LIBERALISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 42

LIBERALISM.

[Published by Arrangement.]

Its Aspirations and Achievements 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 honour of the great leaders of Liberalism in this country that they pointed the way - for the rest of the world towards some .■ effective provision-- for the comfort and s safety and health of toiling and suffering mothers and stunted and weakly boys and girls. Once it had realised this duty the Liberal Government 25 years ago set its . hand to the good work, and our Statute Book contains many a measure that a 3 Eroof of the philanthropic sympathy of liberalism for suffering humanity will stand the test of time. Maternity hos- '. pitals, well-trained midwives, Plunket nurses —all with a fine record of well- ' directed and successful work—'these were among the achievements of Liberalism in its palmy days. ' INDUSTRIAL STRIFE ALLAYED. Now let xis turn to another phase of constructive statesmanship as interpreted by Liberalism—its attempt to redress industrial grievances, and 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 Labour ■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 in 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 in the end it triumphed,and the new system speedily justified the faith of its founders. It is 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 con- . ditions of work; and it promoted the , general welfare by making for industrial peace. THE SEAMEN'S SHARE. ■ Not content with its guardian care of workers in the factories ...and the fields, " Liberalism soon turned its attention to ' the duty of mitigating the hardships that befall ' I those who go down to the sea ,in ships." The Act was not perfect; but . the sailor to-day under New Zealand regulations is infinitely better off than he was before Liberalism began its labours, and ho has his political franchise secure. All this he owes to democratic Liberalism. THE WORKERS' SHARE. In the old days, what happened whon a workman was brought home on a stretcher? What happened when he got - maimed? There was redress at Coninon Law, slow, difficult, with much anaertainty and drawn-out litigation. to aay redress is certain, immediate, substantial, and cheap. The workers' oomo-'iiaa" on aystem is not yet periect, but the Liberals, who initiated it a generation ago, can be trusted to bring it up to I he. level of modern requirements, in accordance with the best principles of progressive democracy. It is impossible to review in full detail the long list of multifarious acts by which the Seddon Ministry strove to carry into effect its "decalred of securing the welfare of the majority,* in pr3fe:enca to defending and fostering the. interests and privileges of the favoured few. But ?' what is most remarkable about these measures is that, while they cire basei upon ideal conceptions, that in those f'ays seemed hopelessly visionary and iltoo'-ui, they we're all severely practical in char ajter, and when these laws were enforced they proved a great practical success. Third Phase. —Ward. Sir Joseph Ward, on the death of his illustrious cnief, stepped into the leadivship of the Liberal Party and carried the Liberal tradition. For this work the new chief was eminently qualified. Ho had served through the previous phases of the Liberal campaign of advance wi.h marked ability, and for the most part in positions of considerable responsibility. His success in assisting his chiefs to carry put their election promises in reg~-'d to financial reforms had brought him in due course to the Treasury, and here he ?iuickly distinguished himself by his aptiude, his energy, his combination of courage and prudence, and his close familiarity with detail. Sir Joseph's adminstrafcion of finance. had been as successful as his management of the great department •of the Post Office. In his conduct of the latter he had obtained, by his handling of affuirs postal and telegraphic, a distinctly European reputation. He had to his credit another success >'n the administration of the Railway Department. To this he had, as he had to the Postal and Telegraphic Department, given classification and a superannuation system.

Another success of his had been the Advances to Settlers system. The system includes a vast amount of detail; the administration involves the most constant care and the closest supervision. But its success is as remarkable as th e varioty of its roquirements. Aggregate of advances the other day to 2j. millions, profit £905,000! No comment is needed—but It is indeed a record of -which any financier in the world might be proud ! A RECORD OF SUCCESS.

