The Guardian And Evening Star, With which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1927. THE LIBERAL CLAIM.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, With which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1927. THE LIBERAL CLAIM.

In the South Island just now Mr W. A: Veitch, member for Wanganui, is busy proclaiming the tenets or the Liberal policy he is prepared to espouse. The Liberal policy in the past did so much for New Zealand that in this hour of trial .and stress it is not surprising that many who give,- politics something more than ii s second thought, are desirous of Lilieral legislation again coming into vogue. Mr Veitch made the happy remark at Invercargill that ‘'Liberalism was a system of political morality, ,J If the people ask for bread, they are not given a stone. At a meeting of farmers in Canterbury last week a strong attack was made on the land policy of the Government, One farmer said: “They (the Government) have no hold policy, and have had none since the Liberal Government,” Yet we have ixilitica' opponents of the Liberals stumping the country anti declaring Liberalism 1? dead. Those who recall the success of the Liberals in putting people on the land, and providing cheap money in the face of great financial opposition for both the man on the land and the worker, will know something at the merits of the Liberal land policy. The 0-erm of that policy is still there to he cultured, and surely the time is ripening for political action in that direc-

lion. Mr Yeitcli reminded his audience in one address that the principal cry of Reform was “settlement and still more settlement,’’ and the l party had sacrificed thirty millions in that direction ! Land, he declared was too high to-day, and so was the rate of interest. Mr Yeitcli is prepared to do something material for the farmers and those going on tile land, through agricultural hanks, and he has great hopes of success under a sound system. It was most important in his mind t:> stop the drift from the land to the cities. In regard to the fiscal policy as it affected our industrial situation, Mr Yeitcli declared that, according to an economist, no possibly worse fiscal sys loin <-•■ nl<! be devised than existed at present. Our industries were lan guishing because they were not protect'd ; we had neither free trade nor prole: linn. There were many industries which would profitably he started in New Zealand—"'on! scouring and skin tanning, for example. W ith regard to immigration, he would p but out that between Australia and New Zealand no more than 800,000 men could he raised for an army of defence if danger arose, immigration was necessary for both countries, but s into policy was necessary in order to absorb immigrants. Immigration under Reform simply added to unemployment. On the subject- of dairy control, he was very outspoken. Dairy control as a compulsory measure, was, he said, wrong in principle. Compulsory dairy control was simply land nationalisation. And that was why the Socialist party stood for it. Mr Coates to-day. owing to the weak Opposition in the House, had far more power than such a young and inexperienced politician should have. Dairy control had been a great failure, and involved the farmers and the country in a great loss. Mr Yeitcli protested against Mr Coates' contention that the matter was one for Parliament, which had taken from him the power to interfere. It was becoming an absolute scandal how the cost of Royal Commissions and the sending abroad of Departmental officers to learn their business was increasing. He claimed that the remec.ics lie had suggested were rational, just and practical remedies, and they could lie put into practice hv the next Liberal Government. They would .stop the drift from the land; they would encourage agriculture and help secondary industries, which, after all, were secondary. A Liberal revival was predicted. Mr Yeitcli concluded by explaining the lines upon which it was to lie attempted to bring about the Liberal revival —the lines and principles of equity, justice and liberty so long ago enunciated by the great old Liberal lenders, find which could he so well applied to the social and political difficulties of to-day. He appealed to them all to help the new Liberal revival for which he was resolved to fight for the rest of his life. Mr Yeitcli had an excellent reception, which w'etlt to show that the references to the Liberal policy, past and future were appreciated. Undoubtedly the Liberals have a claim on the people of New Zealand. What ivus done In the past should never be forgotten. The Country was lifted from the slough of stagnation after the Conservatives had mil it to a stand-still. The change it’.'ls accomplished by vigorous political action atid not by vain and empty promises which remain but promises. The Liberal policy has been always a positive policy, and mattes a definite and clear claim as to its aims. That fact is worth bearing in wind.