aspects, ought to be the responsibility of the Children's Commission.  Labour will.  * Evaluate the effectiveness of the present system of foster care and examine the desirability of introducing alternative methods of care, as pilot schemes.  * Ensure that foster parents are quickly and adequately re-compensed for costs incurred in caring for foster children.  * Review the functions of institutions as a whole, both in their caring and custodial functions. Labour recognises that staff in these areas have for many years been working under great difficulties.  * Ensure that social workers are able to adequately carry out their statutory responsibilities. Particularly in relation to adoption. preventive work as laid down by the Children and Young Persons Act. domestic proceedings involving the welfare of children, and Court and other related work for offenders up to age 14.  Community Development.  A high priority in Labour's programme is to encourage the development of strong communities by providing opportunities for local initiative and problem solving. Labour believes that both central and local government have a responsibility to facilitate community development. The Third Labour Government began the process by establishing the Ministry of Recreation and Sport and will continue with the objective of moving towards an allocation of ¼ of 1% of G.N.P. for this purpose.  Labour will  Encourage the provision of 'storefront services' to provide information and advice and to act as a clearing house for the flow of ideas out of and into the community.  * Increase the per capita grant to local authorities in order to encourage the provision of recreation facilities and broader community development programmes.  * When Regional authorities begin implementing community development schemes, consider sharing costs with the Community Development Division as a basis for funding projects.  * Ensure further community access to lottery profits as a means of funding relevant projects.  * Increase grants to national organisations, such as the YMCA, and offer financial assistance to organisations offering traininc courses in community work.  t  aeci l i..c Area• o. Corm ni_L' Develonnm.ont Coc-_r _ i ty and Schools Labour will  * Continue the work started by the Third Labo Government in promoting the esta'blishment of community schools. In the future, the majority of these nhw schools built each year will be designed to cater for community needs, and will. include such facilities as swimming pools, halls and croches. The additional cost of providing community facilities will be met on a three-way split by the Community Development Division, Department of Education, and the local authority.  •  * Expand the Community facilities at Schools scheme by providing funds to employ personnel, who would encourage and supervise the use of school resources. Greater use of school facilities and the presence of supervisory staff should reduce the costly effects of vandalism.  Co-Operatives  Labour believes that co-operative enterprises and communities such as Ohua are a sound basis on which to develop new initiatives. Special loans will be made available.  Disabled Peoule  Labour is committed to the view that disabled people should be given every opportunity to live their lives as independently as possible. To ensure this independence  Labour will  * Extend the provisions of the Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act to meet the needs of all disabled people, and not just those going to work, and ensure that the access provisions of the Act are being implemented.  Continue to support and encourage the work of voluntary community based agencies. The level of grants and subsidies enacted by the Third Labour Government will be continued and adjusted to cope with inflation.  * Extend domicillary services to assist disabled people to manage more readily in their own homes.  * Support the moves made by disabled people's organisations to set up a Register of the Disabled.  * Encourage Regional Health Authorities to establish local accommodation and care units for the multi-handicapped as close as possible to where the individual's family resides.  * Promote the establishment of more family type hostels for the disabled, and speed up the Community Care programmes begun by the Third Labour Government for re-establishing psychiatric and psychopaedic patients in society. .  D. Administration  Labour believes that much of the current malaise of the Department of Social Welfare stems from the fact that it is over-centralised. The Department is asked to perform contracdictory roles and is responsible for too many functions.  To ensure that the Department is able to perform its essential functions with the greatest effectiveness  107.  SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY (Contd) (Administration) Labour will  * Move towards the decentralisation of the Department of Social Welfare.  *. Examine the desirability of locating the income maintenance functions of the Department more appropriately.  are  growing, and that  manpower  * Affirm the Social Welfare Department as a department of social development, charged with providing both preventive and supportive services, particularly as they relate to children and families.  * Look at the possibility of relocating some of the tasks currently performed by the Department of Social Welfare social workers - it is considered that the care of adolescent offenders (14 and over) could well be the responsibility of a better equipped probatibnary service.  Responsibility for investigation of complaints of ill-treatment of children should be shared more closely with health professionals and officers of the Department of Health.  STAFFING RECRUITMENTS  Labour recognises that social problems requirements must adapt accordingly.  Labour will  * In reviewing the organisation and delivery of social services, develop a co-ordinated staff policy which takes account of the roles played by voluntary and paid social workers.  * Continue to encourage the recruitment of social workers on the basis of their ability to serve particular groups in their community.  * Continue to support the valuable contributions that voluntary agencies make in the provision-of social servies. The level of grants and subsidies will be adjusted to cope with inflation.  * Support and promote the work done by the New Zealand Council for Social Services.  * Support training programmes to enable voluntary community agencies to expand their work.  * Encourage the flow from departmental personnel of practical ideas for improvement.  Social Research  The chief problem regarding social research in New Zealand is that there is too little of it. In the absence of solid research findings social pol.icv is guided in the main by good intentions. Such an approach is inadequate at a -time of fast-moving social change. Social research can help a society by indicating ways to solve current problems, though the final decision is a political one. But better informed politicians would make better informed decisions.  Social research should not be the sole preserve of the government of the day, but must be located where it can both serve government and be critically' evaluative of it.  fl  S I D C _7 --. 