ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 138, 6 December 1911, Page 5

ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTION

MANIFESTO TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND. BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Inveroargill, Last Night. Fellow citizen,—Cn Thursday next, the Government, of which I am the leader, submits itself to the tribune of public opinion and asks for a verdict in its favor. As to its claims and fitness to continue in your service, the Liberal Government of New Zealand have always been patriotic in the truest sense. They have felt and expressed continued faith in the destinies of their country: they have never hesitated to trust the people; they haw stood true to Liberal principles, and their aim has always been national progress, democratic, enlightenment, and the fullest possible extension of personal liberty, consistent with the happiness and wcll-foeing of the people. Such were the ideals of the present Government when you entrusted it with the administration of your affairs three years ago, and to these ideals we have consistently and resolutely strived to be faithful. No human institution can claim perfection. The Government is not perfect. No government is; but we have honestly endeavored to promote the well-being of the, country and its people. It is for you-to say now whether you desire a continuance of a progressive and humanitarian government in this Dominion, or whether you wish to recall to power the party who were in existence before the democratic awakening of 1891. This is the main issue, and I ask the electors of the Dominion before coming to a decision on that issue to stop and glance at some of the outstanding features of the political history of New Zealand for the past 20 years and' to compare the conditions of the country before 1891 with what we have accomplished since. LOOKING BACK. What was the condition of the country before 1891? It was a country of rich resources and .early development. Industries languished; our people were leaving the country by thousands; in the eyes of the nations New Zealand was little more than a name on the map and an insignificant outpost of civilisation. These conditions, which made us virtually unknown, were those which obtained under a system of government such as the opponents of liberalism in New Zealand are commending to our suffrages. Let the younger generations who have grown up since those days ask their fathers how things were under the Conservative Government before 1891. THE AWAKENING. j The vivifying wave of liberalism swept over New Zealand in 1891. The country had to be aroused if it was to be saved. The need was urgent, and the man arose. The name of Ballanee will be held in everlasting honor in New Zealand, and so, too, that of Seddon. These two men were the forerunners of the Liberal policy which ha* brought New Zealand to its present high position among the peoples of the world. The impetus given to NATIONAL PROGRESS has grown and been mighty in its effects. Notwithstanding the many changes in personnel and circumstances the Liberal Government of New Zealand has remain-1 ed in ideals and principles essentially the same, a government working honestly and resolutely for the good of "our country and for the happiness and wellbeing of the great mass of tine people. WHAT AVE HAVE DONE. In 1891 we turned our backs on the old schemes and shifts of the Conservative Party. We decided first of all to trust the people. We recognised that in the schemes of liberal reform and development the voice of the people must be supreme. Our government was, and it is now, a government by the people and for the people. We recognised that we had to "take cogiiisance of tine needs and circumstances of the citizens as individuals, and to break down the great landed territories and to aim at equal opportunity for all. Keeping this in view, we introduced and carried through, in the teeth of Conservative opposition, reform after reform,'which have been of acknowledged advantage to the people. This is simply history, and cannot be truthfully denied. We introduced in the face of determined hostility THE GRADUATED LAND TAX, a most just reform in the interests alike of the small land owner, the trader, and the worker. We destroyed land monopoly and unlocked the land to the people, Heretofore, the land monopoly was a relentless bar to progress, and drove small settlers into remote and inaccessible backblocks. Five hundred and eighty-four owTiers held, and had been allowed by the Conservatives to hold, between them 10,000,000 acres of the country's best land, while in the cities the unemployed were eking out a miserable existence at 3s 6d and 2s Od per day. These reforms also were sufficient to turn, and the polls will, I am confident, prove that they have earned the Liberal Government the continued support of the people. But wo have done much more. We have been able to introduce innumerable and far-reaching measures tor THE SOCIAL BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE. We have broadened and humanised the law with regard to the treatment of the mentally afflicted. We have labored incessantly in the direction of amending the law for the better protection of women and children, and for the preservation of infant life. To-day in these respect New Zealand is acknowledged to be in the foreground, if indeed not in advance of any other country. While our opponents have talked ; * LAND REFORM, we have consistently worked to place people on the land, and to-day there are 150,000 souls throughout the country on the land as the result of our policy.* OTHER BENEFICENT MEASURES. In the face of the determined opposition rwf the party who now ask to be 'entrusted with the government of this country, the Liberal Government established a benoficient system of old a<>e pensions, and tiny set an example aiid furnished a model to awakening democratic countries in other parts of the world. Acts have been passed placing education on a more liberal basis; opportunities for the poor man's children have been multiplied by the multiplication of scholarships. In educational matters New Zealand is now admittedly one of the most advanced countries in the world. The health of the community has received our attention, and various measures have been passed, including public health and pure food measures. Apart from social legislation, no previous government in New Zealand had ever attempted to do for the individual citizen what tke Liberal Government has done and is doing. Frugal and industrious settlers had to pay exnrbilant rates of interest and charges to financial institutions. We won from Parliament in face of protracted opposition the power to make advances to settlers. When we came into power we found great numbers of people working for wages insufficient to

