Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, SEPT., 27, 1913. THE BURDEN OP AMELIORATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13191, 27 September 1913, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, SEPT. , 27, 1913. THE BURDEN OP AMELIORATION.

A' speech made by Mr Asquitli recently m the British -Houße^of .Ctommpns has been attracting world-wide attention. There was nothing very extraordinary about the speech, nor''V*vas it made on any very .great or special pccasion, nor under dramatic conditions. Consequently it passed notice' m press despatches at the time. Yet one sentence has beep extracted and. lias found its way into 'newspapers all over the European Continent, and also, curiously enough, all over the United States. It is a, sentence worthy of- consideration. Mr Asquith" "denounced the doctrine of "the constant amelioration at- great expense of the less-favored classes of the couritry, at the . solo and exclusive expense of the other classes." It seems to have gradually dawned on the people, interested m watching the evolution of social and economic conditions all the world over, remarks • a well-informed correspondent, writing on the matter, that here m the heart of the world-wide restlessness is a sign of change. Lloyd-Georgism, as it is known throughout Great Britain, seems to be specifically aimed at by Mr Asquith's words. In Great Britain legislation has proceeded at a rapid rate, oxtyrsdiaig even that which- >ra in New Zealand*have been wont tb boast' of. Pension laws, employers' liability law_, and insurance laws liaVe followed hard upon the heels of each other. These laws have created a tremendous number of officials, who all depend for their living upon the efficient working of the law, and the burden of expense of administration, thrown upon the coun cry, of all these beneficial schemes is by no means inconsiderable. Now comes the reaction. The first objection to this over-legislation, it is pointed out, proceeds from the very classes \yhich were supposed to benefit. "They found their freedom tampered with, and that they are no longer individuals'- with characters of their own.' Whenever an evil appears Parliament l is called upon to cope with it. Parliament, Overcrowded with work, passes ill-considei>ed legislation, and hopos to abate the "etil. The sponsors of the legislation go up and down the country- -crying 6"ut that now Parliament' "lias acted all will 'bo -well. The difference, between economic failings andhuman failings has entirely escaped notfce. It js" possible to legislate on an economic basis, '-but when human nature is interfered with there is bound to b© trouble. It is easy enough to pass a law saying that' there shall be no more pooi< m the l_nd;'-ttut -Great Britain' is now asking whether those who ar© thrifty and work hard should -really be called, upon to support the shiftless and idle." Let- us quote Mr Asquith again: *'Th„ constant amelioration at great expense to the community of the social conditions • of -the lessfavored classes of the community at the sole and 'exclusive expense of the other classes is unjustifiable'-." ; There is no man m Great Britain, , adds the correspondent, so quick to appraise public opinion as I\lr Asquith.' He may be immersed 'm a- political atiriosphere which prevents him acting altogether dsvhe would wish, but he is very evidently determined that the extreme Radicals shall not run away with the Government. He will prooeed along his own lines, and not those suggested by Mr Lloyd George. In New Zealand we have seen something of a revolt .from the principles advocated by extremist orators, ' and other evidences of a world-wide sentiment m favor of the promotion of individual effort rather than relying entirely upon legislative action for the amelioration of mankind.