THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 4

THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME

A LAST WORD TO THE ELECTORS. (Published by Arrangement.) In view of the persistent misrepresentations of the irasseyito Press regarding Sir Joseph Ward's "platform" and his financial methods, it is desirablo in the Liberal interest that the following considerations should bo brought 'under (ho notice of the general public, to enable them to como to a just decision 11 port the merits of the Liberal policy ibeforo 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 ho is prepared to adopt a more vigorous policy of land settlement to enable the returned soldiers to get on to the land under favourable conditions with at least a reasonable chance of making a good living. Tho other day Mr. Massey publicly declared that it was a mistake to attempt to put the soldiers on first-class land—they ought to go on to "virgin land," rough country, and break it up for themselves, so as to pet experience! Of course, Mr. Massey does not want to see his good friends, the big disturbed, and *o lie advises tlwt the returned men should be sent out into the wilderness to learn how to make a living there. The Land Question. This is characteristic of "Reform" policy towards the gravest of all the problems that this eountrv and its rulers have tn solve—the problem of land settlement. Tho failure of the "Reform" Party to carry on the great work of Liberalism -by brca.king down tho laud monopoly anil breaking up the big estates, is one of the most discreditable blots upon their record, and they know it nuito well.

Mr. Massey is trying to cover his failure now by assuring ihe people that last vear the "Reform" Governnient passed some of tho most drastic legislation ever carried, lo destroy the land monopoly and nrovide land for the people. But it is" one thing to pass laws and quite anolher thing to administer fliein.' Everybody knows that when tho Massevites were stumping the country appealing for help 1° turn out ihe Liberals in lflH, they made a score of promises—to reduce taxation and expendii nve and borrowing and the cost of living 'and so 011—not one of which havo they performed. In IHI3 tl'°y passed ouo of the mest stringent end drastic enactments to be found, in cur Statute Poole for breaking up the big estates and forcini* tho big landowners to sell—and to this day not one estate has ever been taken over in lo, ''iis of that Act. Masseyism promises, but will not perforin— therefore Liberalism must come to tho countrv's rescue. Of course the Massevites ari> -"cry solicitous about the welfare of "The Man 011 the Land." Tho oilier dav "The Dominion" 'produced a huge advertisement dilating on the importance of the Rig pj vo "_ om . exeat agricultural and pastoral industries—and assuring the country that so long as everything goes well with "The Iran 011 the Land" everything will be for the 'best under the best possible of Governments. No one is 'likely to dpnv that the "Reformers -whoso nolipv is rlicttiM '""1 p"iil"ol , «l bv the great loud. monopolist—have done everything in their nower to help '"Hie ? an on the Land." Put thev generally forget to mention that if it had Hot been for the Liberal land legislation which the Ma sspyiies opposed 90 fiercely ?5 years a"0 'there would I*< no rlo<e settlement onv'where in New 7,"aland, and t ie whole eountrv wouM still be pn*»«w* V ■ score bir "srmatievs and their sheen and ealHe. Thev al«n forget to mention that ' if it had not been for that_ "State interference" 011 which the Liberals, in suite of Conservative opposition. havo always insisted, and which. M'\ Massey still denlore=. the settlors and 'armors would have Ip'l no Agricultural Popartnienl: to lieli them. 110 and instructors and lecturers, no dairy experts. no model farms, vope of our elaborate svst»m of organisation for the imnrovement. of our primary industries, tun eliHhcalion of our faille products and their transport to foreign markets nothing. in fact, of all tVe countless b"i.efits and advantages and facilities that hnvo practioallv created onr frozen meal, dairy, poultry, and fruit tra-les, and. in a wor'l made Mr. Masse} » Big P"e lylnt thev are to-day. „ Put. granted that the "Reformers, building oil the foundations that vein laid bv Liberalism in suite of the nr.ee of the Masseyitos a generation back, bnvo done a -rood .leal for the "Man on the Land"—the vitaUv important is«w in a young country is tho promotion or ?P Mr' r jrn«ev boasls will) some Irulh |l-at he has helped the men already »» « land. What lias lie dene to put other men on the land? That is the al- - ouestion. The country knows bow little he and h's friends ever havo done or -ill do ;n that directionTt is against "Reform" principles to weak up the hie estates because if means interfcenee" with "the sacred rights of tho individual." the privilege of prnate enterprise" to create any however huge or harmful, without any hindrance or control. Put uis nl.o against "Reform" interests to luterfero with Ihe big land/TO-iier* because thev aio for Mr. Massey. "The Power Behind Iho Throne." and lie may not run counter to their wishes. For all these reasons, . tho country's only chance of down the land monopoly and oliooM"the constant aggregation which has gono on so rapidlv in recent years under Reform." and bringing land for settlement on reasonable terms within eas> of the ma=s of the pcoplo-lhe eonnlry s one hone for the future lies in Liberalism and in T.ibprnlfaw