SEDDON'S LIBERALISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 17

SEDDON'S LIBERALISM

Sir, —It has become a habit with the Labour Party to shelter under the mantle of Seddon. To those who were associated with him as I was, having been a member of his Liberal 500; a supporter of his policy; and a candidate under his banner; these claims are particularly odious, as they are little short of political defamation of his name and character. Professor Tocker recently showed very clearly the great contrast in taxation as between those Governments. Let us also consider the indecent haste with which the present Government bludgeoned through Parliament ill-conceived and disruptive legislation. Contrast this with Mr. Seddon's last manifesto, in which he said: "The practical reformer is content with small profits and slow returns. He must proceed piecemeal by sure and steady stages to remove the obstructions and provide facilities for the higher development of the whole people." But Mr. Seddon was a Liberal and strongly opposed to class distinction. Let us also compare the Seddon public works policy. After a serious depression the Ballance-Seddon Administration came into office upon a self-reliant policy. This entailed avoidance of borrowing, and so well was this policy carried out that during Mr. Seddon's first three years the debt per head of population declined from £59 2s to £57 9s 9d. The total public works expenditure at March, 1894, was £406,797, 1895, £251,000, and 1896, £262,000. Compare this with the irresponsible scatter cash policy now in practice. Mr. Seddon at all times attached the greatest possible importance to the full value of assets produced. He maintained that posterity should receive full value for the debts they would have to pay. The Minister of Public Works to-day appears indifferent to values, but cheerfully leaves the rapidly-increasing debts for our children to pay. Just one more instance as provided by pensions. Though the first pension was small the Government of the day went to great trouble to whow that the finance of the colony trould afford the cost. In 19012 the charge for pensions was £207,486. Every Government since that day up to 1926 increased amounts and included other sections of the people, widows, blind, military, family, etc., till by 1935 the gross payments amounted to £3,338,354, or an amount £390,000 more than it was before the depression. Each and every Government lias limited generosity only by the extent of national resources. Labour, unlike Seddon or his successors, has ignored any question of finance, or how increases are to be met. Pensions have grown from £207,000 in 1902 to £3,338,354 in 1935, an increase of over 15 times, while population has only increased by about one-half. Mr. Seddon was an individualist of a most pronounced type. He would never have agreed to the imposition of restrictive legislation such as that recently placed on the Statute Book, curtailing individual liberty. Nor would ho be turning the sod for an obsolete railway expansion. He would still bo ahead of the times, not behind. He would bo pushing air transport, encouraging individual industry and thrift. And, above all, ho would not be neglecting the adequate defence of the countrv ho helped to develop. Cecil H. Olinkard. Rotorua.