THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1912.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 May 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1912.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Thirty-soven years ago there was an outcry, against provincial institutions. They were too cumbersome, set up too many governing bodies, were without financial security, and must give way to something cheaper, simpler, and more concentrated. 'On this reasoning the Provinces were abolished, Tho thirty-seven years are gone into the Limbo of lost years, and we have an. outcry against that which was submitted for the Prorincial institutions. The upshot of this is that there is too much local government. With six hundred governing bodies it is impossible, the cynics say, to heave a brick anywhere without hitting some patriot who Las received proof of the confidence of his fellow countrymen, and equally impossible to prevent a waste of at least one third of all public revenues diverted to deing work by several hands which might be done each time by one. Hence we have a new Local Government Bill. It is said to be the bill with which Sir John Fmdlay had made up his mind to achieve renown from fame and gratitude from his countrymen, with the honours of high office. But this is the way of the wags who never reach the truth. In this case the truth happens to be that the bill is. much the same Local Government Bill with which Mr Seddon used to dream away the little time left him by business long prolonged and gossip unchecked when old westerners were concerned. There are four hundred clauses, there is abolition of many local bodies, there is to be coDcentra* tion of power in the hands of provincial councils, and there will be a vast number cf objectors, each like a hornet let loose from a nest of madness. There is to be an " assured finance," and men with memories smilingly say they have heard that before. . The Minister of Internal Affaire wisely is calling together the local government men to consult and give the government a lead over the fence. The idea is excellent. The- only doubt is whether there will be a chance for the Government to take the jump after the lead. However, if not, the cleared road to the jump will be settled one way or the other without any disturbance from the party system. It must be confessed that the Eeforni leaders do not play up to that expectation. But when they get into harness themselves perhaps there will be change over the spirit of their dream.

W.T. STEAD. That there was a memorial service in "Westminister Chapel in honour of this fearless and eminently splendid journalist, meets the approval of mankind at this moment. To many the fact that Queen Alexander was represented especially there Avill mean nothing more than the usual compliment, though why royalty should gc, our of the -**ay jx> pay such a compliment ouqrht to open all eyes to the imporlauco of the occasion. To readers of tho '• Beview of Eeriews" the reason for Her Maiesty's course of action is plain enough. .There appeared some years ago, soon after the access--ion of King Edward VII an article eulogising the Queen in the moat de» licate poetic beautiful manner, talking of her as ~ tho Faery Queene " pointing out that she had at last taken her right place in the scheme of roj 7alty. This she had done waen Mr Baii'our, being appe&}e.d j;q by the unemployed in their thousands for work, had wrung his hands and declared his famous " Non Possum". On that occasion she cama forward and started the famous Queen's Fund. It was her owij initiative to appeal to the people with a cufcHcripiidii ijst wUipl} sjre j headed with two thousand guineas. I Tho fund soon grew into a hundred thousand, and the Queen became a social power in the land, Tho character sketch written by Stead on the occasion, Avas one of the finest of the great series which he ha.", left behind for the information and wonder of the world. A journalist ho was who cut clear of all interference, secured for himself space enough for the yqluuiinous handling of ideas, and proceeded Jto call up for judgineut all pijblic men, all institutions, and all the things of j which men are thinking. Accepted jon his .own tc-rms, ho \yas allowed to march into the palaces or d^;tr.-j and Sultans, into the studies of diplomats and men of the world, into the chambers of lawyers and the parlours of the poor, asking questions, giving counsel, watching over all interests, denpuuuing wrong, exalting righteousness, ft ff pssijjiqn noyer aql^eved by any journalist, aud it was filled with consummate, ability, fidelity to principle, and genuine unaffected piety. Mistakes he inado of course, who is there that does not make them' ? But who has such a vast quantity Jof work to show 9 Who works of such variety ? "VVho eypr stood prominent with so suialj. a percentage of "n^is.takes ? He was a man of infinite parts who .Gopse^ied hi§ life tip rjgjjpeousnpss. and never mpdiffed avj q^im'on eyeu against overwhelming unpopularity. The Bulletin of Sydney at the lieight of its fortunes, having opposed the Boar war was silenced by a single popular groTylj, NY» T ; 8 cad maintained \}it crusade against puej w.aj; iiutil the whole world came round 'f.o his opinion. As the great champion of justice he hailed the new goveruui6nt, Banijorniau-As^uith, ill 1906 as. one

to hold office only on condition of its expelling the Chinese coolie and granting the Boer that self-government ■within the Empire to which he was entitled as a compensation for the wrong done. The fact that so it cnme to pass, is the brightest gem in Stead's magnificent crown of achievement.

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND.

The first annual report of the National Provident Fund—a system of State-organised thrift — inaugurated by the Ward administration some sixteen months ago has, during its first year, made, apparently, a strong appeal to the thrifty instincts of a good many working New Zealanders as a good paying proposition. Civil servants especially have taken it up with the greatest eagerness, and over 500 are already contributors—this, too, in spite of the fact that all of them have to pay into a public superannuation fund. Clerical workers have also taken advantage of it to a large extent, but it has been felt by the Board of Management that the great majority of other wage-earners have not by any means grasped its principles, or the benefits to be obtained by contribution. The fund has been designed to help the worker who is drawing an average wage of between £3 and £4. The qualifications of a contributor are residence in the Dominion, age between 16 and 45 years, and an average income for the past three years of under £200 per annum. No medical examination is required, and the great f6ature of the scheme, which. distinguishes it from all other benefit systems, is that a contributor may at any time, upon giving notice, have all his payments returned to him, less bene« fits received.

Those benefits briefly are : An allowance of £6 at the birth of the contributor's child or children, after 12 months' membei&hip ;. after five years' membership and three months' incapacity to work a payment of. 7s 6d a week for each child of contributor un der 14 years of age; a pension, of 10s to 40s, according to scale of contribution or contributors reaching the age of 60; after contributing five years, a payment at death of contributor of 7s 6d a week ioi- each child until the age of 14, and a similar payment to the widow as long as any child is v nder age The payment may be made by the contributor at irregular intervals, and liberal allowance is made for arreais. They are on a sliding scale, ranging from Is 2d to 4s 8d if entrant's age is according to the amount of pension. A lecturer has been appointed to deliver lectures to working men on the fund and its benefits, giving an interesting list of the possible benefits which might be obtained by young married men who enter at the age of 24 and contribute for eight years. Such a man would pay in £24, but if he were incapacitated for Wo years, his payments, would total only £18, his wife and three children would receive £117 while he was ill, and if he died his family would draw about £1200 before all the children were able to earn. Besides this, if the ohildren were born Avhile he was a contributor, the maternity payments would total £JB. Information on the scheme can be obtained at most Post Offices.