With this history behind him, the new chief was soon engrosed in his work, and

ir. the five years of its duration the record of it was good. To the first part belong such measures as the" Scaffolding Inspection Act, which added to the safety of many, workers; the Training Ships Act, which opened for boys the road to the sea; an amending measure, which improved th e system of telegraph classification for the whole civil j service : .amendments of the laws helping I maternity and protecting-child life; Acts for improving the acquisition and settlement of land; the Act which secured the remainder of the Crown lands—nine million acres—as a national endowment; the development 'of direct taxation —income and land—on the graduated system, on well-marked lines, capable of indefinite extension when necessary. ' A leading place in the list is held by the National Endowment Fund. The Act of that name greatly extends the area of stability for old age and dependence, and it has been since amended in many ways, all beneficial to the poorer classes of the people, and all valuable in the troublous times that came, upon us with the war. NATIONAL DEBT. Another of Sir Joseph Ward's characteristic measures was the proposal for the final extinction in reasonable time of the national debt. At that time the stream of borrowing ran on without thought of the day of reckoning. But Sir Joseph saw the weakness of such a system; he proceeded to adjust his finances by the aid of a sinking fund, in such a way that any loan so treated would be liquidated in 75 years at a very small cost per year to the consolidated fund. In the face of bitter opposition Sir Joseph stuck to his scheme, demonstrated its actuarial soundness, tied up the sinking funds beyond the power of any human being to "collar." He prevailed over all opposition, established bis system, mad that system has worked admirably ever since. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Another striking incident in this campaign of progress was the hydro-electric scheme instituted by the. Liberal Government during Sir Joseph Ward's regime. Sooner or later our water power is sure to be -utilised on a vast scale for industrial and domestic purposes, for illumination, and for transport. But the people of the dominion should not forget that here, as in so many other directions where progress points towards prosperity, Liberalism led t"|a way. j HUMANISM ONCE MORE. But though busied about th e country's interests, Sir Joseph Ward did not forget the "humanist" side of Liberalism, which is well illustrated in his establishment of a. system of pensions for widows. This recognition of the natural right of wives and mothers to support has removed here one glaring reproach to human nature; and the honour of making this wise and generous provision for widows stands to the eternal credit of the Liberal Party and its leaders. ! CUSTOMS TARIFF. Far back in its history New Zealand declared for Protection as its established fiscal policy, and it has certainly had no reason to regret that decision. The Liberal Party has been Protectionist because it has found by experience that Protection answers in practice to the one sufficient test, "the greatest good for the greatest possible'number." But 20 years ago a considerable revenue was derived from the- taxation of imported goods — mostly among the "necessaries of life" — such as we cann<~t prodvee for ourselves. These duties were levied "for revenue only"; but it was clear to Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues that (more especially because there was no local production of such commodities) they pressed with undue . severity upon the poorer • classes. Under such circumstances there was only one thing for a sincerely democratic Liberal to do, and Sir Joseph Ward did it. The revenue was sacrificed, the duties were repealed one by one; till in the end our breakfast table was free, much of our clothing and nearly all the necessaries and many of the commoner luxuries of life were free, and the people of New Zealand daily and increasingly reap the benefit of the statesmanlike wisdom which postponed every other consideration, political and financial, to the necessity for securing and maintaining "the common good." H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

It i's late in the day to ask ourselves what we owe to the British Navy. But 'long before the Great War brought this truth home to us, our Liberal statesmen had appreciated the fundamental principle by which we must stand or fa.ll — the necessary unity and solidarity of the Empire. So they began by paying a substantial subsidy year by year towards the upkeep of the British Navy. When, 20 years ago, the great struggle in South Africa broke out, Mr Seddon led the way for the dominions by despatching our contingents to play their gallant part against the Boers. It was in this same* spirit that Sir Joseph Ward presented the battle cruiser New Zealand to the British Navy. This momentous step was taken with the full concurrence of the Liberal, Party. But it is also important to remember that Sir Joseph took this course in the face of bitter opposition from the parties which in various wavs represented -different forms of that Conservatism which has ; always been, as it is-to-day, Liberalism's inveterate foe. PREFERENTIAL TRADE. In another sphere of political action the Liberals bave been able to display their enthusiastic loyalty to Britain, and their devotion to the Imperial cause. When the great movement in favour of Imperial reciprocity was begun, New Zealand, under Liberal guidance, was one of ; the foremost of the dominions to offer J preferential terms +o British trade in the colonial markets. Sir Joseph Ward has always recognised both the commercial

and the political value of a closer, connection between Britain and her.dependencies on the basis of a community of material interest, and it is largely owing to his efforts that New Zealand to-day gives substantial encouragement to Britain's trade by receiving all British imported goods into the markets on far better terms than those conceded to her foreign rivals. THE TRANSITION STAGE.

Of the many other measures in which Sir Joseph Ward emphasised once more the basic principles of Liberalism, and gave fresh proof of his own statesmanlike wisdom and political skill, it is impossible to speak at further length. It is enough to say that Sir Joseph Ward throughout worthily sustained the splendicU traditions of Liberalism, adding continually to his high reputation for brilliant political thinking and gaining fresh laurels on a far wider stage among the great statesmen assembled at the various Imperial and international conferences at which he represented New Zealand. But in 1911 there came a change in the political fortunes of Liberalism. Although, the Liberals had secured more votes than their rivals at the polls, yet the final returns gave Sir_ Joseph Ward so small a margin of superiority that he refused to carry on. Sir Thomas Mackenzie then took charge, and in the interval between the two sessions of. that year four members who had been elected under the Liberal flag deserted to the enemy. The Mackenzie Ministry was thus shortlived. Mr Massey came into office with the first "Reform" Administration.

Again, in 1914, after the war had begun, the three parties—Liberal, Labour, Reform—went to the polls; and though just before the election the " Reformers" had a majority of eight, yet, in spite of Mr Massey's appeal to the electors to avoid the risk of "swapping horses while crossing the stream," he failed to secure a majority. However, through the unfortunate mistake of a returning officer in counting the votes for one electorate he was able to continue in powey. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. But by this time the war had grown formidable. Its duration was indefinite, and its issue seemed doubtful. The freedom and well-being of every part of the Empire was clearly in great jeopardy. The Liberal chief, for patriotic reasons, agreed to a party truce, and bent all his energies to the work of facing the common enemy. When the Coalition lasted he was the head of the Finance Department, and he closed his brilliant career there by leaving behind him in the Treasury an -accumulated surplus of more than fifteen million pounds. At the earliest' moment after the close of the war Sir Joseph withdrew from the National Government, for which he considered there was no further necessity, as its one reason had been to help win the victory, and the agreement specifically stated that the compact was "for the duration of the war." A free man again, he at once appealed to the people on behalf of the Liberal Party. He now faces the constituencies, with a fine record of patriotic service added to a great record of Liberalism, in the founding and developing- of which he played so large a part.