LIBERALISM

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3352, 3 December 1919, Page 6

LIBERALISM

ITS ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVE MENTS. - " (No. 5.) CUSTOMS TARIFF. Far back in its «history New Zealand ‘declared for Protection as its established fiscal policy, and it has certainly had no reason to regret that decision. The Liberal Party has been Protectionist because it has found by experience that Protection answers in practice to the one sufiicient‘ "test, “the greatest good for the greatest possible number.” But twenty years ago a considerable revenue was derived from the taxation of imported goods—mostly among the necessaries of life’’— such as we cann‘o'f7 produce for ourselves. These dutieg were levied “for revenue only”; but it was clear to‘ Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues that (more especially because there was no local production of such co-mm-odities) they pressed with undue severity upon the poorer classes. Under such circumstances there was -only one thing for a sincerely democratic Liberal to do, and Sir Joseph Ward did it. The revenue was sacrificed, the duties were repealed one by one; till in the end our breakfast table was‘ free, much of our clothing, and nearly all the necessaries and many of the commoner luxuries of life were free, and the people of New Zealand daily and increasingly reap the benefit of the statesmanlike

wisdom which postponed every other consideration, political and financial, to the necessity for securing and maintaining “the common good.” I H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. _lt is late in the day to ask ourselves what we owe to the British Navy. B'ut long befiorelthe great war brought this truth home ‘to us, our Liberal Statesmen had appreciated the fundamental principle by which we must stand or fall—the necessary ‘unity and solidarity ‘of the Em:_pil‘e.l So they began by paying a substantial subsidy year by year ‘towards the upkeep of the British Nayy. When twenty years ago the great struggle in'South Africa broke out, Mr Seddon led the/3 Way for the Dominions by despatching J our ccntlngents to" play their gallant} part against the Boers. It was in} this same spirit‘ that Sir Joseph Ward presented; the battle-cruiser New Zea-i land to the British Navy. This momen ‘ tous step was taken with full concur-i rence of the Liberal Party. But it isl also important to remember that Siri Joseph Ward to-ok this course in the} face of bitter opprosiitiori Lfrom ‘the! parties in the various ways represent- J ed different forms of that Conservlatism which has always been, as it is today, Liberalism’s inveterate fee. a PREFERENTIAL TRADE. In another sphere of political action the Liberals have been able to «lisplay their enthusiastic loyalty to Brirtain, and their devotion to the Imperial cause. When the great move-' ment in favour of Imperial ro'ciprocity was begun, New Zealand, under‘ Liberal guidance, was one of the fore-pl most of the Dominions to oifcr prefer-’ ential terms to British trade in the I Dominions to ofifer preferential terms] to British trade in -the col-onial mar-‘ -kets. Sir Joseph Word has’ always recognised both the commercial and the political value of a closer connection between Britain and her dependencies on the basis of a community of material interest, and it is largely owing to his efforts that New Zealand to-day gives substantial encourage I mcnt to Britain’s trade by reccivingl all British imported goods into the markets on far better terms than tho_se conceded to her foreign rivals,

THE TRANSITION STAGE. l Of the many other measures in which Sir Joseph Ward emphasised once more the basic principles of Liberalism, and" gave fresh proof of his Own I statesmlanlilie wisdom and political] skill, it is impossible to speak at further length. It is enough to say tllaf. i Sir Joseph \Vo.‘:d tllroughout, worthily sustained the splendid traditions of Liberalism, adding COlltil‘l‘dall3'.'to his high reputation for brilliant political thinking and"gaining fresh liaul-els on a far wider stage among the great statesmen assembled at the various Imperial and‘ _s_lntern'at:ional '.eon.ferences at which he represented New Zealand. But in 1911 there came a change in the political fortunes of Liberalism- Although they had secured more votes than: their-‘I rivals at the polls, yet the final re-_. ‘turns gave Sir Joseph W'3.rd so small. a margin of Sllpo]‘li_ol’it_V,.fh2lt he re.-.‘._ fused to carry on. Sir Thomas, 115;‘; kenziothen took charge, and iTI..-sllO.. interval between the two sessiorjsic that year four members who had" befgré‘ elect-ed under the Liberal. flag___d,c;— sorted to the enemy. The l\leKen,Z,i<‘/. Mini'st.ry was thus, .short-livedl. ’Mr. Massey came int-0 office with the first - “Reforl'll’ ’ .‘\dlllil]'lStl‘B.tion. 1 Again, in 191-}, ‘afte_r_‘ihc.‘,w_ar hall ”be'glln,otlle ‘three .v_pLa.rt’ie’s," pLibel-als_,, Labour,__.Befol'ln-7rVYe}lt"~tO the polls‘; .a“xia‘ although, ‘just. {before the election jT_th'e._ “R;efo‘rmers;” _had._ a. _majoi-ityl of 9199;t9£,§..,1..9;.,»;a,:?2éd.._»;.J;,t1§:9.’.

risk of Hswappiiig horses while crossing the stream,” he failed to secure a (majority. Howeven, ‘lthrough the unfortuirate mistake of'a re-turning officer in counting the votes for one electorate ho was able to continue in ’power.~ I -THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. I 1 But by thtis time the war had grown formidable. Its duratilon was indefinite, and its issue seemed doubtful. The freedom and well-being "of every part of the Empire was clearly in great jeopardy. The Liberal chief‘, ‘for p.a~triqt.ic reasons», {agreed to a -party truce , and bent all his% energies to the work of facing the‘ common enemy. While the Coalition tlasted, he was the head of the Finance Department, and he closed his brilliant career there by leaving behind him in the Treasury lain accumulated surplus of more than fifteen million pounds: ‘ 3 At the earliest moment after the close of the war, Sir Joseph W=lrd withdrext-' from the National Government for which he considered there was no further necessity, as°it_q one reason had been to help with the victory, and the agreement specifically stated that the compact was “for the duration of -the war.” A free nu-.:: again, he at once appealed to the people on behalf of the Liber'.l.ll’-arty He now faces the constit.uencies,w'itih a fine record of patriotic servi-3e added to a great record of Liberalism_ in the founding and developing of which he played so large a part.’ i