1, EL PAR 0 L I C Y (Coned) 103. (Social. Research)  Recognising the need to promote social. research in different parts and levels of society, and believing that the knowledge so acquired must be made publicly available,  Labour will  Establish a Social Research Council alongside, and independent of, the National Re5carch Advisory Council to administer funds made available by Government, to promote, facilitate and co-ordinate social research.  Through the Social Research Council, establish, loosely supervise and adcquately staff an independent Social Research Institute, which would be responsible for .  Promoting the development of social indicator work Evaluating the effects of social policy Evaluating new, experimental social projects  Evaluating existing social services providing the background necessary for social development.  Give new impetus to social research in Government Departments by enabling staff to concentrate more on policy evaluation and development, and comparative data development.  TAXATION POLICY.  1. A BASIC TAX FREE LIVING ALLOWANCE.  Living Allowance.  A. Married couple, one working. $70 per week.  B. One parent family or single person. $ 60 per week.  C. Two income family or married superannuitants. $ 50 per week.  Each.  NOTE. Single taxpayer includes married person, spouse working, no children.  2. An Income tax rate scale which starts after the basic living allowance and other permitted exemptions.  Rate in the $ (Percent).  First $80 of taxable income. 35.  Next $80 of taxable income. 45.  Next $80 of taxable income. 55.  The balance of taxable income. 60.  3. A -CHILD OR DEPENDANT REBATE.    Weekly Rebate.  One Child. $ 10.50.  Two Children. $ 12.25.  Three Children. $ 14.00.  Four Children. $ 14.70 plus 70 cents rebate for each    additional child.  This rebate is apportioned half each for a two income family This has the effect of increasing the basic living allowance as follows.  An extra $30 to the one child family, $35 if there are two children, $40 for three, $42 if there are four children and a further $2 per week for each child beyond four.  4. OVERTIME.  A rebate of 40 cents per hour actually worked.  5. SHIFTWORK.  A rebate of $1 per shift actually worked.  6. INDEXATION.  Under Labour, the tax free living allowance, the child or dependent rebate and the tax scale, will be linked to wage movements.  TOURISM.  Labour recognises the increasing value of tourism as an earner of foreign exchange. Tourism Could well be designated a front-line industry thus qualifying for preferential assistance under Labour's Industrial Development and Regional Development policies.  However, the greatest assistance will come from the restoration of the purchasing power of New Zealanders to take advantage of our tourist facilities and restore the viability of the tourist industry. Tourism is the marketing of our unique and varied natural and cultural environment and the active development of this industry must be carefully and tastefully promoted to preserve and enhance those qualities.  Tourist Promotion.  The Labour Government will.  (a) Pursue a policy of active tourism promotion abroad based on areas served by existing New Zealand Travel Commissions and will expand presentation and promotion where indicated by market research.  (b) Establish a New Zealand tourist promotion office in Hawaii.  (c) Participate in joint promotions with other countries with which we have common tourist markets.  (d) Encourage New Zealanders to enjoy the recreational and tourist attractions of our country with some emphasis on off-peak travel. This added patronage will promote the viability of tourist services and year-round employment opportunities.  (e) Encourage the establishment of New Zealand family priced accommodation in New Zealand National Parks and other tourist areas.  Tourist Facilities.  Labour will provide incentives to stimulate investment in accommodation and other facilities where the need is established.  Employment and Training.  Labour recognises the employment generating capacity of tourism and will.  1. Encourage and expand training courses at all levels.  2. Preserve and foster the regional nature of our tourist attractions and facilities by encouraging the maximum degree of recruitment from the local community.  The Tourist Hotel Corporation will be expected to take a leading role in this field.  Tourism and the Environment.  The Labour Government will.  1. Extend to any New Zealand community the right to request an environmental impact assessment where that community considers tourism is a potential environmental threat.  2. Promote co-ordinated planning of tourist development between central and local government agencies.  3. Aim for a spread of tourist facilities to minimise social and environmental dislocation in local communities.  4. Promote the concept of staggered holidays.  5. Encourage appropriate pleasing design standards and decor of tourist facilities and the supply of quality N.Z souvenirs.  TRANSPORT POLICY.  Transport is a key factor in almost every aspect of New Zealand life.  Our 3.2 million people are spread unevenly through almost 2,000 kilometres of latitude on two main and several smaller islands of rugged and difficult terrain.  Our export production is largely in the form of bulky and often perishable seasonal commodities, and our markets are at the end of the longest trade routes in the world.  Thus, an efficient transport system for both passengers and freight within New Zealand and abroad is important to the quality of life, and essential to economic viability.  The present transport system is unco-ordinated often out-moded, inefficient and proving of prohibitive cost to operate and maintain.  Labour proposes the following radical restructuring.  Energy Resources and the Transport Industry.  In line with Labour's policy aim to work towards achieving self-sufficiency in liquid fuels by the year 2,000, a Labour Government will undertake to ensure that the transition takes place as smoothly as possible after full consultation with representatives from the various transport modes. Immediate attention will be given to the most effective ways and means of encouraging the greatest possible use of indigenous fuels.  New Zealand Transport Council.  A Labour Government will accept that it has a major role in laying down guidelines within which the different transport modes will operate.  The policies of a Labour Government will be to upgrade railway services and develop other forms of transport, contingent upon the availability of local and overseas energy resources.  The reco-ordination of transport has been sought by various means without significant success. Labour is convinced of the urgent and continuing need to utilise the advantages of the various modes in the interests of regional and the nation's development to ensure items of export from primary to secondary industries are placed on world markets at competitive prices, and to balance internal costs and prices.  The Transport Advisory Council will be abolished and replaced by a New Zealand Transport Council.  Details.  1. The Transport Council will consist of appointed permanent members (and meet under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Transport and Railways.)  2. Membership will include representatives from the various modes of transport plus representatives from worker and consumer interests.  