FLAME OF LIBERALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 12

FLAME OF LIBERALISM.

BURNING BRIGHTLY AT WAIUKU. ROUSING RECEPTION TO SIR JOSEPH "WARD. CRITICISM OF ADMINISTRATION. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WAIUKU, this day. The flame of Liberalism is burning brightly in the Waiuku district, if the enthusiasm displayed here and at Buckland last evening, when Sir Joseph Ward spoke in the interests of the official Liberal candidate in the Raglan by-elec-tion (Mr. T. Parker), is any criterion. Sir Joneph was rousingly applauded and cheered by upwards of 700 people at Waiuku, and by a crowded audience at Buckland. Motions of thanks and confidence in him as the Leader of the progressive Liberal forces in New Zealand were passed, without dissention. The speaker criticised the present Government's administration, particularly in regard to its land policy, and, in the course of his address, demonstrated that he is still a dominating force in the political world. In repiying to the assertion by the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) that the State Advances Department had advanced £18,000,000 in six years, Sir Joseph said that the Minister forgot that it was he who had prepared the financial legislation at present operating, which meant over £50,000,000 to the farmers; and the loss made on the amount had been practically nil. A corollary to this was the advances made to workers, which had given homes to thousands from end to end of New Zealand. He spoke not of these things egotistically, but because the new generation springing up "knew not of Joseph." (Laughter and applause.) "Lifting the Veil." Sir Joseph stressed the fact that he desired merely to "lift the veil" on what the Liberal Government had accomplished in the direction of placing legislation on the Statutes, and giving homes and happiness to thousands. He further pointed out that he prepared the w' lows' pension scheme, and was responsib'e for the introduction of till) national annuities scheme into Now Zealand. In criticising the land policy of the Reform party as expounded by the Minister of Lands, Sir Joseph declared he did not hold with the doctnna that it was the duty of the Government merely to consolidate the position of the people at present on the land. "I hold it is the Minister's duty to help the people on the land, but for we people in New Zealand to stand still and anchor settlement upon the land in this country, is going to put a halter round the necks of the business community and the workers," was his conviction. He contended it would be a retrograde step to say that their vision was deficient to the extent of discontinuing the practice of placing peopleon the land. "Difficulties Made to Overcome." He could readily appreciate the fact that the Minister was confronted with difficulties, but difficulties were made to be overcome. (Hear, hear.) Admittedly it would be idle for him to follow the Liberal Government's example in acquiring estates, and put men and women upon farms. The Liberal Government, however, in a few years had placed 135,000 people in this manner, but last year singularly few people were assisted in this respect by the present Administration. Sir Joseph realised that there were not now large estates to acquire as formerly, but a solution of the problem was the acquisition of smaller areas at reasonable prices that would recompense the owners. He visualised New Zealand farmers prospering on small holdings of 150 acres, and the possibilities of an increased volume of production if the scheme were prosecuted. Touching on the diminution of New Zealand exports, Sir Joseph pointed out that, compared with the previous two years, £9,000,000 less had come back for the country's exports in the last two years to be disseminated through other avenues of business and employment. The alternative to his suggestion of the subdivision of large estates was protective tariffs for secondary industries, although he was opposed to high tariffs, particularly on articles required for primary production. Finance and Valuations. Commenting on financial matters, Sir Joseph maintained that the Liberal Government was responsible for reducing rates of interest from 12 per cent and 10 per cent to its present level, thus allowing men to secure mortgages at 5£ per cent interest. He was emphatically of the opinion that the present system of valuing land was wrong, and said that the position would never be righted till a permanent board of competent valuers was established. He further asserted that the Government created the postwar land boom in New Zealand, and had misused the £15,000,000 reserve fund he had expressly provided to meet such an emergency. This amount, which had been invested at 5 per cent interest, he had intended to build up to £20,000 000 to assist in the reduction of taxation Sir Joseph went on to denounce the Government for repealing the Sinking Fund Act, for which he had been respond sible for placing on the Statutes, and substituting a system which provided for the paying off of public indebtedness sums - Under th e original system £000,000 a year was paid into the sinking fund, and this was invested at 5 per cent interest. To-day, however, not one penny's interest accrued from the lump sums the Government provided in a year He attributed the increased land and income tax largely to the fact that £2,600,000 had been utilised to pay off loans on the London market, when the amount could have been retained in the country. Tariff Adjustments. In mentioning tariffs, Sir Joseph thought that the recent adjustments were necessary in the interests of unemployment, and the making of provision for avenues of work for young people. He commented adversely upon the acuteness of the unemployment situation at present, and said that similar conditions had existed the year before the Liberals took control. But the position was quickly adjusted, and similar conditions did not obtain during the party's 22 years of regime. On the face of things, however, it was no time to increase taxation. He was quite sure of that fact, His faith in the recuperative powers of the Dominion and the industry of its people, nevertheless, led him to the belief that the country would win through in spite of adversity.

The speaker was strong in hie advocacy for more freedom in New Zealand —freedom from Government interference. The Reform power had risen to the up-cry of "less Government in (business, and more business in Government," but it had been unable to fulfil this policy. They had never had so much Government interference in business as under the present administration, which in some instances had gone to the extent of confiscation. The treatment accorded 'bus proprietors was a typical example of this. "Might is not might. Power because you have got it is not right," continued Sir Joseph. "The power that is given the Government should always be used with discretion and justicej and in different parts of New Zealand there hae been a great deal of trouble caused by this interference." In directing attention once more to finance, Sir Joseph said the finances of the country had to be placed on a sounder and better basis than they were in at present. £18,000,000 had been 'borrowed in two years; the expenditure of the country had gone up in a few years to £33,000,000, and the increases of interest and sinking funds had placed an additional burden of £900,000 on the taxpayers. That was something not to be trifled with. If expenditure was not reduced and excessive borrowing stopped, he predicted that the country could not stand the strain, although ihe hesitated to suggest complete disaster. Compared with Australia on a population basis, New Zealand was much more unfortunately situated in regard to taxation per head. Australia's indebtedness (including the Commonwealth too) amounted to £174 17/, while the Dominion's was £169 8/6. Hβ maintained that cheaper freights, cheaper money, and cheaper railway transport were aibsolutely essential, and held the view that New Zealand was worse off to-day than when the Liberal Government assumed office in 1890. Appeal to Electors. Sir Joseph was vigorous in his support of the defence system, and in conclusion made an appeal for support of the Liberal candidate in the forthcoming election. "There are 56 Reformers in the House at the present time, and there is one Liberal. (Laughter and applause.) "Is it not a fair thing for me to appeal to you as good sports to see fair play and let the one Liberal have the benefit of the support of another Li'beral? Figuratively speaking, I fight the whole lot of them, but I want time to I>reathe ... I believe we are going to have permeating this country an active swelling on the Liberal movement." Under the Liberal banner, ihe added, the people had cheap money, active business in the towns, and development on the land, and with one exception Liberal measures remained on the statutes. He ended his appeal for support for Mr. Parker by stating that there were men and women in the Dominion to-day just as ready as ever for a forward move in the direction of Liberal prosperity.