SECOND PHASE.—SEDDON.

NZ Truth, Issue 754, 29 November 1919, Page 6

SECOND PHASE.— SEDDON.

Mr. Ballance died just as he had got goud hold of the great work offered him. Mr. Seddon succeeded him, and carried the work on for thirteen years. They were years of tremendous industry and persistent energy. Though the Prime Minister, who threw himself into the work with characteristic zeal, was a man of exceptionally robust constitution, the demands of the work

upon him ultimately shortened his life. Among the great Liberal measures of this period a foremost place belongs to OLD AGE PENSIONS. Of course, the Conservatives of those days — lineal ancestors of the Masseyites — (for did not Mr. Massey himself at first oppose the Old Age Pensions

Bill?) — denounced the whole project. It

would sap independence and undermine self-respect; it was an insulting offer to charity; it was a pauper's dole; it was an unprincipled* bribe; and of course it must mean In the long run ruin to the groaning taxpayer. But the Liberal Government stood by its Bill, and at long last the Government won.

And to-day there is not a creature m the Dominion that does not, after five and twenty years applaud the measure, many times amended and improved. "Government by the people, for the people," has been completely justified. THE GREAT BANK CRISIS. In 1894 the country was within easy distance of a great financial disaster. The Bank of New Zealand was m distress. It was officially announced that the great institution was about to founder. It was plain that thousands would go down m the wreck. It was probable that the disaster would involve the nation.

The Liberal Government mat the crisis with rare courage and wise promptitude. With the permission of Parliament, asked and aocorded at a moment's notice, it propped the imperilled institution with the credit of the State. The Bank, restored to financial stability, resumed Its career with a success which to-day — a quarter of a century after that dreadful night of IS94 — is applauded m every country.

Once more did "government for the people by the people" justify itself and the political wisdom that -the Liberal statesmen displayed at this terrible crisis m the country's fortunes. SETTLEMENT AND LAND. The Liberal Government having arranged for the settlement ~of the lands, turned its attention to helping 1 settlement to make good. During the thir-teen-year period of Mr. Seddon's Ministry it .produced a large crop of measures, all devised for the substantial encouragement of the great producing interests. Under these Acts many millions of public money have been spent, and no one now doubts the wisdom of the expenditure which moreover has involved no bonus of any

kind. Hera is another proof, not only

of the statesmanship of democratlo Liberalism but of its capacity m practical affairs. And it must never be forgotten that these experiments wera all new departures m which liberal Democracy took the Initiative m spite of intense and bitter opposition, and made its way triumphantly to its goal. First and foremost among the many benefits provided by Liberalism for the farmers and workers engaged m our primary industries was the establishment of the Department of Agriculture. The meat industry, the wool industry, the dairy industry, the orchard industry, the. poultry industry, the ■bee-keeping industry — all these feel the benefit of the guidance and assistance that they receive from the department m every phase of their activities and at every step of the,ir productive life. Here, again, "government by the people for the people" has Justified itself, thanks to the wise forethought and practical energy of Liberalism, (To be continued next week.) [Published by Arrangement]