LIBERALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 9

LIBERALISM.

(Published by Arrangement.)

ITS ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. (No. 3.) SECOND PHASE.—SEDDON. Mr. Ballance died just as he had got good hold of the great -work offered him. Mr. Seddon succeeded him, and carried the work on for thirteen years. They were years of tremendous industry and persistent energy. Though the Prime Minister, who threw himself into the work with characteristic zeal, was a man of exceptionally robust constitution, the demands of the work upon him ultimately shortened his life. Among the great Liberal measures of this period a foremost place belongs to OLD AGE PENSIONS. t Of course, the Conservatives of those days—lineal ancestors of the Masaeyites —(for did not Mr. Massey himself at first oppose the Old Age Pensions Bill?) —denounced the whole project. It would sap independence and undermine selfrespect; it -was an insulting offer of charity; it was a pauper's dole; it was an unprincipled bribe; and of course it must mean in the long run ruin to the groaning taxpayer. But the Liberal Government stood by its bill, and at long last the Government won.

And to-day there is not a creature in the Dominion that does not, after five and twenty years, applaud the measure, many times amended and improved. "Government by the people, for the people," has been completely justified. THE GREAT BANK CBISIS. In 1894 the country was within easy distance of a great financial disaster. The Bank of New Zealand was in distress. It was officially announced that the great institution was about to founder. If was plain that thousands would go down in the wreck. It was probable that the disaster would involve the nation.

The Liberal Government met the crisis with rare courage and wise promptitude. With the permission of Parliament, asked and accorded at a moment's notice, it propped the imperilled institution with the credit of the State. The Bank, restored to financial stability, resumed its career with a success which to-day—a quarter of a century after that dreadful night of 1894 —is applauded in every country. <

Once more did "government for the people by the people" justify itself by the financial ability, the courage and the political wisdom that the Liberal statesmen displayed at this terrible crisis in the country's fortunes. SETTLEMENT AND LAND. The Liberal Government having arranged for the settlement of the lands, turned its attention to helping settlement to make good. During the thirteen-year period of Mr. Seddon's Ministry it produced a large crop of measures, all devised for the substantial encouragement of the great producing interests. Under these -Acts many millions of public money have-been "spent, and no onTjow doubts the wisdom of the expenditure which moreover has involved no bonus of any kind. Here is another proof, not only of the statesmanship of democratic Liberalism, but of its capacity in practical affairs. And it must never be forgotten that, these experiments were all new departures in which Liberal Democracy took the initiative in spite of intense and bitter opposition, and. made its way triumphantly to its goal. ■.

First and foremost among the many benefits provided by Liberalism for the ' farmers and workers engaged in our primary industries was the establishment lof the Department of Agriculture. The I meat industry, the wool industry, the dairy industry, the orchard industry, the poultry industry, the bee-keeping industry—all these feel the benefit of the guidance and assistance that they receive from the department in every phase of their activities and at every step of their productivo life. Here, again, "govern- , ment by the people for the people" has I justified itself. MOTHER AND CHILD. j Another series of democratic measures devised and carried into effect by Mr: Seddon and his colleagues may be I termed/the Maternity group. It is to I the abiding honour of the great leaders of Liberalism in this country that they i pointed the way for the rest.of the world towards some effective provision for the comfort and gafety and health of toiling and suffering mothers and stunted and weakly boys and girls. Once it had realised this duty the Liberal Government twenty-five years ago set its hand to the good work; and our Statute Book contains many a measure that as proof of the philanthropic sympathy of Liberalism for suffering humanity will stand the test of time. Maternity hospitals, welltrained midwives, Plunket nurses—all with a fine record of ■well-directed and successful work—these were.among the achievements of Liberalism in its palmy iays. INDUSTRIAL STRIFE ALLAYED. Now let us turn to another phase of constructive statesmanship as interpreted by Liberalism—its attempt to redress industrial grievances, and as far as possible to remove the opportunities for industrial strife, i The Arbitration and Conciliation system was first set up under peculiarly difficult circumstances. A vast Labour upheaval had brought all New Zealand to a standstill before the general election which returned the Liberals to power. That upheaval had emphasised the futility of the various methods of dealing with industrial troubles. The Liberal Government lost no time in devising its remedy for this appalling and hopeless situation. When it came to Parliament for the application of its remedy, however, it was met by a storm of opposition from every quarter. But in the end it triumphed, and the new system Speedily justified the faith of its founders. It is folly to say that the Arbitration Act has failed because it did not entirely prevent or cure industrial unrest. But it eradicated sweating; it gave the mass of the people shorter hours and higher wages and better conditions of work; and it promoted the general welfare by making for industrial peace. THE SEAMEN'S SHARE. Not content with its guardian care of workers in the factories and the fields, Liberalism soon turned its attention to the duty of mitigating the hardships that befall "those who go down to the sea in ships." The Act was not perfect; but the sailor to-day under New Zealand regulation is infinitely better off than he was before Liberalism began its labours, and he has his political franchise secure. All this he owes to democratic Liberalism. (To be continued.)