IDEALS OF STATE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 673, 25 November 1909, Page 11

IDEALS OF STATE.

fVIEVV. OF THEM.: ■OTe-lcctnrc-room of tho .Y.M.C.A. buildings was crowdod at midday on Tuesday, when Mr. T.,E< Taylor, MiP.,'.)vas".;thp. guest; of tho New Zealand Club at lunch. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. P. C, Preeth ~ , ... : •■ ;. . .Mr.."Taylor,'in'commencing his address, mentioned that tho notifications of tho meeting had given him the option of two subjects— "National. Aims" and "National Ideals."- Ho thought that during the; past .five, or six years the woiidorful 'movement nil'over tho world townrdsytho creation-of nations must have impressed itself oil' nearly everyone. It was becoming increasingly clear that mere numbers wore not going to determine tho power of a nation or its, position amongst' ,tho i'owers of tho earth. Ultimato* predominance'would, conic'to tho nation ''.which was the healthiest, which had tho broadest and, soundest' education, and which could do-viso means of keepihg all its.peoplo employed, end. consequently to-.tlie natioiv that could avoid the destructive influence:of luxury. v. From.a national .standpoint,. Mr. Taylor considered that. everything ; capublo of being monopolissd should bo directly under tho'control !of: tho authority representing the people, although ho did not think that the State should, control-all, means of production' und distribution. Such State control' should not extend .to non-essential things, but'such matters as .the 'supply of water for public; use, lighting and- traction,. he held, shonld be vested in the central Government, or in some municipal authority. Ho thought wo might safely; travel a little further iu corporate-own-, ership than wo hnd gone. The State had already touohed the matter of coal supply, and he had reason .to believe that so far'the veuturo had pi'Pved a.sound oiie. Sugar, also would have -to.',bo?;controllciil .by the State'. There- was practicallyonly. one manufacturer ;of sugar in the' colonies, :nnd this concern, absolutely controlled the ■ prico of sugar throughout. Aus- , tralasia. 'He wae opposotl to - tho. suggestion to subsidise and introduce . English - capital with which '.to commence further, works;: as ho considered, that the new company and the presentano would simply coma to an arrangement, in; regard to .price. the State thought fit -to 'subsidise llnglish capital, - why. was it ,iiqt'• gobtl enoiißli for the . State to .comWence a r refinery itself? The duty-had been taken .off-..kerosene some timo ago, but this duty, .ho believed,- had been •cpllcoted; bv a - big oil company.,. \Vc,-had slm'.e in New Zealand, rVntl a plant .had been.working here, Wit, with the removal of thb,,duty off !;cfoseiie tho plant had uceu. closed down.., He thought, th'at'if.would bo a safe thinjr for the Government td enter .into,-tho manufacture of: oil, ''especially seeing ..that we.have the raw material.in the country,, and.'cpuld" take elfcctive action against, any monopoly. Ueferring -to the Para para iron deposits, Mr. .Tnylor stated th.it : it;was:stramro that the State should, pvo sprculators facili-. ties -for roaminjj tho' world with .specimens to .get private enterprise to take the matter, up,- •.-. This .-.country,; .said Mr..:Taylor, had been too boastful 'as to its political position ,nnd power. Wo. were 'a jop-sided democracy, and had not the-.broridest' franchise.. The power to intfoduco -legislation-; mostly depcuded on -nomination.-' '■-Democratic".-poTrpr was at the base, rind, the power of nomination was stretch'- , ing -away,-'.at the. top. ./'.The constitution of Cabinet; depended oil tho Prime "Minister ami the personnel.of tho Legislative Council might alsoi; depend on the, .whim of the Ministry, or even the Prime' Minister. He-was in favour ■fjfthQ : referendum,,with'the initiative', so that .tho : peoDle.might -have better opportunities to g>3t good government. : ■■-~ .;...:;. ; ■'■' ";. .. .;