LIBERALISM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 3

LIBERALISM

ITS ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. IIRIEF RKCOHDS OF TTI.F, I'AST. (Published l>y Amuigt'inrnl.) (No. I.) Now (hat a general olwlion in near, tho tinin is opportune for fl. rovii.-w of what Liberalism bus done, for New Zenlnml in tho pn?t. This brief sUntch k not to l» regarded a.» n cumplcto history of tho Literal movement and its successes; but it may fairly claim to provide full justification for faith in Liberalism and for llm confident, belief that ite triumph will enturo tlio progress and prospnrity r )f this country and xw people for tho future. Liberalism nnd Democracy. "What is Liberalism ':'' "Liberalism is Democracy, and Democracy is 'tho government of the people, by the people, ■for the people.' " Liberalism in thus a political system which would secure through the voice of the people tho realisation of democracy's grand ideal, "the gronbeet good for-tho sjrwitest possible number." It is this form of "government by the.people, for the people" that true 'Democracy socks to attain: and -t is bscausi , . Liberalism has in tho past achieved bb much for tho popple, by pleading their cause, and defending their rights, and advancing their interests, on purely democratic and ufiiMiiuconal linoa, that wo confidently claim the sympathy and support oi' tho eleotors oi new Zealand for it to-day. First Phase.-> Grey. During- the early years of colonisation and settlement the people were too much engrossed in the i-rl niggle for existence to pay much attention to politics; and alt that time tlio wealthier classes were strengthening their hold upon political rights and privileges, .and were establishing for themselves a practical monopoly of the land. To Sir George Grey belongs the enduring credit of grasping all this, and of conceiving a policy which might ultimately enable this country to realise those Democratic ideals which that great statesman, almost alone among the distinguished public men of his age, had already coiuo to appreciate at their true "alue.

Sir George Grey's main ivork vrus his ndvocaej- of manhood suffrage and his denunciation of land monopuly. A remarkabl© tour thai he made throughout the Dominion did much to' -kindle tho fire of Lilioralmm nnd at Insl; the Continuous Ministry which had held power with short intervals for many years Buffered final defeat. For Gre-y'a propaganda of "one man, one vole" had, by rousing the people against the limited flranchiso of the time, compelled his opponents to concede manhood suffrage: and as a result the election <>f 181)0, at tho close of the great maritime strike, placed the first Liberal Ministry in uflwer, witli Mr. Bullo-nce as Prime Minister. Ballance. When this Ministry took ofilce, the country was in a pavlou.3 state. It? finance depended on the proptrty tai, which tiii&d property without reference to its earnings. Economy, in the shapo of retrenchment, was the mainspring Oi' policy; enterprise was dead, doles werethe remedy for unemployment, »ind the population wan begining to emigrate. The New Taxation, The new Government took hold with vigorous determination. It made good the Di-omißtH o: ils members of repealing the obnoxious property tax. The taxpayer wns freed from paying luxes on his buildings, and hid personal effects; the taxes on a'.i H\me worn transferred- to land ami income. The need for checking land monopoly mis not forgotten, neither wns the necessity for encourairiu? the profitable use of the land neglocled. Graduation of taxes was-introduced for the first limp, .and. care ..was taken not to touch.'tiu> imp'-nvemeills.. This was the touch of true Democracy. ' '< -.-.;>.

It was'also the touch" of soiinil ihin'nc'e —a touch wliieh eecUred j-'Wid'baluiuies for many years.and revealed a« time went on the financial strength of a selfreliant people.

The New Humanism, But the Liberal leaders «w clearly thai tlicii' chief duty was to Hid poople themselves, aud from the cutset they took a tlim hold of the Lubour prol)lwn. Tim Liberal Government: established ii Labour llitreau, sol: up agencies all over the. country, found where men wore wanted, anil sent them to the work. Tim Lilwrijl Government fought emiirrntion with iimiiigration, and relieved the congestion of the towns. Doles ended, Hie exodus ceased, and tho people who had gone began to return. .It was government of the jxopV, by the people, for tho pooplo—true Demoerncy,

The principle was extended in one remarkable, instance by the pst.nblifihment of the co-operative contract system on the railways.

Naturally enough this was a' terrible, shock to tlio Conservatives of those times. Here \va.; a. shameless interference- with Hie divinely appointed law of supply and demand, and the eternal principle of free oomtielition! Hut in spite of sbrieVs of protest and torrents of-abuse, tiie Government persevered, kept these men on the works in ijanijs carefully selected, and in Hie end the system went: ib way to success. The men made "cid Govern input of the neople. by the peonle. for Ihe neoplc—true Demowinds'and made good money, cracy a^'ain. (To lie continued.^