LIBERALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5345, 4 December 1919, Page 3

LIBERALISM.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE

ITS ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. (No. 5.) CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Far back in its history Nmv Zealand declared for Protection us its established fiscal policy, and it has certainly had no reason to regret that decision. The Liberal Party lias been Protectionist because it lias found by experience that Protection answers in practice to the one sufficient test, .“the greatest good for the greatest possible number.” But twenty years ago a considerable revenue was derived from the taxation of imported goods—mostly among the “necessaries of life”—such as we cannot produce for ourselves. These duties were levied “for revenue only” ; but it was clear to Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues that (more especially because there was no local production of such commodities) they pressed with undue severity upon the poorer classes. Under such circumstances there was only one thing for a sincerely democratic -Liberal to do, and Sir Joseph Ward did it. The revenue was sacrificed, the duties weje repealed one by one; till in the end our breakfast table was free, much of our clothing and nearly all the necessaries and many of the commoner luxuries of life were free, and the people of New Zealand daily and increasingly reap the benefit of the statesmanlike wisdom which postponed every other consideration, political and financial, to the necessity for securing and maintaining “the common good.” H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

It is late in the day to ask ourselves what we owe to the British Navy. But long before the Great War brought this truth home to us, our Liberal statesmen had appreciated the fundamental principle by which we must stand or fall—the necessary unity and solidarity of the Empire. So they began by paying a substantial subsidy year by year towards the upkeep of the British Navy. When, twenty years ago, the great struggle in South Africa broke out, Mr. Seddon led the way for the Dominions by despatching our contingents to play their gallant part against the Boers. It was in this same spirit that Sir Joseph Ward presented tlie battle-cruiser New Zealand to the British Navy. This momentous step was taken with the full concurrence of the Liberal party. But it is also important to remember that Sir Joseph took this course in the face of bitter oppositionjifrom the parties which in various ways represented different forms of Conservatism which lias always been, as it is to-day, Liberalism’s inveterate foe.

In another sphere of political action the Liberals have /Been able to display their enthusiastic loyalty to Britain, and their demotion to the Imperial cause. Whjfn the great movement in favor ojflmpcrial reciprocity was bqgun, N©w Zealand, under Liberal guidancJf was one of the foremost of tlie Dominions to offer preferential termsJto British trade in the colonial mjrkets. Sir Joseph Ward has alwaysjfecognised both the commercial and pip political value of a closer between Britain and her dependjficids on the basis of a community jßf material interest, and it is largejpr owifig to his efforts that New Zealand to-jdav gives substantial encouragement*, to Britain’s trade by receiving all British imported goods intJ the markets on far better terms#than those conceded to her foreign rivals. THE TRANSITION STAGE.

j Of the many other measures in which Sir J&seph Ward emphasised once more the basic principles o£ Liberalism, and gave fresh proof oi his own statesmanlike wisdom and political skill, it is impossible to speak at further length. It is en- | ough to say that Sir Joseph Ward ; throughout worthily sustained the ! splendid traditions of Liberalism, adding continually to his high reputation for brilliant political thinking and gaining fresh laurels on a tar wider stage among the great statesmen assembled at the various Impej rial and International conferences at ■ which he represented New Zealand. But in 1911 there came a change in j the political fortunes of Liberalism. • Although the Liberals had secured ; more votes than their rivals at the j polls, vet the final returns gave Sir ! Joseph' Ward so small a margin of ' superiority that he refused to carry j on. Sir Thomas Mackenzie then took | charge, and in the interval between i the two sessions of that year, four I members who had been elected under ! the Liberal flag deserted to the en- ! emy. The Mackenzie Ministry was thus short-lived. Mr. Massey came into office with the first “Reform administration. Again, in 1914, after the war had begun, fjie three parties—Liberal, Labor, Reform, went to the polls; and though just before the election the “Reformers” had a majority of eight, yet, in spite of Mr. Massey s i appeal to the electors to ayoicl the I risk of “swapping horses while crossing the stream.” lie failed to secure j a majority. However, through the unfortunate mistake of a returning officer in counting the votes for one electorate he was able to continue in power.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. But by this time the war had grown formidable. Its duration was indefinite and its issue seemed doubtful. The freedom and well-being of every part of the Empire was clearly in great jeopardy. Tlie Liberal chief, for patriotic reasons, agreed to a party truce, and bent all liis energies' to the work of facing the common enemy. While the Coalition lasted, he was the head of the Finance Department, and he closed his brilliant career there by leaving behind him in the Treasury an accumulated surplus of more than fifteen million pounds. At the earliest moment after the close of tlie war, Sir Joseph withdrew from the National Government, for which ho considered there was no further necessity, as its one reason had been to help win the victory, and the agreement specifically stated that the compact was “for the duration of the war ” A free man again, he at once appealed to the people on behalf of the Liberal Party. Ho now faces the constituencies, with a fine record of patriotic service added to a great record wf Liberalism, in the founding and developing of which he played so large a part. (Published by arrangement.)