The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 7,1892. The New Liberalism

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 146, 7 June 1892, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 7,1892. The New Liberalism

We are indebted to the Dunedin Star for the information that at a meeting of the Leith Ward branch of the National Liberal Association Mr W. 7 M; Bolt lectured on some planks in the Radical Platform. He argued that with every State intervention the liberties of the people had been more 1 atti^raore assured. In conclusion Mr , Bolt pointed out that, although it had I been said that the planke of the platF form of the National Liberal Association of New Zealand were too ex t treme, they were not in advance of • those of the radical societies of other 1 countries. . His audience appear to have taken all that was said for gospel for, we are told, there was no discussion on the address. Then with ' that charming inconsistency which appears to be a ruling characteristic of all '-true liberals" of the alleged "right color" Mr Bolt moved— "That in the opinion of this meeting it is expedient that the Government should connect the North and South Islands By a steam service belonging to the Government." This was seconded and after some discussion carried unanimously. Whether the Government will feel bound to act promptly, and give immediate effect to this remarkable resolution remains to be seen, 'but , of one thing we are certain, and thai. IB the Minister of Marine, who, no doubt, is the proper person to be consulted— or instructed —by the National . Liberal Association, will promise to " recommend it to his colleagues;" ahd so on. But what strikes ue .most forcibly is the colossal impudence of the resolution. It virtually implies that the steam coastal service of this colony is inefficiently performed by the private owners and companies now running steamers, and that fthe Government should, therefore, start a new line for the especial benefit of a few discontented people who are so blinded by prejudice and ignorance that they will not admit that the Union Steam Shipping company now own some of the finest steamers in the world, but that from slackness of the carrying trade consequent on the "labor troubles" several of their finest ships are laid up idle, also that in consequence a number of officerß and men ar© necessarily thrown out employment. Yet, in the face of that, these "shoddy liberals" would like still farther to injure the shipping trade by persuading or bullying the Government to run steamers in opposition to those for the most part owned by colonists who have invested their capital in these floating ventures. Of course we know capitalists in any shape or form are the natural enemies of your " true liberal," and what ever belongs to the former should be destroyed or annexed by the latter— if. they were able.