NEW ZEALAND’S SOCIALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 83, 16 April 1901, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S SOCIALISM.

That arch-radical journal the Bulletin thus playfully patronises New Zealand’s Postmaster - General and Premier: — 11 There has been an agitation for cheaper cable communication with Australia. N.Z. Postmaster-General Ward proposed that the Company should cable 12 words for Rd between the Islands aud the Continent. The Eastern Extension Co., which controls the cable, nearly fell down dead at such an outrageous proposal, and as soon ns it got its breath indited a withering reply to the effect that tho Company was there to make cash and not to foster the business relations of New Zealand and Australia ; it declined to reduce its rates on tho ground that any reduction would mean a loss. Tho Postmaster-General has replied that he regrets they cannot make it pay at the rate of 12 words for sixpence, but that is the rate the people of New Zealand would like to have tho business done at, and as tho Company can’t do it at that rate, the people of New Zealand will see about laying down a cable of their own. A Bill is to bo 'introduced into tho local Parliament to authorise Government to buy tho Company out, or if that is inconvenient or impossible, to lay down a State cable and simply run the syndicate affair right out of the business. Then, in the matter of coal, tho State has taken a hand. There has been a big demand for N.Z. fuel lately, and the prices to the local consumer have gone up accordingly, except where the colliery-owners were tied by contracts. One R. J. Seddon, vulgarly know as “ King Dick,” observed, with pain, that while as Minister of Railways he obtained the best coal at 21s per ton, ho was compelled to pay 40s per ton for the fuel with which Mrs King Dick had tho roast cooked. This quite satisfied him that something was wrong, and that tho yell of tho Wellington householder was a justifiable and proper yell. The Coal Companies got the hint that they were merely tho tenants of tho people of Now Zealand, and if they couldn’t sec their way to supply their landlords at a reasonable rate the lease might be cancelled or something else might happen. Just now there is a bitter cry going up from the colliery-owners to the effect that they do not make very huge profits, and that these threats wore quite unjustifiable. However, King Dick, still smarting under the 40s per ton, and his cars filled with tho curses of the consumers, sails serenely on. Men have been set to work at Mokihinui and Cardiff in mines that were abandoned and declared no good, and thousands of tons have been raised and sold under tho market price, which had been artificially ’ forced up. Having started, the Government finds it cannot stand still, and already the demand has been made that the State shall ship and distribute the coal as well as tear it out of the earth. Altogether, it looks as though New Zealand is about to fall into the paradise of State Socialism wholly.”