A LIBERAL POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 23

A LIBERAL POLICY

EX-MINISTER'S PLAN

"What would Seddon have done?" is. the test applied by the Hon. G. W;Russell in planning'a Liberal .policy to suit the present times. There will, of course, be;mariy ideas as to what the great New, Zealand Liberal leader would have proposed had he been faced with the conditions of today, and no doubt some other ardent admirers of Seddon will disagree with Mr. Russell's interpretation of Seddonian principles. But Mr. Russell is fully entitled to put forward his interpretation, for he. was a member of Parliament from 1893 to 1919, and a Minister in the Mackenzie and National War Cabinets. His plan (issued in pamphlet form) is submitted in the hope that it will aid a revival of Liberalism.

"What is wanted (he states in the preface) is to increase the- Liberal votes in. the House. This, pamphlet is thus intended. There, are, 36 candidates, at present announced who.are Independents. They are without a policy, at present standing 'in the middle of the road,' many not knowing which side to take. I hope this pamphlet may help them to see that the salvation of the country lies in a return to Liberalism —the Liberalism of Ballance and Seddon. Make no, mistake. Liberalism is not dead/.'L'-'-lt'.- never dies. It may weaken and seem to die out, but from its ashes, like : the fabled Phoenix, it springs to life and mounts aloft. Liberalism is 'not!ai party: "it.'is"a"principleV Asftjthe, great "Jeijemy .Bentharn . ;• said, i The object of all morals: and legisla-' tioh is to provide: the greatest good fqr.the greatest number.' This is Liberalism." •....■.;

The policy has twenty points, all presented with the arguments of a political thinker of long experience. Merely -to state the chief proposals does noti do the plan full justice. Mr. Russell's explanation needs to be read with his policy, but space permits only the quotation of the principal suggestions. These are briefly:— '

To increase the population, subsidise every child from birtfr to ■ 14 -years whose parents do not earn over £3 per week by 2s 6d per week.

Set McKenzie's Land for Settlement Act in full operation again, and buy land everywhere for subdivision into farni6 not exceeding 100 acres; Govern-

ment valuation to fix the price, all holdings to be leases, and State assistance to be given to all tenants under the State Advances to Settlers Act. . Near every, city and town lay off workers' settlements of one acre and advance; up to £300 for the home— all leasehold. \ Widen the system of education and place it under provincial councils,' with tfce central department abolished.' ■"- ■'•■ ~. ' % "If another war comes New Zealand may supply a volunte:. army,.but Great Britain must foot the bill. We cannot pile another huge war debt oh our children's shoulders." ; ,: Repeal the Reserve- Bank Act arid make the Bank of New Zealand a State Bank. Develop secondary industries and subsidise everybody who proposes'to start, or extend labour-employing industries. ■■.■■ . . Cease taking unemployment money to help build stations and post offices. Borrow, by. internal loans' all money required for major Government works. Exempt persons with less than £3 z. week from wages tax and earned income tax..- ." ' Abolish high exchange and help really poor farmers when prices .are low by cash subsidies, or by' taking over their land at the Government valuation and reletting to them as Government tenants. . '~:-,\ l , Give State aid to all private schools, church or otherwise, arid also. ;tb denominational orphanages. ' I