LIBERALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5344, 3 December 1919, Page 2

LIBERALISM.

ITS ASPJHATIQNS AND ACHIEVEMENTS; (No. 4.) the WORKERS’ SHARE. la the old days what happened when a workman was brought home on a stretcherf What happened when he got maimed ? There was redress at Common Law, slow, difficult, with much uncertainty and drawn-out litigation. To-day redress is certain, immediate, substantial, and cheap. The Workers’ Compensation system is not yet perfect, hut the Liberals, who initiated it a generation ago, can be trusted to bring it up to the level of modern requirements, in accordance with the best principles of progressive democracy. It is impossible to review in full detail the long list of multifarious acts by which the Sodden Ministry strove to carry into eifect its declared policy of securing the welfare of the majority, in preference to defondmg and fostering the interests and privileges of the favored few. But what is most remarkable about those >,measures is that while they are based upon ideal conceptions that in those days seemed hopelessly visionary and Utopian, they were ■ all severely practical in character, and when those laws were enforced they proved a great practical success.

THIROi P H ASE.ibhiW AR D

;kir Joseph Ward, on the death of his illustrious chief, stepped into the leadership of the Liberal party, and carried on the Liberal tradition. For this work the now chief was eminently qualified. Ho had served through the previous phases of the Liberal campaign of advance with marked ability, and for the most, part in positions of considerable responsibility. His success in assisting Ins chiefs to carry out their election promises in regard to financial reforms had brought him in duo course to the Treasury, and here lie quickly distinguished himself by his aptitude, his energy, his combination of courage and prudence, and Ins close familiarity with detail. Sir Joseph’s administration of finance had boon as successful as his management of the great department of the Post Office. in his conduct of the latter, ho had obtained, bv his handling of affairs postal and telegraphic, a distinctly European reputation.

He had to his credit another success in the administration of the Railway Department. To this ho had, as he had to the Postal and Telegraphic Department, given classification and a superannuation system.

Another success of his had been the Advances to Settlers system. The system includes a vast amount of detail; the administration involves the most constant care and the closest supervision. But its success is as remarkable as the variety of its requirements. Aggregate of advances the other day 21 millions, profit £935.000! No comment is needed—but it is indeed a record of which any financier in the world might he proud! A RECORD OF SUCCESS. W itli this history behind him, the new chief was soon engrossed in his work, and in the five vears of its duration the record of it was good. To the first part belong such measures as the “Scaffolding Inspection Act,” which added to the safety of many workers; the “Training Ships Act,” which opened for boys the road to the sea; an amending measure which improved the system of Telegraph classification for the whole Civil Service; amendments of the laws helping maternity and protecting child life ; Acts for improving the acquisition and settlement of land; the Act which secured the remainder of the Crown lands—nine million acres—as a national endowment; the development of direct taxation—income and land—on the graduated system, on well-marked lines capable of indefinite extension when necessary.

A leading place in the list is held by the National Endowment Fund. The Act of that name greatly extends the area of stability for old age and dependence, and it has been since amended in many ways, all beneficial to the poorer classes v>i the people and all valuable in the troublous times that came upon us with the war.

NATIONAL DEBT.

Another of Sir Joseph "Ward’s characteristic measures was the proposal for the final extinction in reasonable time of the National Debt. At that time the stream of borrowing ran on without thought of the day of reckoning. But Sir Joseph saw the weakness of such a system; lie proceeded to adjust his finances by the aid of a Sinking Fund in such a way that any loan so treated would be liquidated in 75 years at a very small cost per year to the Consolidated Fund.

In the face of bitter opposition Sir Joseph stuck to his scheme, demonstrated its actuarial soundness, tied up the sinking funds beyond the power of anv human being to “collar.” He prevailed over all opposition, established his system, and that system has worked admirably ever since.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Another striking incident in the campaign of progress was the Hydroelectric scheme instituted by the Liberal Government during Sir Joseph Ward’s regimo. Sooner or later our water-power is sure to be utilised on a vast scale for industrial and domestic purposes, for illumination and for transport. But the people of the Dominion should not forget that here, as in so many other directions where progress points towards prosperity, Liberalism led the way.

HUMANISM ONCE MORE

But though busied about the country’s interests, Sir Joseph Ward did not forget the “humanist” side, of Liberalism, which is well illustrated in his establishment of a system of Pensions for Widows.. This recognition of the natural rights of wives and mothers to support has removed here one glaring reproach to human nature; and the honor of making this wise and generous provision for widows stands to the eternal credit of the Liberal Party and its leaders. (To be continued.) (Published by arrangement.)