HON. GEO. FOWLDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 217, 12 September 1911, Page 4

HON. GEO. FOWLDS.

AN INTEHESTIIIG INTERVIEW. NOT NECESSARILY A NEW PARTY. INCREASED LAND VALUE TAXATION. REDUCTION OF FOOD DUTIES. The Hou. George Fowlds (late Minister for Education) arrived from Wellington this morning by the express, and while here will meet the members of bis committee, who have 'been called together by circular for that purpose. Mr. Fowlds was spoken to by a representative of the "Auckland Star" shortly after his arrival, the result being the following interview: — "Well, how do you feel now that you are free from Ministerial worries?" was the first question. "Oh, I feel that a respite from the cares and responsibilities as well as the limitations of Ministerial office will do me good." "Would you like to make a statement regarding your plans for tlie future? "No, 1 don't care to make any statement regarding the future at present. I want to have time for reflection and •adjustment to the new conditions before I begin talking. As for plans, I have not formulated any definite ones. Of course, 1 don't intend to withdraw from public life, and will be for Grey Lynn at the coming election." "Do you think your withdrawal from the Government will mean the emergence of a new party?" "No! I hope that will not be necessary. What I should like to see 'would be the reorganisation of the Literal party on a more democratic basis. The Government, or members of Parliament for the time being, don't constitute the Liberal party, The Liberal pa.rty is composed of the people holding Liberal principles, both in and out of Parliament. You cannot brush aside the traditions and achievements of the Liberal party in New Zealand without a great mnd lasting loss to the people of this country. But a party cannot live on traditions and name labels alone. There is always a danger of a party after long years of prosperity and' dominance losing sight of its fundamental principles. It naturally attracts to its banner all sorts of people who "hope to gain something from the party in power. The adhesion of people who are attracted by a hope of gain instead of the love of its principles'has al ways a paralysing effect on a party. Parties may even adhere to names, while they entirely reverse their principles. Take the case oE America. The Republican party at the time of the Civil War, and for a good many years afterwards, was the party of the common people, while the Democratic party was the aristocratic party, the slave-owning party, the party of privilege. Nov/ the positions are entirely reversed. The long years of dominance of the Republican party have seen its capture by the plutocrats and the privileged holders, while the Democratic party in the school of adversity has developed into the party of progress and reform, the people's party — That is exactly what I was afraid would happen in New Zealand. Already Mr. Massey and the Opposition are advocating one or two progressive reforms, and under a new Leader might easily step in and leave the Liberal party side-tracked. What we want to do is to get back to the fundamental principles formulated by Sir George Grey and Mr. Ballance, the founders of the Liberal party in New Zealand. Their principles are capable of almost indefinite extension, and with adaptation to modern conditons would solve many of our pressing social problems. The main elements of the social problem are quite simple and the remedy for many social evils so transparent that one wonders it is not iieen and applied; but so many people get carried away with fantastic and patchwork proposals which dazzle the imagination but can only end in disappointment. I notice that some of my enemies have been trying to prejudice me by dangling out the old bogies of Single Tax and Free Trade. These 1-ogey men were good enough to frighten people with ten or fifteen years ago > but tho mass of the people have learned a great deal in the school of experience during the last ten years, and are not now so easily gulled. But I want to say this, that the new Evangel which,l think the Liberal party needs, and which I hope to preach, does not necessarily include either. Single Tax ot Free Trade, as many people understand these names, but it does and must necessarily include increased land value taxation and a further remission of duties on the necessaries of life. Our representative drew the attention of Mr Fowlds to some comments made by the "Lyttelton Times" in regard to a bill introduced by the ex-Miuister in the direction of proportional representation. The writer stated that this, following so closely after Mr Fowlds'resignation from the Ministry, might tempt the public to trace i conection between the two incidents.

"I ca.n state definitely," replied Mr Fowlds, "that had nothing to do with my retirement." "The "article also suggests that the bill should be left to the new Parliament." "Of course I quite realise," said Mr Fowlds, "that the 'bill cannot be passed this session. What I want is to hava the thing printed and circulated, then it will tend to educate tne people regarding the proposal during the coming elections." "I suppose it is on the lines of the Hare system." "It is practically Hare's proposal, but on a. reduced scale. He took the whole country in his schemo, while I aim at making groups of the existing electorates with an eye to as far as possi'blif watching the community of interest in the areas so grouped."