The Council will be able to co-opt on to its sub-committees representatives from Federated Farmers, manufacturers and other user groups.  3. Subject only to a publicly announced policy directive, the Council shall have power to determine the transport mode to be wholly or partly used for the movement of goods and/or passengers in any region or regions, and request statutory boards, commissions as Licensing Authorities to conduct reviews and carry out investigations to ensure the directives are carried out.  4. The Council shall be authorised to make monetary grants to rail, road, air or sea services to ensure the maintenance and retention of regional or local services where reasons other than purely economic require such services to continue.  5. The Council will be empowered to conduct enquiries into any matter relating to the transport passengers and goods, and in such circumstances any three (3) members (including the minister) shall have the powers of a Commission of Enquiry.  Railways.  As a first step, the Railways Department will be reconstituted as a Public Corporation and will operate under its own Act of Parliament which should include provision for the system to fulfill its social obligation and report monthly to the Minister and annually to Parliament.  A Labour Government will emphasise and affirm that the New Zealand Railways is the backbone of the nation's transport system. Labour will ensure the revitalisation of railways and its services by providing adequate financial resources and facilities.  The energy crisis and the anticipated increases in prices of overseas controlled energy resources will require greater dependence on local energy resources, products and labour skills. Labour considers the skills, talent - all proven to exist in New Zealand Railways - must be properly recognised so as to build and improve the new Corporation's image and service to the community.  As one of the steps necessary to ensure that the new Corporation is given every opportunity to provide the most efficient and economic service possible, a Labour Government will proceed with plans for further electrification of the rail system.  Details.  1. The New Zealand Railways will be funded with sufficient capital grants and loans to ensure that modern plant, railway stock and facilities are provided so that the Corporation can be equal to the demands made upon it.  2. (a) A review of salaries, wages and conditions prevailing in Railways will be instituted to recognise the special skills and conditions prevailing in Railways.  (b) Railway workshops will be maintained and expanded to ensure rolling stock is maintained and workshops will be authorised to contract for other departmental work.  3. (a) In order to ensure an appropriate use of energy resources, suburban and provincial passenger services will be introduced to ease congestion in metropolitan and provincial centres.  (b) Replacement passenger rolling stock will be purchased and, where facilities exist, built to ensure the continued operation of main trunk prestige passenger services.  (c) Existing or cancelled railcar services will be replaced by carriage trains where regional needs justify replacement or re-introduction of cancelled services. A programme for the reconditioning of obsolete passenger stock will be commenced.  3. (d) Railway operated train and bus timetables will be adjusted to link with rail and Government operated ferry and other services.  4. Labour will retain legislative provision protecting railways goods cartage pending discussions with the Transport Council on such matters, and having regard to the public investment in Railways, the high cost of roading and the overall energy situation, will consult with the interested organisations to ascertain whether modification of the new 150 km limit is appropriate.  5. The existing policy of closing branch lines on purely economic grounds will cease.  6. (a) The establishment of a housing policy for railway employees who are compelled to transfer will be discussed with service-organisations and instituted during the first year of the fourth Labour Government.  (b) The maintenance of departmental housing and other departmental buildings will become the responsibility of a seperate division, and conditions applying to other departments will apply to accommodation provided for railway employees.  7. Incentive rates for locally produced energy such as coal, liquid petroleum gas etc., will be introduced to encourage their use.  8. As indicated in policies for coastal shipping, coastal shipping services presently operated by the N.Z. Shipping Corporation will be transferred to and operated by the Marine Division of the N.Z. Railways Corporation and other services to be introduced such as the Wellington-Lyttelton passenger service, will also be operated by the N.Z. Railways marine Division.  9. (a) Labour is convinced that the N.Z. Railways has the expertise in freight handling to compete with freight forward organisations. Railways management will re-organise certain railway goods establishments as freight terminals incorporated into a railways-owned and operated freight forwarding organisation.  (b) Where private transport organisations are unable to contract for the delivery of goods to and from the above terminals, Railways will be authorised to undertake delivery on a door to door basis using its own road transport.  10. (a) Labour is of the opinion that a more extensive training programme is necessary for Railways, and will extend and improve existing training courses.  (b) Management of Railways will be requested to review the present functions of branches.  (c) South Island Freight Assistance. In recognition of the fact that manufacturers have been seriously disadvantaged in their efforts to seel on the whole New Zealand market, a Labour Government will incorporate the iron bridge concept into inter-island rail freight charges for approved categories of northward bound manufactured goods.  This specific cost-difference will be the subject of a special South Island freight assistance grant from the Consolidated Fund to the Railways Corporation.  Shipping and Maritime.  1. The Labour Government which previously introduced the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand will work with the Corporation for the extension of New Zealand owned shipping services.  2. The New Zealand Shipping Corporation will be required to give effect to the principle of the United Nations Charter which states. "That every nation should be allowed to carry up to 40% of its own trade in its own vessels."  3. In the interests of regional development, the shipping lines serving New Zealand's import and export trade will be encouraged to utilise existing port facilities at secondary ports for conventional ships in the trade in preference to designated container ports.  The incoming Labour Government will resume negotiations to achieve this result initiated by the Third Labour Government in 1975.  4. Representatives of the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand will be encouraged to participate fully in freight rate negotiations with positive Labour Government support, e.g., we demand a reasonable share of the shipping of our own produce.  