Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, NOV. 17, 1894.

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3495, 17 November 1894, Page 8

Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, NOV. 17, 1894.

Equal and exact justice- to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Circumstances render diversity of methods' both necessary and wise, but the main principles of political economy and political morality hold good in all countries; their progress, and the happiness and prosperity of their inhabitants are very much in proportion to the degree of strictness with which they are followed. This being so, it is instructive to give attention to the opinion of all eminent political thinkers, although the conclusions they may draw are derived from the study of problems under different conditions to those which prevail in our own country, The problems which are mainly exercising the minds of the people of all nationalities at the present time may be described under the broad term "social." In its restricted sense, and that in which it is generally understood, social questions are those which require for their solution that an equitable and wise boundary line shall be drawn. On one side of it clearly defined the duties of the State to the community and individuals, and on the other the duties of individuals to themselves and the body politic. Extreme thinkers hold that the State should regulate all things, arrange by law all the incomings and outgoings of the population, and by hard and fast rules interfere with every industry in the country. Some go even so far as to hold that the State should by its officials supplant all who at present employ labour and capital and conduct all businesses and all industries for the common benefit, with national capital. On the other side it is contended that all interference with private enterprise is a mistake and injurious to all classes of the commonwealth. There is to this question as to all others a medium course which it is desirable to arrive at and pursue. Humanity is imperfect and perfection in consequence is not attainable either by individuals or a nation, and there must always-re-main room for reform. The medium to-be aspired to appears to us good governments "to encourage corporate action just enough to make self help operate under the most effective conditions, and not enough to diminish the incentives to it." A speech delivered by Mr Chamberlain at Birmingham has led us to write on this question. Social questions are avowedly agitated in the interests of the working classes] the reforms or alterations in the existing condition of things are claimed to be for the benefit of the masses. There is no man in England who has greater right to the confidence of the working classes. He has been the consistent supporter of every measure calculated to ameliorate their condition, and has been the author of many. He has never allowed those he has served to run away with him, he has never hesitated to tell them of their errors or compliment them upon their virtues. There are some who will be inclined to attach less weight than they otherwise do to his utterances in consequences of-his severance from Mr Gladstone. In speaking of this he said that their personal relationship had contiuned " undiminished and unbroken." The tendency of legislation and thought by a section of the people in this country is in the direction of the errors against which Mr Chamberlain warned his Birmingham audience. The quotations we purpose making from his speech will sufficiently indicate our meaning. After alluding to what

corporate action had clone for Birmingham he added " Ifc is true probably that the rich have contributed a large share of the cost, but they will admit I think that they have had a full reward in the greater happiness of the people among whom they live. I believe this policy maybe carried further, On the other hand, these objects, however good they are, ought not to be sought at 'the cost of any injustice to others, I do not believe in the morality, I do not believe in the wisdom as a mere matter of ethics, or in the policy of confiscation. To secure the possession of property is one of tho strongest instincts of human nature. It is just as strong with people who are poor as with people .who are rich. If you do anything to destroy the security of property honestly acquired, large or small, you will go far to destroy the greatest incentive, and the greatest aid to progress which we have at the present time. I do not believe, then, that any cause will profit by a policy of dishonesty, bub I am convinced that we may do something in the direction which I h.ive pointed out co increase still more the facilities which are now given to the working men to raise their position." These words are worth pondering over by all classes and we may conclude by recommending their perusal and careful consideration.