LECTURE BY MR J.E. FITZ GERALD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2687, 17 November 1882, Page 4

LECTURE BY MR J.E. FITZ GERALD.

("PRESS ASSOCIATION lEIEGKAM.] WELLINGTON, November IG. HrJ.E. Fitz Gerald, C.M.G., last night •delivered a lecture, under the auspices of the Union Debating Society, to about 300 persons, on the “ Possible future development of Government in Free States.” He began by referring at length to the growth of the modern system of Government, and to the increase in the liberties of the people as conferred in the rights accorded them of having a voice in the administration of public affairs. He then proceeded to deal with a very wide range of subjects, including the relation of capital to labor, cooperation, and strikes, which he severely .condemned as hurtful to all classes of the ■community. He favored the scheme of nation'*! insurance, as allowing the people to participa +J3 in tlie P rofits derived, and advocated l the or a National Bank, in which the should also be shareholders. This woulu better t lan the Savings Banks. After alluding 10 'rapid strides with which science had advanced of late years, the lecturer came to the land question, contending that the holding of the fee simple -of large areas by individuals was injurious to to any country—hut expressing the opinion ■that the accumulation of capital into a few hands Was extremely hurtful and a bar to real progress. He pointed out that land monopoly was regarded with aversion Ay the Jews when tliey WeM ft li&tion, and that their laws favored shidll Holdings and discouraged large tinea. Towards the close of the lecture he asked his audience to consider whether our civilization might not be based on erroneous principles, and die out like those that had preceded it in the world. That was a matter that must always be kept in view. As what was called civilization advanced, the poor became poorer and the rich richer, until in the one case poverty caused degradation and crime ; while in the other, luxury developed into licentiousness. Thus the ties which bound families, and oven nations, together became loosened and severed, and history told them that in such cases some hardier and more vigorous, if less civilized, race stepped in. If they were not prepared to do something to regulate the distribution of wealth, the scheme of universal education which many of them cherished appeared to him like the dream of a maniac, for while the gulf between the rich and poor was allowed to widen, the spread of education among the lower classes would only be the means of bringing discontent, and the schools would become the hotbeds of anarchy. One disheartening feature in the present epoch was the great Republic of America, which suffered from the same evils which were the inheritance of old States. The lecturer sat down amid hearty applause. Mr Maxwell, president of the Union Debating Society, moved a vote of thanks to Mr Fitz Gerald for his highly interesting and instructive lecture. Mr Robert seconded the motion, and hoped that the lesson the lecturer had given them would be taken to heart. The vote was carried by acclamation.