MANIFESTO BY THE PRIME MINISTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7976, 6 December 1911, Page 1

MANIFESTO BY THE PRIME MINISTER

PRESS ASSOCIATION,

■ FELLOW CITIZENS.— On Thursday next the Government, of which I am tho leader, submits itself to the tribune of pnblis opinion and asks for a verdict in its favour as to its claims unci fitness to continue; in your service. Tho Liberal Governments of Xoxv Zealand have always been patriotic m tho truest sense. They have felt anil expressed continued faith in tho destinies of 1 heir country; they navo never hesitated to trust the people. They have stood true lo Liberal principles, and their aim has always I«\.n national progress, democratic enlightenment, and the fullest possible extension of personal liberty consistent ,vith tho happiness and -wellbeing of tho people. Such were tho ideals of tho present Government wnc-n you it with the administration of your affairs three years ago, and to these ideals wo havo consistently and. resolutely striven to bo faithful. No human institution can claim perfection. The Government is not perfect; no Government is,but wo havo honestly endeavoured to promote tha wellbeing of the country and its people. It is for you to say now- whether yon desire a continuance of a progressive an.l humanitarian Government in this Dominion, or whether you wish to recall to power tho party who •wero in existence before the democratic awakening of 1831. This is the main issue, and I ask the electors of the Dominion, before coming to a decision on that issue, to stop and glance at some of the outstanding features of the political history of New Zealand for the past twenty years, and to compare the condition of tho country before 1891 with what wo havo accomplished since. LOOKING BACK >Vhat was tho condition of the country ibefore 1891? It was a country of rich resources and tardy development. Industries languished; our peoplo were leaving the country hy thousands. In the t> yea of tho nations New Zealand was little more than a m an© on tho map—an Insignificant outpost of civilisation. These conditions which made us virtually unknown were those which obtained under a system of government such as tho opponents of Liberalism in New Zealand to-day are commending to rur suffrages. Let the * younger generations who have grown up * since those days ask their fathers how things were under the Conservative Government "before 1891.

THE AWAKENING The ■vivifying' wave of Liberalism swept over Now Zealand in 1891. The country had to bo aroused if it was to bo saved. Tho need was urgent, and the man arose. The namo of . Ballance will be held in everlasting honour in Now Zealand, and so, too. that of Seddon. These two men were iho forerunners of\ tho Liberal policy which has brought New Zealand to its present high position among the peoples of tho world. Tho impetus given -to national progress has grown and been mighty in its effects. Notwithstanding tho many changes in personnel and cirrumstances, tho Liberal Government of New Zealand has remained in ideals and principles essentially tho same—a Gov-ei-nment working honestly and resolutely for the good of our country and for the happiness and wellbeing of tho great mass of the pccpla.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE In 1891 we turned our backs on tho old schemes and shifts of tho Conservative party. Wo decided, first of all, to trust the people. We recognised that, in the schemes of Liberal reform and development, tho voice of the people must bo supreme. Our government was, and it is now. a government by tho people and for tho people. Wo recognised that wo had to take cognisance of tho needs and circumstances of the citizens as individuals, to break down the great landad territories, and to aim at equal opportunity for all. Keeping this in view, wo, introduced and carried through in the teeth of Conservative opposition reform after reform, which, has been of acknowledged advantage to tho people. This is simple history, and cannot bo truthfully denied. We introduced in the face of determined hostility tho Graduated Land Tax, a most just reform in tho interests alike of the small landowner, tho trader, and tho worker. Wo destroyed land monopoly and unlocked tho land to the people. Heretofore land monopoly was a 'relentless bar to progress, and drove small settlers into remote and inaccessible backblocks. Five hundred and eighty-four owners held, and had been allowed by tho Conservatives to hold, between them over 10,000,000 acres of tho country’s best land, while in tho cities tho unemployed wore eking out a miserable existence on relief works at 3s 6d and 2s 6d per day. These reforms alone were sufficient to earn—and the polls will, I am confident, prove that they have earned—for tho Liberal Government tho continued support of tho people. But wo have done much more. Wo have been able to introduce innumerable and far-reaching measures for the social betterment of tho people. IV o havo broadened and humanised tho law with' regard to tho treatment of tho mentally afflicted. We have laboured incessant'y in tho direction of amending the law for the better protection of women and children, and for (he. preservation of infant life.

