TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1912, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Clouds and eunehine rapidly alternate in the political eky The Political for each party. One Atmosphere. day brings a "-lowpressure movement, and the Government feels a twinge of rheumatism. The gla*j risee, and the pain goe6 away, only to return a little later. The "Reform Party," similarly, has quick changes from the thrills of hope to the a-ches of auxiety. Mr. Maee«y doeo not look despondent, but ho has not yet pu. on that smile of assurance which he wore in the early days of the February .session. He has something to gain, even if ho losee. He ie hoping that if th« bell calls him to the Treasury Benches hie success will detach sufficient men from the other side to enable him to feel reasonably comfort abl«. If he lose;*, he knows that the Government will be in power only by the goodwill of several politicians who like it not too well, and thus the, Opposition's Leader may have the' pleasant spectacle of a Ministry in hourly peril of ite life, with its temple near a "hair- trigger," according _ to Mr. Laureneon's version of the ancient story of the swOrd of Damocles. However, "bettor a life of danger than death," saya the Government, and it ie planning to avert the blackly threatened doom. These are the times for plots of superhuman subtlety ; these arc the day* of finesse and strategy. The Oppositionists are on guard to keep out- of ambush. They know that ail is not solid turf that looks like lawn. Their minda are alert for the declining of invitations to step out on to ground to which tho uuemy may try to ineidionsly lure them. Yet, with all their ciuitiiui, they may \ra\e lost a lit-tls—lrom-tUft yi§wpojfit. ojLe, jjartjj divi«

eion — by yesterday's debate on Imprest Supply. The Opposition had a right to press for information about the recent loan, and the Government's line of strategy .vais to make the most of an opportunity to harden up certain "doubtfuls"' by beating the air.- Therefore, it was apparently deemed expedient to do some tail-twisting. The Opposition was wary, and did not readily lend itself to the [stratagem, but it was drawn a. little in a direction to suit the Government's scheme of ealvation. The Government has more to gain than the Opposition from debates which may stir up party strife, and it is therefore anticipated that the discussion on Mr. Maseey's amendment, to be moved on Tuesday evening, will be spread over more than, a week.

What is "humanitarianism"? It is a J term commonly " Humcwutaria.nism." used in New Zealand politics in these times, but it is almost ac vaguo as -the phrase "social justice," There are possibly many definitions, of which some may bo in conflict, but we assume that the word " humanittirianism," as generally used by certain politici?ns of this country, is tho policy by which the "useful people"— as the Labour Party loves to say — will apply a portion of their earnings towards the maintenance or other help of people whose usefulness, in the economic sense, 'has been impaired or destroyed by old ago, sickness, or other cause. " Humanitarian legislation " is also mado to _ mean the relief (on the score of taxation or other charges) granted to some sections of the public at the cost of others who may <be deemed more able to bear the burden. The Go venior'a Speech contains Various " humanitarian," proposals on different lines of public policy. For example, it is suggested that the scope of the National Provident Fund should be extended to enable local bodies and private employers to assist their employees to take advantage of the Act. Another passage of tfw Speech recommends a subsidy by the State to friendly societies to "encourage the operations of these beneficent organisations." 'A third proposal is tho old-age pension for women at sixty years. The proposed extensive , remission of railway tares for children, the lightening of the Customs impost on certain necessaries, the enlargement of the hospital system! and other matters in »the Speech come into the " humanitarian " category. It i« posuible, of course, that the Government has worked out Ways and means to provide a com- ■ prehenßive insurance against sickness, accident, old age, and hardship generally, but for the present the Ministry's preparations for such large financial schemes nave to be taken on trust. From year to year the practice has been to add something to the rather complicated eot of humanitarian statutes. The British Government is acting on different lines. The' National 'Insurance measure, for which Mr. Lloyd George has been so bitterly availed by Conservatives, embodies principles which are scattered through half a dozen New Zealand Acts. The people of Britain will at least have the advantage of knowing definitely the cost of the Government's humanitarian activities. The public of New Zealand will not be so well informed unless the representatives press the Government to state_ clearly the cost (direct and_ indirect) of giving all the relief and insurance which the Ministry , appears to have in mind. Much that the Government commends to the notice of Parliament commands sympathetic attention, but that little word " finance " miu>t figure importantly as a preliminary to any farreaching scheme of national humanitarianism. Several critics have hastily condemned one recommendaSuperannuation tion in the Goverfor nor'd Speech— "a Legislators. measure providing for establishing a retiring allowance for men , who have served a lengthy period in Parliament." The grounds for the attack appear to be principally that |bhe prospect of comfortable superannuation must foster the industry of "carpet bagging" or "professional politics." This argument assumes that the public who pronounce judgment at least once in three years will enable a considerable number of the cornloranf type of politician to servo in Parliament long enough to qualify for a retiring allowance. Wo fail to see logio in such an attitude towards p\ibhc men as a clasa. We presume that the Government does not intend to make the proposed pensions wholly a charge on the taxpayers, and that a member will have to 'serve a reasonably long term before he enjoys the benefits of such a fund. The Ministry has not given details of its ii!|«ntions, but it may be expected, , in accordance with the precedents of other superannuation schemes, that legislators who hope for some assured income in the days when age or sickness shifts them from the public sphere, will lje required to contribute liberally to tho fund during the wines of their usefulness. If a man gives himself with a whole heart and a whole mind to public service, his work for tho country may be • at the sacrifice of his private interests. Not all politicians who loudly profess an intone* devotion to the public welfare come into that Unselfish class, but because some do not deserve gratitude from the public is hardly sufficient reason why genuine faithful workers should not receive re"ugnition. At any rate, the general principle is not altogether c new one. In times past the general taxpayers have paid indirect pensions to some legislators whose capacity for solid work has been much reduced by ago or failing health. They have found a happy retroat in the peaceful, cathedral air of the Legislative Council, where the politically weak cease from troubling and the politically weary are at rest. While party politics icontinue as at present, the result will invariably .be the same. _ If tho country is to have a really effective revising chamber the method of giving indiscriminate preference to men whose capacity hae been lessened by age or failing health must be reviewed. In this connection alone the Government's proposal is cortainly well worth dispassionate discustion.