WHY STAY IN THE DOMINION?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 882, 23 August 1910, Page 4

WHY STAY IN THE DOMINION?

A NEW ZEALANDER ON HIS COUNTRY.

“It is said that the Opposition does not run the country down,” said Mr H. Ell (Christchurch .South) in the House of Representatives last week, remarking on the lack of patriotism among Conservative interests in the country. The name of Mr A. H. Vile, he added, was well known in connection with the Opposition party, with which he had been associated for several years past, and he had even letters in the southern papers in the interests of the party led by Mr Massey. “ Here is a statement,’’ continued Mr Kll, “ which appeared in the Edinburgh Scotsman, bn July ist, igto, over the signature Arthur Vile: — “ As to the labourer and artisan Mr Vile writes: —It is true that wages are high and that the hours of labour are short. The cost of living, however, is exceedingly high, and this is a serious matter to those who are in search of employment, At the time of writing there are hundreds, I might almost say thousands, of workers out of employment in the Dominion. There are no manufacturing industries to speak of in the country, and the protection offered the few in existence is in most cases at the expense of the poorer classes. The primary industries, such as wool, frozen meat, dairying and fibre are hampered by restrictive labour laws and iniquitous class legislation. The universal adult suffrage is by no means an uumixed blessing, for it has rendered property rights insecure, and has placed the destiny of the country in the hands of a majority which, having no stake in the community, may involve those who are compelled to remain in financial disaster. The system of taxation is neither just nor fair, and lacks the saving element ol equity. Concerning the male franchise, this may have the effect of improving our social laws. It has had the further effect of subordinating great national issues to sociological considerations. The electoral system is eminently unsatisfactory, and is subjec'.ed to frequent changes. The payment of members, while it has secured the representation in Parliament of what are termed the masses, has also produced an army of professional politicians, whose chief objective is to retain the emoluments of office. . . . Instead of

having clean administration and righteous laws, we have suffered wanton extravagance in all directions, a rule akin to Tammany, and a despotism which in an allegedly democratic country is inexplicable. Honest work in New Zealand is no disgrace, but honest work it very hard to obtain just now. Before a successful immigration scheme is applied to this country provision will require to be made for the hundreds ot native-born young men who are looking in vain tor employment and laud. Millions of acres of Crown and native lauds are locked up in the Dominion, and no busi-ness-like effort is being made to open them for settlement.”

The letter, from which only extracts have been given, concluded with a cry that there was “ too much law and too little patriotism in the Dominion.” The Hon. T. Y. Duncan : That man should be put into the duckpond. He should be put out of the country. Mr Nil = The sooner he leaves New Zealand the better. Mr Witty; It is a villainous statement, anyhow.

Mr Nil ; And I believe he was born in the country. He is singularly unpatriotic. Mr N. H. Taylor: His father was a member of this House. Mr Nil: Mr Vile’s utterances were applauded by the Deader of the Opposition, which shows where he is. Dabour legislation had not injured the country, but had beuefitted the workers to a greater extent than in any other country, without injuring any class. Such comments were absolutely unjustifiable, and if people were nut coming to settle in the couutry little else could be expected if such utterances as Mr Vile’s were published broadcast. ”We have had a good deal of criticism,” Mr Nil continued, ” with regard to the new taxation as it has been termed, and the Deader of the Opposition stated on the West Coast that people were leaving the country because of bad government.” Mr Massey; Hear, hear, Mr Nil : They are not leaving the country, but are living more happily and under more beneficial conditions than in any other country. On that point we have the testimony of Mr Keir Hardie, whose sympathy for the mass of the people at least is undoubted. Mr Massey had not told his audience that the present administration had done more than was done in any other country to reduce taxation, and one of the evidences was the reduction of taxation on the common necessities of life to the extent of ,£470,000, or a net reduction of ,£300,000. This had been done in pursuance of the policy of the Diberals —which had been to lighten the burden on the backs of the masses and lay it on the shoulders of those able to bear it.