MR REEVES AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 31

MR REEVES AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Plymouth, March 25. The Hon W. P. Reeves addressed a public meeting to-night. He said he accepted the challenge of the Taranaki News to state his views on Socialism, and declared that he was a Socialist, but he was not a robber as described by Lord Salisbury. His idea of Socialism was that the more the State did for the individual, the wider were its functions. Although he freely avowed himself a Socialist, he was not a Socialist of the kind who went about with bombs in their hands. There were many degrees in Socialism just as there were in Liberalism, and there were Socialists he did not agree with. He thought the Socialism that was best was this : That in a democratic country the State can do for the people as a whole a great deal of good. It can break up land monopoly, regulate the employment of labour, and find employment for those who want it. There were many things which a State could do to ameliorate the condition of the people that could not be done by the people themselves individually. THE ADVANCE OE SOCIAL LEGISLATION. He was one of those Socialists who believed that the functions of the Stat© should be extended as much as possible, and not restricted. They had passed laws last year that were never dreamed of 50 years ago, and he hoped they would pass laws 50 years hence that were not dreamt of to-day. He thought that any attempt to realise the dream of Bellamy would be futile, but he did believe that true democracy was in the direction of extending the functions of the State. He could not pretend to say how far that might lead them, but each extension of the functions of the State must stand on its own merits. He thought ..that such a Socialism as that was not very'terrible, and he believed it was only fair that he should teU them his viewa on the question,

THE SUBPLUS. He then referred to general topics, and stated that the financial year just closing would produce a substantial surplus. He admitted that trade in the Colony at the present time was not flourishing, but be denied that that was due to the policy of the Government. LAST SESSION'S LAWS. He spoke of the legislation passed last session, and claimed that it tended to ameliorate the condition of the working classes. He admitted that the Shop Hours Act required amendment in certain directions, and said that this would be done next session. Next session the Government would enlarge the municipal franchise, and the people could then decide on the halfholiday. He was opposed to Prohibition, but thought the present Act was abortive in some respects, and should be made effective, especially in connection with the ballot.

At the conclusion of Mr Reeves' address, a vote of thanks and confidence was passed.