Brief Records of the Past

NZ Truth, Issue 755, 6 December 1919, Page 16

Brief Records of the Past

(No. 2.) MOTHER AND CHILD. Another series of democratic measures devised and carried into effect by Mr. Seddon and his colleagues may be termed the Maternity group. It is to the abiding honor of the great leaders of Liberalism m this country that they pointed the way for the rest of the world towards some effective provision for the comfort and safety and health of toiling and suffering mothers and stunted and weakly boys and girls. Once it had realised this duty the Liberal Government twentyflve years ago set its hand to the good work; and our Statute Book contains many a measure that as proof Of the philanthropic sympathy of Liberalism for suffering humanity will stand the test of time. Maternity hospitals, well-trained midwives, Piunket nurses — all with a fine record of well-direc-ted and successful work — these were among the achievements of Liberalism m its palmy days. INDUSTRIAL STRIFE ALLAYED. Now let us turn to another phase of constructive statesmanship as interpreted by Liberalism — its attempt to redress industrial grievances, antl as far as possible to remove the opportunities for industrial strife. The Arbitration (and Conciliation system was first set up under peculiarly difficult circumstances. A vast Labor upheaval had brought all New . Zealand to a standstill before the general election which returned the Liberals to power. That upheaval had emphasised the futility of the various methods of dealing with industrial troubles. The Liberal Government lost no time m devising its remedy for this appalling and hopeless situation. When it came to Parliament for the application of its remedy, however, it was met by a storm of opposition from every quarter. But m the end It triumphed, and .the new system speedily justified the faith ot its founders. It is folly to say that the Arbitration Act has failed because it did not entirely prevent or cure industrial unrest. But it eradicated sweating; it gave the mass of the people shorter hours and higher wages and better conditions of work; and it promoted the general welfare by making for industrial peace. THE SEAMAN'S SHARE. Not content with its guardian care of workers m the factories and the fields, Liberalism soon turned its attention to the duty of mitigating the hardships that befall "those who go down to the sea m ships." The Act was not perfect; but, the sailor today under New Zealand regulations is infinitely better off than he was before Liberalism began its labors, and he has his political franchise secure. All this he owes to democratic Liberalism. THE WORKERS' SHARE. In the old days what happened when a workman was brought home on a stretcher? What happened when he got maimed? There was redress at Common Law, slow, difficult, with much uncertainty and drawn-out litigation. To-day redress is pertain, Immediate, substantial, and cheap. Th« Workers' Compensation system is not yet perfect, but the Liberals, who initiated It a generation ago, can be trusted to bring it up to the level of modern requirements, m accordance with the best principles of progressive democracy. It is impossible to review m full detail the long list of multifarious acts

by which the Seddon Ministry strove to carry into effect its declared policy of securing the welfare of the majority, m preference to defending and fostering the interests and privileges of the favored few. § But what is most remarkable about these measures is that while they are based upon ideal conceptions that m those days seemed hopelessly visionary and Utopian, they j were all severely practical m characi ter, and when tliese laws wero en- • forced they proved a great practical i success.