Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9441, 11 May 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

IN the course of his speech at Invercargill Sir Joseph Ward stated that two new measures would be introduced next session, the Land Settle--mmc Fh.aiii*" Diil and the National Annuities Shortly stated the object o" the former Bill is to enable five or more men without land and without the means of getting land to acquire a limited area of freehold by the State’s guarantee. The land *,is security in the first place with, of course, all the improvements the settler adds to it. The Stats merely guarantees the lender of the purchase money any deficiency which may arise under his security. There can bejno objection raised to the principle of this measure. It will enable men who are anxious to obtain land to do so on favourable terms and will give them the freehold of their property after some years have elapsed,' The only objection to the scheme is that it will involve pledging the credit of the State to a certain extent, but so long as ordinary caution is exercised by those who authorise purchases this should not be a very serious evil. There oan be no doubt that the Bill will pass the House if the Ministry really desires it to do so, but it will be strongly opposed by the faddists who profess to believe that no one should be allowed to obtain the freehold of any property. The debate on the Bill will provide a splendid opportunity of testing the strength of the anti-freehold party in the House and will bring out in [ their true colours some of those who pose at election times as freeholders.

THE principle of the other measure which will demand the attention of the House is also excellent. It provides for annuities to those who have the forethought to contribute small sums during their years of activity to insure against sickness, accident or death, and enables them to secure a pension in old age. The State may fairly contribute something to assist in such a laudable object, but its responsibility should be clearly defined and it should be quite clear, that in approving of the scheme the House is not drawing a blank cheque which will have to be paid at some fhture period by those wiio have had no voice in incurring the liability. Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme is too generous with the money of future! taxpayers, as it involves the State in a totally unknown liability. Not one of the present superannuation schemes is self supporting, and all will need a constantly increasing subsidy from the State, and it would be most disastrous to add further to the drafts on posterity which have been so freely drawn by the present and last Ministries. The new scheme should therefore be very carefully scrutinised by the House and only passed when the liabilities undertaken can be met with a comparatively small call on the consolidated fund.

THE word conscription seems to be a terrible bugbear in this country though why this should be so It ia hard to understand. The of compulsory training state -that they will never support the idea of conscription and those who prefer voluntary service speak of conscription with bated breath as the one thing to be avoided in a free country. Conscription was the system formerly in use among Continental nations of selecting by lot those who were to serve in the army. Since universal military service has been established in these countries, conscription in its original sense no longer exists and It is therefore curious that so much should be made of the word in the Dominion at present. It is in fact what is called “a question epu thet, and is most valuable to public speakers who wish to gain applause from the ignorant. So far as we oan gather those who object to com soription really mean to object to the long period of military training in vogue in France, Germany and other countries where universal service ia the rule. If this be the case it would be as well to dispense with the catchword and say what is really meant.