To-day, in these respects, New Zealand

TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND

RECORD OF LIBERALISM REVIEWED

is acknowledged to bo in the foreground —if. indeed, not in advance of any other country. While our opponents havo talked land reform wo havo consistently worked to place peoplo on tho land, and to-day (hero are 150,000 souls throughout tho country on the land as tho result of our -policy, an tho face of tho determined opposition of tho party who now ask to bo intrusted with the government of. this country. Tho Liberal Government established a beneficent system of old ago pensions, and they set an example and furnished a model to awakening democratic countries in other parts of tho world. Acts havo been passed placing education on a more liberal basis. Opportunities for the poor man's children havo been multiplied by tho multiplication of scholarships. In educational matters New Zealand is now admittedly one of the most advanced cour.tries in tho world. The health of tho community has received our attention, and various measures have been passed, including public health and pure fcod measures. Apart from social legislation, no previous Government in New Zealand had over attempted to do for the individual citizen what the Liberal Government has done and is doing. Frugal and industrious settlers had to pay exorbitant rates of interest and charges to financial institutions. AVo won from Parliament, in tho face of protracted opposition, tho power to make advances to settlers.

When we came into power wo found great numbers of people’ working for wages insufficient to support life in decency and comfort. Factories and shops and offices legislation was passed for the general benefit of tlioso concerned. A system of conciliation, and arbitration which, though not perfect, has keen of great service to both employers and employees, was passed for the settlement of industrial disputes.: -These.arc only a'few of the important reformatory measures which, we have placed on, the statute books. 7 - ' :

It were impossible to enumerate, far less explain, the innumerable measures which havo been passed by the Liberal Government for tho purposes of remedying old standing abuses and bringing about reforms. The Liberal Government can. claim, without fear of contradiction., to have made New Zealand, in every, department of social activity, tho most advanced country in tho world. PRESENT AND FUTURE New Zealand's prosperity is solid beyond question. Its population, to-day is greater by 409,000 (people than in 1893, and obviously tbo work of the Government has greatly increased. In the history of every country there are periodical fluctuation©, seasonable ups and downs., Wo are influenced by tho conditions ruling in other .parts of the world. We cannot be always on tho crest of the wave, but look round on the other countries; mark what vicissitudes and oppressions they have passed through; familiarise yourselves with the facts regarding the rich and resourceful United States of America; and then decide whether I am nbt justified in my reiterated' assertion that New Zealand to-day is tho most prosperous country in tho world. ' To-day every avenue of trade and industry as extremely active. Our workers throughout the country aro employed. Traders are doing well owing to tho general prosperity existing, and money is in plentiful supply. Tho great money magnates of the Old World—men influenced by no consideration, of sentiment or political feeling—know that our financial position is sound, and they have proved their belief in ns whenever a New Zealand loan, 'is put on the' London market. With our finances as sound as they are, with our rich and wonderful country waiting to bo further opened up, with only a million people, wo cannot pretend to have reached tho limit of our development. lam in favour of borrowing, within reasonable limits, for lending to settlers, ''workers and local public bodies (so long os it is done on ample security), for .the purchase of land for the people, and for the furtherance of necessary railway and reproductive works.

Injudicious borrowing I am as strong against as any man in the country. Whether the borrowing is judicious or not depends on tho object, requirements and other circumstances.

In view of the wonderful progress and development in every direction in tho Dominion, I affirm that the loans that we have raised have been both judicious and necessary. Of the total amounts since 1906, some four and a half millions have been advanced to settlers on the security of .their farms and homes, and the interest on that sum is payable by the persons to whom it has been, advanced.

