"MISSION OF DEMOCRACY-"

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 141, 15 June 1892, Page 2

"MISSION OF DEMOCRACY-"

A lecture was delivered last night by Mr W. J. Napier at the open meeting of the Auckland Liberal Association upon the " Mission of Democracy in New Zealand." About 37 gentlemen were presenb; - The .hair was occupied by Mr W. Beehan, President of the Association, who briefly introduced the speaker. He remarked fchab no doubt bhe counter attractions had somewhat affected the attendance. He was glad to see Mr Napier there in his capafflity as an instructor of the people. Mr Napier was received with applause. He said no doubt there would have been a crowded attendance bad there been any political excitement. He attributed the apathy to the fact that bhe people were satisfied with the measures of.the presenb Governmenb. He had greab faith in the power of the platform. He believed thab the progress of Liberalism hid gone on both here and at Home in the face of a bitter opposition from a large section of the press. He considered bhab the press and the platform should aid each other. Here in Auckland they were not entirely unrepresented, but still he advocated more teaching. from the platform. In dealing with his subjecb he should nob go inbo the realms of dreamers. He thought there was no doubt bhab in New Zealand bhe governmenb must be by bhe Democracy. In the pa3b the government of New Zealand had been for only a section of the people. In the future he thought this would be reversed. The first thing wag to see that bhey had a free constitution. At presenb their own constitution was almosb one of the most backwfa.nl in the world. Notwithstanding whatever ihe majority of the people wished, they had a small body of gentlemen representing nobody who could say no, and the measures could nc-b be passed into law. He considered that the Legislative Council should be abolished, as it did nob represent the people and had no special claim to superiority. Ib did nob fulfil the function for which a second Chamberwas considered, by some thinkers, to be necessary. It was composed of genbiemen practically its their dotage, and incapable of intelligently considering importanb questions. Ib had; been said bhab the Governor mighb constibutionally refuse to swamp the Upper House by calling a number of men to thab Chamber. Thab was, however, wrong, because that righb had nob been claimed by even the Queen of England herself. In 1832 tho Keform Bill wa3 thrown out by the House of Lords in England, and the King gave a warrant bo create as many peers as were necessary to ensure the passing of that- measure. The first mission of democracy, he considered, should be to abolish the Legislative Council. The next was to secure fair land taxation and settlement upon the land. The present Governmenb had done much in that way already. During tha lasb IS months more people had gone upon the land bhan had done so for 12 years previous. The credib for thab was mainly attributable to the presenb Government. The land tax at presenb was a small one, and he did nob think that the people would remain satisfied with it for long. No man should be allowed to take for himself wealth thab had been created by the community. The removal of speculative value from bhe land would render it accessible to those who wished bo sebble. There was no question bhab whatever had been done under past laws musb be respected. Therefore whatever property had been acquired, even unjustly, under the laws of the past, should be respected ; bub bhey should secure the value for the future—of course, nob touching any value given to land by the possessor's own labours. He also advocated a system of old age pensions. There should bo no system of pauper relief. /-"Every man should have the richb to receive from, the State after a& certain period a sura sufficient to- keep him from acbual want. Ib could bo done either by a deduction from the wages earned or else by a small tax. Anobher principle bhab should be adopted was manhood suffrage in cities. Thousands paid rates through bheir rent and yet the landlord voted. Voting ior the City Coundil should be bho same as for the House of Representatives. He also considered thab there should not be any unemployed. There was no such class in China, -mainly because tno land was cub up and mainly cultivated by small peasanb proprietors. Men who were willing to work had a right to expect ib to be provided. He also considered that the Governor should be elected by the people. All offices of the £tate should be open to everybody in the abate. The men who came irom England were not chosen as Governors because of any special ability as legislators. Ihe Governor should be the" ■ highest administrator in tho colony. There shoula also be absolute freedom oi association or combination ,xn ISew Zealand. The old antiquated laws of conspiracy still existed in bhis colony, although they had been repealed long ago at Home. Mr Napier also advocated the compulsory eight hours system, and combated'some of the arguments raised against this measure He considered then; first care in New Zealand should be to raico up a greab people-bobh mentally and physically Therefore shorb hours of labour were requisite. Other matters touched upon were —"Bill to abolish—in fact—imprisonment for debt;" the landlords' right to distrain for rent; a usury law bo regulate interest; the payment of members; the abolition of child labour; bhe protection of homesteads from creditors ; village life in England. Mr Napier, in concluding, advocated a system which provided comfort for all bub neibher millionaires nor paupers. Heursedthem to persist in their efiorts until in the future democracy might achieve the result of bringing blessings bo a great number of their fellow creatures. On the motion ot Mr A.a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Napier,