THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 297, 15 December 1919, Page 15

THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

(Published by Arrangement)

A LAST WOKD TO THE ELECTORS.

In view of the persistent misrepresentations of the Massevite Press regarding gr Joseph Ward's •"'platform"' and his methods, it is desirable in the Liberal interest that the following considerations should be brought under the notice of the general public, to enable them to come to a just decision upon the merits of the Liberal policy before polling day. An important section of the New Liberal Programme deals with .the needs of our SOLDIERS. Sir Joseph Ward proposed more effective methods for aiding and training the maimed or invalided men; and he is prepared to adopt a more ■rigorous policy of LAND SETTLEMENT to enable the returned soldiers to "et on to the land under favourable conditions with at least a reasonable chance of making a good living. The other day, J£r. Massey. being forced to admit that "Kefonn" has failed lamentably in its duty of providing land for the returned men, publicly declared that it was a mistake to attempt to put the soldiers on first-class land—they ought to go on to land." rough country, and break it up for themselves so as to get experience! Of course, Mr. Massey does not want to see his good friends, the big land-owners, disturbed, and so lie advises that the returned men should be sent out into the wilderness to learn now to make a living there. THE LAND QUESTION. This is characteristic of "Reform" policy toward the gravest of all the problems that this country and its rulers have to solve—the problem of LAND SETTLEMENT. The failure of the •Reform Party to carry on the great work of Liberalism by breaking down the LAND MONOPOLY and breaking up the big estates, is one of the most discreditable blots upon their record and they know it quite well. Mr. Massey is trying to cover his failure now by assuring the people that last year the "Reform" Government passed some of the most drastic legislation ever carried, to destroy the Land Monopoly and provide land for the people. But it is one thing to pass laws and quite another thing to administer them. Everybody knows that when the Masseyites were stumping the country for help to turn out the Liberals in 1911. they made a score of promises—to reduce taxation and expenditure, and borrowing, and the cost of living, and so on—not one of which have they performed. In 1913 they passed one of the most stringent and drastic enactments to be found in our statute book for breaking up the big estates and forcing the big land-owners to sell —and .to this day not one estate has ever been taken over in terms of that Act. Masseyism promises, but will not perform—therefore Liberalism must come to the country's rescue. Of course, the Masseyites are very solicitous about the welfare of "The Man on the Land." The other day the *T)ominion" produced a huge advertisement dilating on the importance of the "Rig Five"—our great agricultural and pastoral industries—and assuring the country that so long as everythings goes well with "The Man on the Land," everything will be for the best under the best possible of Governments. Jfo one is likely to deny that the "Reformers" — whose policy is dictated and controlled by the great land monopolists — have done everything in their power to help "The Man on the Land." Rut they generally forget to mention that if it had not been for the Liberal Land Legislation which the Masseyites opposed so fiercely 25 years ago, there would be no Close Settlement anywhere in New Zealand, snd the whole country would still be possessed by a few score big "squatters" and their sheep and cattle. They also forget to mention that if it had not been for that "State Interference" on which the Liberals, in spite of Conservative opposition, have always insisted, and which Mr. Massey still deplores, the settlers and farmers would have had no •agricultural Department to help them, no inspectors and instructors and lectnrere, no dairy experts, no model farms, none of our elaborate system of organisation for the improvement of our primary industries, the classification of our staple-produots and their transport to foreign markets—nothing, in fact, of aU the countless benefits and advantages snd facilities that have practically ■created our frozen meat, dairy, poultry, and fruit trades, and, in a word, made Mr. MasseVs "Rig Five" what they are to-day. But, granted that the "Reformers," building on the foundations that were laid by Liberalism in spite of the resistance of the Masseyites a generation back, have done a good deal for the "Man on the Land"—the vitally important issue in a young country i 3 the PROMOTION OF SETTLEMENT. Mr. Massey boasts with some truth ™at he has helped the MAN ALREADY ON THE LAND. What has he done to put other men on the land? That is the «n-important question. The country knows how little he and Mb friends ever nave done or will do in that direction. X i 3 against "Reform" principles to weak up the big estates because it Jaeaas "interference" with "the sacred rights of the individual," the privilege of T>rivate enterprise" to create any monopoly, however huge or harmful, without »ny hindrance or control. But it is also •gainst "Reform" interests to interfere ! with the big land-owners because they »« for Mr. Massey, "The Power behind i the Throne," and he may not run coun- j ter to their wishes. For all these reasons the country's only chance of breaking down the Land Monopoly and check-1 "ng the constant aggregation which has gone on so rapidly in recent years under and bringing land" for settlement on reasonable terms within easy 1 reach 0 f the mass of the people—the Jonntry's one hope for the future lies in ■taberalism and in Liberalism alone.