5. Labour initiated the Pacific Forum Line which is now being formed. The incoming Labour Government will work to develop a more comprehensive economic and efficient shipping service to the Island nations of the Pacific in co-operation with Island Governments.  6. The Labour Government will institute a regular roll-on roll-off shipping service around the New Zealand coast. Some ports that should be included in this service and that do not have linkspan facilities such as New Plymouth will be encouraged to provide these facilities.  If the main service is not suitable for ports such as Gisborne, feeder services will be introduced.  7. A Labour Government will reintroduce the interisland ferry link between Lyttelton and Wellington thereby providing additional passenger and cargo links with the South Island.  S. The New Zealand Ports Authority will be restructured as the Maritime Commission and will be charged with.  (a) Fostering an efficient and integrated ports system, with recommendations for amalgamation of harbour boards where it would appear to be in the interests of New Zealand.  (b) Making recommendations on the possibility of the provision of common services and the joint purchase of specialised items of plant and equipment by harbour authorities.  9. Assistance will be given to New Zealand based and owned boat building firms to build and refit larger vessels in New Zealand.  10. The Marine Pollution Act introduced by the Labour Government in 1974 will be updated with a view to having the most effective marine pollution laws and pollution prevention procedures.  The Labour Party is very conscious that New Zealand, being an island country with a long coastline, is extremely vulnerable to marine pollution risk and will therefore act to rigidly protect our harbour and coastal waters against pollution.  Urban Transport.  The next Labour Government will accord a high priority to the responsibility central government shares with local and regional authorities to ensure that the access of consumers to recreational and work opportunities at the most economic cost possible is not only maintained but extended and improved.  The provision of transport, roading, recreational facilities and housing, together with land use, planning and environmental considerations, are all closely inter-related in the important contributions they make to the overall quality of urban life.  Labour recognises that the common goal of improving the quality of urban life can only be furthered if plans to develop regional transport authorities are extended and upgraded to include comprehensive planning responsibilities incorporating the provision of all regional services within which planning for transport services will be a central concern.  To these ends, a Labour Government will.  * accord the highest priority to establishing regional government structures in which all territorial local authorities will participate, recognising that without the rationalisation of regional structures, Urban Transport Authorities will not be effective.  * Upgrade the concept of Urban Transport Authorities to give due emphasis to the need to fully integrate the planning and co-ordination of urban transport with all other aspects of urban planning.  * extend the concept of Urban Transport Authorities to include representation from and the active participation of all operators engaged in the provision of urban transport services including private bus and taxi operators and N. Z. Railways in addition to regional and local authorities where appropriate.  In addition a Labour Government will.  * introduce Government financial support for the renewal of urban bus fleets and for LPG conversion programmes.  * Promote efforts to encourage the fuller utilisation of public transport services.  * Require the designated urban transport authorities to fully integrate.  * Enter into discussion with designated urban transport authorities with a view to arranging a mutually acceptable system of assistance for running costs.  ROAD SAFETY.  The Labour Government will adopt positive and effective measures to combat the rising road accident rate, and the high incidence of accidents in which alcohol is involved.  It is, therefore, proposed that changes be made to make the drinking and driving laws stricter, to increase the potential of enforcement of the law, and to improve back-up remedial and rehabilitative facilities.  Labour will.  (i) Introduce evidential breath testing in place of blood testing, except where the driver will not accept the breath test, or where the breath test result shows between 300 and 500 microgrammes of alcohol per litre of breath. Breath test results over 500 microgrammes will imply guilt.  (ii) Lower the blood alcohol limit to 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mil. of blood.  (iii) Widen the grounds on which a breath test may be requested to include the suspected consumption of alcohol, a suspected culpable driving offence, and involvement in an accident.  (iv) Increase the slumber of traffic officers to the 1975 entitlement level, and incorporate incentives to ensure this is achieved.  In addition, Labour will.  1. Examine the proposal to include photographs on licences and the case for the introduction of compulsory third party insurance for motor vehicles.  2. Encourage and evaluate courses similar to that held in Dunedin for alcohol-impaired drivers with a view to extension to other main centres.  3. Investigate the introduction of tuition and defensive driving courses into secondary schools and the involvement of the Accident Compensation Commission. the Ministry of Transport the Defensive Driving Council. and approved Driving Instruction centres in such projects.  AIRWAYS.  Air New Zealand.  Labour remains unconvinced that the recent merger of N.A.C. with Air New Zealand will effect the economies and increase the efficiencies in our air services claimed by the National Government.  A Labour Government will investigate this merger and make public all reports.  Labour re-affirms that air fares and cargo rates should he sufficient only to provide a reasonable servicing charge on the funds and ether assets involved. The monopoly position of Air New Zealand will not be used to provide a revenue source for the Government.  Regional Development.  Labour re-affirms that Air New Zealand's internal air services even on presently uneconomic secondary routes, must be maintained.  Labour's regional development policies demand the maintenance of such services to provide for the expansion of freight and passenger loadings that will result from a restoration of economic activity through-out New Zealand.  Overseas Trade.  A Labour Government will actively promote the negotiation of joint venture air cargo operations between New Zealand and nations offering attractive market prospects for high quality New Zealand products. Where necessary, a Labour Government will provide direct financial support for such ventures until the trade is established and profitability is attainable.  As part of the trade drive, Labour will initiate investigations into alternative modes of air transport for the carriage of New Zealand produce to non-maritime markets.  Transport Services in Remote Areas and Outlying Islands.  