STRAIGHT TALK FOR ELECTORS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1808, 29 November 1919, Page 5

STRAIGHT TALK FOR ELECTORS.

LIBERALISM AND THE ELECTORS. Before vou decide how your vote is to be cast at* the coming election, think well of what Liberalism has done for New Zealand in the past and what it is pledged to do in the future. During a long tenure of office, stretching over the Premiership of John Ballance, P.. J. Seddon, and Sir Joseph Ward, Liberalism put to its credit a splendid record of public service. Looking back to the early "nineties," one can recall a long list of enactments which lifted New Zealand in a few years to the front rank of civilised nations and madit the envy of the world in social advancement, social enlightenment, and " social -well-being. Manhood suffrage and female fanchise, land for settlement, cheap money for settlers and workers. State industries established, public works pushed on, sweating abolished, industrial peace maintained, taxation and finance readjusted in the interests of the people, the credit of the State invoked to save the country from financial ruin—it was indeed a wonderful programme. But of all thpse great achievements none more clearly revealed the inner meaning and purpose of Liberalism than the Old Age Pension scheme. For, by establishing this system, the leaders of the Liberal Party a quarter of a centurv ago declared to the country once and for all that in spile of prejudice or tradition or political opposition the chief object of their policv is, and always must be, the common welfare—"the greatest good of the greatest possible number. Onlv against fierce and vindictive resistance were these measures carried; and. looking back through the mist of vears, among the Conservatives of those times we recognise clearlv enough, the men who lead the "Reform" Party to-day—Mr Massev and Sir William Fraser and Sir James Allen. In vain the Masseyites of a generation back protested that Old Age Pensions in particular would discourage thrift and promote extravagance, and undermine our moral strength and convert us all into a helpless, servile race of grovelling paupers. Seddon and Ward and their Liberal colleagues "cared for none of these things." and they had their way. And so a new •order of things was established, a new era for the people of this country began. From that time onward ho one here has ventured to denv our right to this provision made by the State for our declining years—not given as dole or charity, but claimed, and acknowledged as a just and honourable privilege. The "interference of -the State" which the Conservatives have always denounced was established as a principle by all our "Socialist" legislation 23 years ago. But even more important to this country and its people was the assertion of the Humanist principle—the duty of the State to guard and protect every member, of the community and to secure his interests, unasked and unrequited. .Such has been and is the policy of Mberalism. Think well of these things before polling day.— [Advt]