LIBERALISM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17731, 3 December 1919, Page 6

LIBERALISM.

ITS ASPIRATIONS AND

ACHIEVEMENTS,

(Published by arrangement.)

(No. '#.) * In the old days what happened frhen a workman was brought home »n a stretcher? What happened he got ma/imed? There was redress at Common Law, slow, difficult, with much uncertainty and drawn-out litigation. To-day redress is certain, immediate, substantial, ani cheap. The Workers' Compensation system is not yet perfect, but the Liberals, who initiated it a j generation ago, can be trusted to bring it up to the level of modern requirements, in accordance with the best principles of progressive democracy. It is impossible to review in full idetail 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, in preference to defending and fostering the interests laud privileges cf the favoured few. But what is most remarkable about ifeese measures is that while they &re based upon ideal conceptions that in those days seemed hopelessly visionary and Utopian, they were all severely practical in character, and when these laws were enforced rtiey proved a great practical success. THIRD PHASE—WARD. Sir Joseph Ward, on the death cf kia illustrious chief, stepped into the leadership of the Liberal party and ■parried on the Liberal tradition. For >his work the new chief was eminently qualified. He had served through the previous phases ,of the tLiberal campaign, of advance with marked ability, and for the most »art in positions of considerable responsibility. His success in assisting |ds chiefs to carry out their election promises in regard to financial relEorms had brought him in due (course to the Treasury, and here he quickly distinguished himself by his altitude, his energy, his combination of courage and prudence, and his close familiarity with detail. Sir Joseph's administration of finance had been as successful as his management of the great department of the Post Office. In his conduct of the latter, be had obtained, by his handling of affairs postal and telegraphic, a distinctly European reputation. He had to his credit another success in 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 de(tail; the administration involves the most constant care and the closest supervision. But its success is as remarkable as the variety cf its rej\ auireinents. Aggregate of a4v&nces! the other day 21 millions, profit £985,000! 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 Hew chief was soon engrossed in his ( work, and in 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 the system of Telegraph classification of the whole Civil Service; amendments of the laws helping maternity and protecting child-life; Acts for improving the acquisition and settlement of j land; the Act which secured the re- ! mainder of the Croiyn lands—nine million acies—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 DEB 7. Another of Sir Joseph Ward's characteristic measures was the proposal for the /inal extinction in reaBonable 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 his system, and that system has worked admirably ever sinee '. . , ■ ..- ».i«."-i.W.s^' BYDRO-ZLECTRIC POWER. I Another striikng incident in the campaign of progress was the Hydroelectric 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 the way. • .^ l8 .: HUMANISM ONCE MORE. ! But though busied about the country's interests, Sir Joseph Ward did not forget the "humanist" side of \ Liberalism, which is well illustrated iin 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 »f the Liberal Party and its leaders.

(To be continued.)