LIBERALISM.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15987, 2 December 1919, Page 5

LIBERALISM.

m ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. (No. 4.) THE WORKERS’ SHARE. In the old days vhat happened when a workman was brought homo on a stretcher? What happened when ho got maimed? There was redress at Common Law'—slow', difficult, with much uncertainty ana drawn-out litigation. To-day redress is certain, immediate, substantial, and cheap. The Workers’ Compensation system is not yet perfect, but tlie Liberals, who initiated it a generation ago, can be trusted to bring it up to the level of modern requirements, in accordance with the best prin-, ciples of progressive democracy. It is impossible to review in full detail tho long list of multifarious acts by which the Soddon Ministry strove to carry into effect its declared policy of securing tho welfare of tho majority, in preference to defending and fostering tho interests and privileges of the favoured few. But what is most remarkable about these measures is that while they aro based upon ideal conceptions that in those days seemed ho]ieloasly visionary and Utopian, they wore all severely practical in character, and when these law’s were enforced they proved a great practical success. THIRD PHASE.—WARD. Sir Joseph Ward, on tho death of his illustrious chief, stepped into the leadership of the Liberal Party and carried on the Liberal trauition. For this work tho new chief was eminently qualified. He had served through the previous phases of the Liberal campaign of advances with marked ability, and for the most part in positions of considerable responsibility. His success in assisting his chiefs to carry out their election promises in regard to financial reforms had brought him in duo course to the Treasury .and hear ho quickly distinguished himself by Ms aptitude, 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 tho great department of tho Poet Office. In his conduct of the latter ho 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 detail; the administration involves the most constant care and Hie closest supervision. But its success is as remarkable as the variety of its requirements. Aggregate of advances the other day, 2- 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 new 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 belongs 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 for the whole Civil Service; amendments of the laws helping 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 charac-. teristic measures was the proposal for the final extinction 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 ; lie 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 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 lated 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 leads the way.

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 in his establishment of a system of Pension for Widows. This recognition of the natural rights of wives and mothers to support has removed here one glaring reproach to human nature; and the honour of milking this wise and generous provision for widows stands to the eternal credit of the Liberal Party and its leaders. (To be continued.)