Labour, recognises that continued uncertainties about the provision of future transport services to New Zealand's more remote districts and outlying islands including Stewart, Great Barrier, and the Chatham Islands, have helped to inhibit development.  Labour will ensure that adequate air and sea services, as appropriate are provided at the most economic cost possible.  Labour will proceed with the development of improved airfield and wharf facilities on the Chatham Islands and will ensure that the present air and sea services to Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands are upgraded.  THE TAXI INDUSTRY.  New Zealand taxi services are an integral and important part of our public transport system. The energy situation demands that we make the most efficient use of various modes of travel and the taxi provides an essential link in this chain.  Labour affirms.  That the existing taxi licensing system will be maintained and the Licensing Authorities will remain independent.  Immediately on becoming the Government, Labour will consult with the taxi industry with the objective of.  (1) Providing Sales Tax relief on vehicles that are equipped to make them distinct from private motor cars. For example, purpose built taxi cabs, and which are powered by a fuel other than motor spirit - that is diesel or L.P.G.  (2) Providing access to capital for vehicle replacement etc., on a similar basis to other forms of urban transport services.  (3) Taking necessary steps to ensure safety standards for drivers.  (4) Encourage conversion to the use of L.P.G. by existing taxi fleets.  Labour will also consult with the taxi industry and examine.  (1) The system of fare fixing.  (2) The advantages and disadvantages of moving away from centralised control towards a regional concept, and consider regional differences.  (3) The case for legislation to enable a code of service and conduct to be adopted by the taxi industry, and this measure to include disciplinary provisions for drivers and licences.  Labour believes that many people wish to participate in a genuine and reliable form of superannuation.  Such superannuation would provide a second tier, earnings-related income and other benefits related directly to the contributions to the fund.  Labour recognises the equal contribution of both in a marriage partnership, irrespective of the earning situation, and will design the superannuation benefits with complete equality.  It is obvious that many people would also prefer to see their contractual savings invested to help their region to develop, but at the same time to be assured of portability so that they might change jobs without penalty or loss.  The Labour Government will therefore introduce Voluntary New Zealand Superannuation. The main features of the scheme will be.  1. It will be voluntary.  2. Contributors may choose the rate of their deductions from income and may vary this from time to time.  3. Employers will be encouraged to match employee contributions.  4. Contributions will be tax deductible.  5. All contributors will enjoy the full benefits of portability.  6. The benefits will be available on an equal basis for the contributor or the non-contributing spouse.  7. Provision will be made for lump sum payments and loans from contributor's account.  8. In the event of a contributor's death, the balance of contributions plus interest will be paid to the estate or a superannuation income will be paid to a surviving spouse.  9. The funds of the Voluntary New Zealand Superannuation Scheme will be administered on a regional basis by a special section of the Trustee Savings Banks and the National Provident Fund, with a strong bias toward regional development.  OPTIONS ON RETIREMENT.  On retirement, a married couple, either or both of whom have been contributors, may choose.  1. A single annuity payable at a constant rate during the lifetime of the longer surviving partner.  Or.  2. A larger annuity during the lifetime of both, and a lesser annuity during the lifetime of the longer surviving partner.  Or.  Any contributor may choose an annuity during their life time with -no residual situation.  Or.  a lump sum payment and/or an annuity.  The scheme while available to all is designed to be particularly helpful to earners in the middle-aged bracket. Such people who have reducing commitments as to family or housing costs may well choose higher contributions to boost their retirement income and lower their tax payments.  WOMEN'S POLICY.  In order to promote equality between women and men, the Labour Party will ensure for both women and men equality before the law, the provision of facilities for equality of educational opportunities and training, equality in conditions of employment, including remuneration and adequate social security.  Labour Government WILL introduce legislation that prohibits such discrimination against any person on grounds of sex. To achieve this, the Committee or Women will be strengthened and will work closely with the Human Rights Commission.  It will.  recommend appropriate anti-discriminatory legislation.  investigate and act on individual complaints of discrimination.  co-ordinate research relevant to women's rights and the raising of the status of women.  promote an effective information and education programme on women's rights.  provide easy access to government department services and information. The Committee will co-ordinate the setting up of branch offices in conjunction with Labour's Regional Development policy, combining related services. In this way, information regarding education, health, social welfare and employment will be readily available to all members of the public.  Women in New Zealand are suffering because of rising unemployment, lack of re-training opportunities, lack of regional growth, lack of community facilities, persistent inflation, rising home building costs and cutbacks in child-care.  A Labour Government in 1979 will mean.  full employment.  optimum use of resources.  increased productivity.  better child care.  special education programmes.  improved health services.  more homes for young families.  In 1972-75 we showed concern by setting up the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women's Rights. The report was hailed by almost every section of the community, and Labour was acting upon its recommendations. There was positive action to protect the man and family by introducing new widow's and domestic purposes benefits and extending the sickness benefit to cover married couple, and to ensure that household budgets balanced by means of consumer subsidies and full employment, and, increasingly there was a wider variety of opportunities for women in paid employment.  LABOUR believes that a decisive policy is now urgently needed to ensure equality for women, particularly because women have been badly hit by the current depression, many working women have been laid off or put on shorter time, and women in the home are affected by the stress which inflation throws on families.  WOMEN IN THE WORK FORCE.  LABOUR will work to restore the country to a state of full employment, and to ensure that full employment includes the thousands of women workers who are unable to find work under the present government, but who are not included in the unemployment statistics. Unemployed married women workers should not suffer and Labour will extend the unemployment benefit to married woman who have been in regular employment for the year preceding application.  