Then a further sum of 312,318,900 has been advanced to local bodies. wherSEy the requirements of the people have been provided for, and on which amount tho taxpayer paju nothing in, tho way of interest.

A sum of 311,000,000 was devoted to the purchasing of lands for settlement, and the interest on that was paid hy way of rent hy the settlers who are put upon tho laud, and not hy tho taxpayer.

An amount of .£■1,815,683',' has boon spent on railways, and the interest on that sum is paid by tho users of the railways in return for tho services ren-

derod. These railways, moreover, aro necessary in order to provide tho transport facilities so absolutely essential for settlors ami others, in order to enable them to obtain tho full reward of their labour, and so 1 might go on. There is no question about tho outlook —it is distinctly encouraging.

What aro our aims and intentions as to the future? Wo have marked out our course, and we shall resolutely adhere to it.

Our ideal is a progressive democracy, directed to humanitarian ends. Wo shall maintain our policy of land settlement, under which 150,000 souls already havo boon placed upon the land. We shall continue to do everything in our power so as to distribute tho burden of taxation, so that it shall in no case fall hardly on the shoulders of tho working majority of the people. We shall continue tho construction of railways and the carrying out of public works in an order strictly related to the greatest good of the greatest number.

Wo arc extending tho principles of the old age pension scheme by making provision.for tho support of fatherless children. Wo have in tho past done much for and aro earnestly desirous of doing justice to our railway employees and all other branches of our public sendee. We propose to offer still further help to the settlers and tho farmer and worker by furnishing them with cheap money for developing their land and building their own homos. Wo" aro assisting widows with children by providing them with pensions, and mothers by the contribution of .£6 as a maternity fee. Wo are cheapening tho telephone service as w© have already cheapened the railways, postal, and telegraphic services. We are increasing the postal facilities in remote districts.

Wo are making provision for a plcnti-: ful supply of cheap water-power, which means making our country a great manufacturing one, ensuring widely increased employment on a sane, secure, and scientific system. We are providing a sinking fund for tho repayment of tho wliolo of our existing and future loans. Our finances are on a firm and sound basis. In conclusion, I recognise the greatest aim of every Democratic Government, i-s to give equality of opportunity to its people. It lias been with this aim that all our great battles have been fought. It has been with this aim that nearly all our. great legislative measures have been carried. It was with this aim, for' example, that we brought to tho hands of the small settlers of Now Zealand some twelve millions of capital at the, lowest rate'of interest, and have so .helped no less than 32,000 settlers. It is with this aim that wo bare lent 121,800,000 in a few years to 6-137 workers. Contrast the opportunities thus given with the days when small farmers had to pay 8 or 10 per cent and more for their money, with legal costs and procuration fees into the bargain, and when workingmen were unable to borrow on any terms. vShould tho Liberal Government continue to enjoy the confidence of the citizens of New Zealand, the aims which guided us in the past shaU’continue to bo our aims in tho future.

Wo cannot forget that onr opponents in the present election, by whatever name they describe themselves, are the same, party who were inpporerw r er before ns, and| who havo tried to stand in the way of progress, and havo 'persistently opposed the principal Liberal legislation providedto benefit the masses of the people, and now tho law of the. land. If you want a safe tost as to which side. Conservative or liberal, is on the path of progress, ask yourselves this question : Behind which party stand the great landholders? Laud monopoly and- progressive smaller settlement are as far asunder as the poles, and no. man can be a. time friend of the principle of smaller settlement and tho increased resumption of the great estates for settlement who is supported by and stands in public life as a champion of the great landed interests. Finally, I ask my fellow citizens to judge us by deeds, not words, to survey fairly and impartially what wo have attempted, what we have done, and on that test—not in vague promises of our. opponents—to decide for themselves whether tho Government of the country is to continue along the path of progress and development, or is to he handed over to the party of privilege and reaction.

J, G. W-MID, Invercargill, December sth, 1911.