MAN v. THE STATE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 10

MAN v. THE STATE.

few years\ago 'tho Minister for. Education 'told; his constituents at Grey < Lynn that the country was. suffering' from .over-legislation,. that the passage of so. many lajvs ..curtailing personal liberty invoked ; a gray#,->!nenaoo t<j».the ; popular' welfare..This: was.yJlr. Fowlds's; ,view in his capacity as' a; - priyata-rmember;ofv'tho "Seddon' Government.';-. Now'observe., the differenco 'in his. recent addrops ; a,t Grey Lyim.' ;• Mr.'Fowlds • eulogised the- : record-breaking performance of the Ward Government in. passing. more laws/than had ever been done .under any' previous Administration, so that what constituted : a vice in the. Seddon. Government becomes ■ a virtue under.'this regime. : . My purpose in this letter, is:'not-'.directed exclusively to a,' criti-cietn-r.of-.Mr. 'Fowlds,' who, by his alliance, with.'.Sir Joseph Ward, and his support of 80-many.frankly Socialistic-laws, has stulti-' . fied himself.'■'•.•My object-rather" is to point out the dangers -<jf_ irresponsible' legislators to the-'thinking portion of tliq people,- and to prescribo -certain, safeguards;. Tho question tha't-jappeafs ..to" "transcend '■ - all-othors is; whpthcr the' Domijiion'js to sink further into ! inire of State-Socialism or not. ; If not*" thctt'' tlio' brake, must bo placed upon' our legislators. .The fremody is a, :very - simple: on&rMt 'oiily. involves "tho,"' 'adoption 'of the. ■ Initiative" arid' Referendum,"-arid' the'power I to recall the representative at any time after' havh'as taken-his- seat for either dishonesty , or;incompetency.—r am/etc:, ■ ' vH ■'?; ' 12^-:.IP/ .' F.. w. BiJRKE.\ ' .... -