In consultation with the Committee on Women, LABOUR will.  1. Conduct an immediate survey of the true extent of unemployment in all parts of New Zealand so that appropriate measures to accommodate the needs can be taken as part of Labour's comprehensive Regional Development policy.  2. Continue the efforts of the Third Labour Government to expand the opportunities for training and retraining facilities for women.  3. Investigate women's employment opportunities and conditions of work. advising government of appropriate forms of development needed to obtain equal education, training, remuneration and opportunities.  4. Report and recommend also to Trade Unions and employers on desirable conditions of work in industry and the professions, and recommend appropriate legislation where necessary (these to include flexible working hours, part-time work and job-sharing).  LABOUR will act to ensure that.  5. Any person who has been in full-time employment for at least 12 months and who becomes unemployed will be able to apply for the unemployment benefit. particular attention will be given to developing policy for those whose hours have been cut back from full-time.  6. Paid maternity and paternity leave, for adopted as well as natural children, will be introduced following negotiations with Trade unions, professional organisations and employers.  7. In theory New Zealand has the best Equal Pay Act in the world, but in practice National has not allowed it to work properly. This is because the department of Labour is under-funded and, as a result of this, cases are not seen to immediately. Labour will increase the Department's inspectorate so that complaints can be checked immediately.  CHILDCARE.  LABOUR believes that childcare is a support service for all families of all types and circumstances.  It must be recognised that childcare is one aspect of early childhood care and education. Under its present administration by the Department of Social Welfare, it suffers considerable disadvantage.  The first priority of the LABOUR Government will be to establish all early childhood care and education under one independent body, the New Zealand Children's Commission, to be funded by the Education Department.  The Commission will undertake an immediate review of the Childcare Regulations 1960 in order to adapt them to 1978 conditions, and will work closely with existing early childhood Care and education groups to advise government on licensing staff training, programme development parental involvement and subsidies for Childcare centres.  As matters of urgency, however, LABOUR will introduce the following interim measures until the Commission's longer term recommendations are available.  1. The salaries of qualified supervisors and childcare workers will be subsidised.  2. All licensed childcare centres will quality for maintenance grants, similar to those playcentres and kindergartens.  3. There will be additional mobile pre-schools for new suburbs with high growth rates and for rural areas.  4. LABOUR will encourage the establishment of centres for short term as well as full day care by industry, business concerns, local bodies and voluntary organisations. Schemes for after-school and holiday care will also be encouraged. Government will assist by a variety of means, as appropriate. establishment grants, staff training costs. wage subsidies.  5. LABOUR will support the establishment of formalised schemes for family day care. in association with local authorities and voluntary organisations, especially in areas of high demand for childcare.  WOMEN AND HEALTH.  LABOUR believes that all people should have easy access to a health service which caters appropriately for their special needs. Research has shown that there is considerable dissatisfaction among women with many aspects of the existing health services.  To this end.  1. Encouragement will be given to community health centres to set up special facilities for women. (In such centres the health and practice nurse scheme will be extended to provide nurses and counselling, without extra costs, to women patients).  2. The provision of maternity services will be re-examined so that the range of wishes and needs of mothers and children are given greater consideration and sympathy.  3. The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act will be the subject of an early referendum.  4. Labour will provide educational programmes on family planning. This information should also be available in the Maori and Pacific Island languages.  WOMAN AND EDUCATION.  LABOUR believes that the opportunities created for second-chance education by the Third Labour Government should be encouraged and expanded. The position of women as teachers and the education of girls and women will receive close attention.  To this end.  1. The establishment of creches at educational institutions will be encouraged.  2. The lack of women in positions of responsibility in both the primary and secondary services will be investigated so that positive action can be made to redress the balance.  3. The positions of part-time and pro-rata teachers in secondary schools will be reclassified so that they can become permanent after a probationary or retraining period.  4. LABOUR will eliminate sex-stereotyping in all parts of the curriculum, including vocational guidance, so that girls are made aware of the full range of opportunities available to them.  5. Leave for part-time and awards for full-time study for women will be encouraged in order to achieve a more balanced representation at all levels within the Public Service, and as an example to the private sector.  WOMEN, THE HOME AND FAMILY.  1. LABOUR believes that it is a woman herself, not the government, who should choose whether or not she will seek paid employment. Her options are made more realistic if good child care and training programmes are available should she want to get a job or should she choose to remain in the home.  2. LABOUR will encourage the establishment of community centres where advisory services like Plunket aid Community Advice Bureaux, day-care facilities and local clubs could all be based, if possible as part of new primary schools. Developing areas will have priority, but more established areas with few community facilities will also be eligible for Government help.  3. LABOUR will greatly expand home help services in conjunction with local government and voluntary organisations, of the kind at present run by Hospital Boards, to meet the needs of the community. for example, elderly women, women caring for invalid dependants, or solo parents sick at home - and will subsidise the service where necessary.  4. LABOUR will restore the Domestic Purposes Benefit to the same level as that payable after the first six months of eligibility.  5. LABOUR will raise the level of allowable income before loss of benefit for widows and solo mothers. (An adjustable benefit available to those wishing to work part-time will be examined.)  6. LABOUR will introduce a dependent minder's allowance and support services for those caring for the handicapped of all ages or dependent adults.  WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.  