The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1905. TWO NOTABLE PROJECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 274, 16 November 1905, Page 4

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1905. TWO NOTABLE PROJECTS.

t> P*r the eamMt thtu imckt omMwmi far tJm mevug that *eedr rtlrf—«. n Wmr the fmtiire *s ihm iittmmm, Ami the |>uei that mw*.

t< We have already made some attempt to estimate the value of the Preßiier's great speech, but there is one aspect of it that has not yet reeexved the at- '- tentioH which it demands. The Opposition has not yet encceeded in putting ~ e a distinct policy before the eonntry; and Mr Massey's appeal to the electors is chiefly by way of criticism on ad' nnnistrative detaiL For these reasons it was not necessary for Mr Seddon to do more than repel the attacks made upon by him and his policy by the Opposition, and to disprove their charges; and from this point of view his speech at the Drill Hall was triumphantly successful. But though the Premier can afford to stake his future with confidence on his splendid past Tecord, he is not content with this alone. The LfberaKsm to which -we owe so much is still a progressive policy, and on Tuesday evening Mr Seddon was able once more to give proof he is as re- ; sourcefnl as ever in devising measures fa? the extension of Liberal principles to the benefit of the colony at large. Of the two new projects indicated by the Premier, the more comprehensive is - a scheme for the extension of the superannuation principle to the people as a whole, in the form of an annuity fund. U such a fund were established anyone desiring to save money could pay in any amount to the officials in charge, and would be credited with interest on it. The country would have the use of the money, and would subsidise the fund, just as it is now proposed to subsidise the Civil Servants' and Teachers' Super • annuation Funds. There-would he a manifest gain to the country in the reduc tion of expenditure for charitable aid; and the scheme -would obviate the objection sometimes urged against our Old Age Pensions, that they faQ to eneour- ! age thrift. This suggestion of the Premier's seems to us a very noteworthy proposal, and though it has not yet been reduced to definite or practical shape, it deserves full discussion and careful eon sideration. It may be assumed that some maximum limit would require to be set to the annuities; and it would be necessary to decide at the outset whe- ■ ther such incomes would be supplementary to or exclusive of the Old Age j Pension. But there is nothing intrin- ' sieally difficult about the scheme, so j long a3 the financial foundation is carefully laid. And it" has the advantage of following logically along the lines of the pension and superannuation schemes which have already been* adopted by us and form one of the most characteristic features of our democratic Liberalism. The second project to which we desire to cal] attention is the proposal that in this colony the wife should be placed upon the same footirg as the husband with respect to ownership of the joint home. Our laws already go much further than most people imagine in protecting the interest of the settler or householder in his famTy property. Mr. Seddon referred in h:s speech to the Family Homes Protection Act of 1895, which prevents the alienation of the home for any but carefully specified reasons, and defends it against nearly all the dangers to which it is usually subject. Any land owner, by registering ohnseli according to a certain procedure, may secure his home, up to the value of £1500, for the personal use and occu- | pation of himself and his family. The property will be subject to distribution in the ordinary way on the owner's death; and it is not relieved from the ordinary liabilities imposed by other statutes as to fencing, water supply, drainage, ratee, and taxes. But outside these limitations; it may be secured absolutely and indefeasibly against bankruptcy, assignment, execution, or any other legal or financial danger. This measure, though it does sot seem to he generally known or understood, represents a vigorous effort to attain the democratic ideal of protecting domestic life and the institution of the family against the changes and chances of fortunes and Mr. Seddcm's new proposal follows out in natural sequence the principles on which the Family Homes Protection Act is founded. The Premier points out that, in the eyes of the law here, the wife has the same claim as the husband to civic and political rights. She may own property for herself apart from him, and she takes practically an equal share with him in the work of ' legislation. Why, then, should she not be recognised by the law as his partner in the ownership of their home? In most families the wife has as nxnch to do as the husband in the way of keeping the home together; and even those who are inclined to underestimate the value of purely d anestie work will admit that the -woman's material interest in her home, and her influence ova , it, cannot fairly be ignored in a country which is inclined to boat>t of the Married Woman's Property Act and Universal Suffrage. What Mr Seddon desires to do is to give legal recognition to the right* of wives in their homes by making it impossible for the husband to mortgage, sell or otherwise alienate the home without the panaiaakni or eran— t of the

-wife. Of eeaxse, tie creatian «f nak ■ rights wonid ieply addwl rwpoasitoii45es, and tte wife -wonJd aatttrally be J answerable for liabilities —traefrd jy I her jpattaer wit*- resptet ; to tfc* joint property. Do'ibttaw there are many I practical details Ja the scheme widen, would require careful edjustieent. But its general principles are tbaroaghlf consistent with the esta.blish«a and accepted doctrines of Liberalism, and can hardly fail to commend themselves to tbe people of the colany. It is natural' : and fitting that the liberalism which has led the way to Female Franchise should extend its action to the sphere of family life; and the women of tais colony are not likely to forget all that they owe to tbe policy and tne statesmanship which have enlarged their rights s» far beyond ' tne utmost limits attained antofig other; nations and even in other sections of the British Empire.