In order to recognise the value of women's contributions in the community, or New Zealand as a whole, Labour will ensure that by affirmative action suitably qualified women will be appointed as JPs and to statutory boards, tribunals and advisory positions.  Labour recognises the need for more women to be represented in Parliament, local, and ad hoc bodies, and will encourage women too become more effectively involved in vital areas of decision-making.  WORKS AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY.  COMPENSATION.  Many people are unaware of their rights under the Public Works Act. Simple pamphlets will still be prepared setting out the procedures to be followed if they wish to object to the compulsory acquisition of their property.  Labour believes that the public should be involved in the effects of public works, as described in the Environment policy. This implies that when any private property is needed for a public work, all those directly affected will have an opportunity to discuss the matter beforehand.  The right to object to a Planning Tribunal will extend to all people directly affected, or having some interest in the property in question. This will include all properties to be taken for defence, irrigation or generation of electricity.  Adequate notice will be given to allow for appeal. This will not apply in cases of emergency.  Labour believes that adequate compensation is a home for a home and a farm for a farm. Compensation will therefore be 100% of the market value - or equivalent. reinstatement - of the property taken. The owner will be advised of this value, with time to find another property.  Consideration will be given to compensation for relocation expenses or business losses.  Any unused land will be offered back to the original owners or their heirs. if compensation has already been paid, then they should have the first option on repurchase.  Compensation will also be paid for any loss in value arising from the operation of a public work. There must have been a reduction in the market value of the land - so that it would be a substantial injustice not to compensate.  WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION.  Top priority will be given to a review of the Water and Soil legislation to rectify all anomalies in line with present day circumstances.  Although the present legislation has the power to bring about co-ordination of controlling authorities for rivers, this is not happening in some parts of the country. Labour believes that the administration of a water course or river should come entirely within the province of the appropriate catchment authority.  Existing irrigation schemes, wherever practicable, shall be brought into line with the newer schemes such as those at Maniototo and Lower Waitaki. Every effort will be made to irrigate the largest possible area from the Clutha dams.  In order to prevent further deterioration of our lakes due to eutrophication and pollution, schemes for soil control of catchments, disposal of sewerage, removal of weed and control of lake levels similar to that for Lake Rotorua will be provided.  ROADS.  The role of the National Roads Board will be maintained. District Roads Councils will be aligned to conform with the changing pattern of local and regional government.  Labours basis commitment is to the upgrading and maintenance of existing roads, especially the main arterial links.  We recognise that there must be a special needs formula for some parts of the Country, such as Northland, the East Coast of the North Island and the Taupo area. Consideration will also be given to the improvement of certain links such as the Manawatu Gorge and parts of the Christchurch/Picton route.  The National Roads Board will be required to carry out a bi-annual review of roading needs consistent with regional development policies and projected roading development options. Priorities for assistance will be determined on the basis of this survey.  Labour believes that the basic income needed to carry out the National Roads Board programme should come from road-user taxation - a nominated share of the petrol tax and the road-user charges paid by the heavy transport operators. However, neither of these groups should have to subsidise the other. The contributions must be proportionate to the degree of rise and relative damage done to the roads by the different categories of user.  YOUTH POLICY.  Labour sees as the key issue facing the youth of New Zealand today unemployment, education and lack of adequate opportunities for leisure activities.  UNEMPLOYMENT.  As part of the active employment policy, Labour will.  1. Encourage and support the development of labour co-operatives and co-operative contracting of local and central government work.  2. Generate jobs in rural areas.  3. Encourage youth enterprise through the Development Finance Corporation and Rural Bank.  4. Expand pre-apprenticeship and trade training schemes to ensure young potential trade trainees are not lost to the trades.  5. Enable community groups to employ people in their social services.  6. Establish a Community Conservation Corps to provide immediate co-operative employment in both rural and urban areas. This will be for both skilled and unskilled workers.  7. Encourage job-sharing schemes.  8. Pay apprentice incentives. employers who take any apprentices above their usual intake will receive at least 50% subsidy on their first year's wages - to be reduced in the second year. In key regional development areas, this subsidy could increase to 100%. It will apply eventually to groups of employers who share apprentices.  Apprenticeship Training.  Labour believes that apprentice training should concentrate on the development of broad skills applicable to a range of jobs. We are concerned about the reduction in apprentice numbers, the decline in status of apprentices, and the present system of apprentice education and training.  In conjunction with employers and employees' representatives, training centres personnel, community representatives and local and central planning authorities, Labour will undertake a major review of the place and appropriateness of apprentice training in overall education and employment programmes.  Labour will.  1. Place greater emphasis on groups of skills developed in block courses, but also with flexible training periods.  2. Examine the present emphasis on academic qualifications in selection with a view to adopting more relevant criteria, with special provisions for adults and minority ethnic groups.  3. Consider the provision of appropriate residential accommodation for apprentices and other technical institute students.  4. Provide pro-apprentice training and guidance counselling before a choice of trade is made. Work experience courses in secondary schools should be shore widely available.  5. Ensure that there is curriculum revision and greater evaluation of courses.  6. Ensure that tutors at Technical Institutes and Community Colleges have greater time and opportunity to keep up with new trade developments, improve assessment methods of trainee skills, and strengthen links between the institutions and industry, commerce and the community.  Conditions of Payment.  .Increased job satisfaction for the new employees is vital. Labour will.  - ensure industries inform the new recruits of their rights and encourage group comment on their introduction to the job.  - enable new employees to attend inter-industry seminars on trade union and industrial relations.  - encourage employers to provide work based recreational programmes for their employees.  EDUCATION.  While full and disciplined development of mind and body is the prime aim of education, vocational training must be a part of the curriculum. However, this must he broadly based, so that students can be made aware of the full range of opportunities available to them.  Labour will.  - encourage further career education courses in secondary schools and technical institutes' incorporating work experience programmes.  - extend the provision of guidance networks.  - expand second chance education.  - expand trade union education.  - encourage community participation in vocational study programmes.  Education for Citizenship.  Sound age-group related programmes on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including a knowledge of the legal system, to government, health and emergency drills, industrial and trade union affairs, finance and economics, childcare, human development and relationship, domestic skills and the use of leisure should be part of the school curriculum. Parental and community involvement in these programmes will be fully encouraged.  Experiments in school democracy and student participation in school programmes will be encouraged, as will student work experience schemes in the community and local industry.  Student exchange schemes will be supported and developed both within New Zealand and overseas - especially in the Pacific sphere. Lack of finance should not exclude any capable student from qualifying for participation.  Outdoor and Physical Education.  * There will be a substantial upgrading of physical and outdoor recreation through the strengthening of the relevant advisory services.  * Recreational centres will be fostered and an active campaign of youth recruitment and participation will be initiated.  * The concept of Outward Bound and the Spirit of Adventure will be extended on a regional basis.  * School camp venues must be available to all children as an integral part of school curriculum.  Truancy and Vandalism.  These problems in our schools are an indictment of our social and educational environments. Labour believes that high incidence of absenteeism and abuse must to immediately investigated and followed up. Schools in such areas must examine their programmes relative to the interests of students.  Parents and students must be informed of the importance of school attendance, the consequences of illegal absenteeism, the abuse of schools and their role and responsibility in these matters.  Tertiary Education.  * Labour will move towards equalising the services provided for all tertiary Students. Technical Institutes have been the poor relations in tertiary education and their student services, particularly student accommodation, have suffered.  * The Tertiary bursary, will be indexed to the cost of living.  * There must be creche facilities at all tertiary institutions.  * The overseas student quota will be reviewed to enable New Zealand to fulfil its responsibilities to its neighbouring countries.  RECREATION AND YOUTH SERVICES.  The youth centre concept will be further supported, along with the detached young worker scheme. Local Government must be enabled to develop and support youth worker schemes.  The Advisory Officers employed by the Ministry of Recreation and Sport will be increased on a regional basis.  Any new recreational facilities to be developed must be multi-purpose so that they can be used by all sections of the community, including those who do not want to belong to recognised organisations.  Labour believes in the widest possible use of school facilities. However, we recognise and support the accompanying need for more recreation officers to co-operate with voluntary people to ensure that there is control and organisation of such use.  Music.  The biggest contribution youth culture has made to our Western civilisation has been its music and New Zealand musicians have a fine reputation in the world. Labour believes the talent of young New Zealanders need to be supported and will establish a Contemporary Music School to both send young people overseas to increase their experience and establish learning opportunities at home for New Zealand's young classical and rock musicians. Concerts sponsored by the school can then be put back into supporting the art and music of young people.  The Year of Challenge "Takitau".  Labour would like to offer this concept to young people to enable them (and perhaps others) to take a year out to gain community experience before they settle into a job or further education. A year's work gaining knowledge of the New Zealand environment would, for young people, provide a broader experience on which to base their decision.  As a first step, Labour will introduce into the Ministry of Recreation and Sport a person directly responsible for researching and convening a conference to investigate the possibilities of this concept.  HOUSING.  Labour's objective "is the creation of the best possible social and cultural environment" - this begins with the home itself. Young people want the right to a fair rent or a fair mortgage.  Labour believes the general level of lending should be 80 percent of the total cost for both house and section. Repayments on a mortgage should not exceed one-fifth of a year's income, and repayments should be ordered so that young people can cope with the high costs of setting up a home and beginning a family before they must begin repayment the bulk of their mortgage.  Labour will.  - strengthen protection for those living in rental accommodation against rent racketeering and unjustifiable eviction.  - expand the Housing Corporation to handle transfers, conveyancing and mortgage documentation.  - promote incentives for home ownership accounts.  - review the eligibility conditions for obtaining mortgage finance so that repayment ability is rated more highly than sex or marital status.  - extend the choice offered to young people to ensure that people who want to buy or build homes get the opportunity.  TAXATION.  1. Apprentices commence on low wages and have been hit hard by cost of living rises in the last few years - and by government tax policies.  This year's Budget promised to give tax relief to those who needed it. The reality? - after 1 October a boilermaking apprentice without School Certificate will actually pay 4 cents more per week.  Bricklaying apprentices will pay 23 cents more per week, hairdressing apprentices will pay $1.26 more.  All apprentices will get real tax benefit from the Labour tax plan.  Boilermaking apprentices, with or without School Certificate, will each save over $400 a year, bricklaying apprentices almost $390 and hairdressing apprentices will save almost $270.  2. Students are also treated unfairly by the present government's tax system.  As from 1 October this year, everyone who earns less than $57 per week will pay more tax. That includes most university students.  The contract with Labour's tax plan is obvious. a single person who earns less than $60 a week will pay NO TAX AT ALL under Labour - so very few students will pay tax.