support life in decency and comfort. Factories and shops and offices legislation was passed for the general benefit of those concerned. A system of conciliation and arbitration, which, though not perfect, has been of great service to both employers and employees, was passed for the settlement of industrial disputes. These are only a few of the important reformatory measures which we have placed on the statute books. It would be impossible to enumerate, far less explain, the innumerable measures which have* been passed by the 'Liberal Government for the purpose of remedying old standing abuses and bringing about reform. The Liberal Government can claim without fear of contradiction to have made New Zealand in every department of social activity the most advanced country in the world. PRESENT AND FUTURE. New Zealand's prosperity is solid beyond question. Its population to-day is greater bv 4(10,000 people than in 1893, and obviously the work of the Government has greatly increased. In the history of every country there are periodical fluctuations, seasonable ups and downs. We are influenced by the conditions ruling in other parts of the world. We cannot be always on the crest of the wave, but look round on the other countries. Mark what vicissitudes and oppressions they have passed through. Familiarise yourselves with the facts regarding the rich and resourceful United States of America, and then decide whether I am not justified in my reiterated statement that New Zealand to-day is the MOST PROSPEROUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Industry is extremely active. Our workers throughout the country are employed. Traders are doing well, owing to the general prosperity existing, and money is in plentiful supply. The great money magnates of the old world, men influenced by no consideration of sentiment ox political feeling, know that our financial position is sound, and they have proved their belief in us whenever a Now Zealand loan is put on the London market. With our finances as sound as they are, with our rich and wonderful country waiting to be further opened up, and with only a million people, we cannot contend to hav<S reached the limit of OUR DEVELOPMENT. I am in favor of borrowing within reasonable limits for lending to settlers, workers and local public bodies (so long as it is done on ample security), for the purchase of land, and for the furtherance of necessary railway and reproductive works. I am as strong against injudicious borrowing as any man in the country. Whether borrowing is judicious or not depends on the object, requirements and other circumstances, in view <of the wonderful progress and development in every direction in : the Dominion. I affirm that the loans that we have raised have been both judicious and necessary. Of the total amounts since 1906, some four and a half million's have been advanced to settlers on the security of their farms and homes,' and the interest on that sum is payable by the persons to whom it was advanced. Then a further sum of £2,318,900 has been advanced to local bodies, and on which amount the taxpayer pays nothing in the way of interest. A sum of £.1,000,000 was devoted to the purchasing of lands (for settlement, and the interest on that «» paid by way of rent by the settlers who are put upon the land and not by the taxpayer. An amount of £4,815,688 has been spent on railways, and the interest on that sum is paid by the users of the railways" in return for the services rendered. These railways, moreover, are necessary in order to provide the transport facilities so absolutely essential for settlers and others in order to enable them to obtain the full reward of their labor. There is no question about the outlook. It is distinctly encouraging. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. ' What are our aims and intentions as to the future? We have marked out our course and we shall resolutely adhere to it. Our ideal is a progressive democracy directed to humanitarian ends. We shall maintain our policy of land settlement, under which 150,00 souls already have been placed upon the land. We shall continue to do everything in our power so as to distribute the burden of taxation, so that it shall in no case fall hardly on the shoulders of the working majority of the people. We shall continue the construction of railways and the carrying out of public works, in an order strictly related to the greatest good of the greatest number. We are extending the principles of tie old age pension scheme by making provision for the support of fatherless children. . We have in the past done much for and are earnestly desirous of doing justice to our railway employees, and all other branches of our public service. We propose to offer still furtlier help to the settlers and the farmer and worker by furnishing them with cheap money for developing their land and building their ewn homes. We are assisting widows with children by providing them with pensions and mothers by the contribution of£6 as a maternity fee. We are cheapening the telephone service as we have already cheapened the railways, postal and telegraphic services. We are increasing the postal facilities in remote districts. ,We are making provision for | a plentiful supply of cheap water power, which means making our country a great manufacturing one, ensuring widely increased' employment on a sane, secure and scientific system. We are providing a sinking fund for the repayment of the whole of our existing and future loans. Our finances arc on a firm and sound basis. EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. In conclusion, I recognise the greatest aim of every democratic government is to give equality of opportunity to its people. It has been with this aim that all our great battles have been fought. It has been with this aim nearly all our ' great legislative measures have been carried. It was with this aim, for example, that we brought to the hands of the small settlers of New Zealand some twelve millions of capital at the lowest 'rate of interest, and have so helped no less tlian 32,000 settlers. It is with this aim that we hare lent £1,503,000 in a 'few years to 6457 workers. Contrast the opportunities thus given with the days when small -farmers had to pay 8 or 10 per cent, and more for their money, with legal costs and procuration fees into the bargain, and when working men were unable to borrow on almost any terms. Should the Liberal Government continue to enjoy the confidence of the citizens of New Zealand, the aims which guided us in the past shall continue to be our aims in the future. THE CLOVEN HOOF. We cannot forget that our opponents in tho present election, by whatever name they describe themselves, are the same party who were in ' power before us, and who have tried to stand in the way of progress and have persistently opposed the principal liberal legislation provided to benefit the masses of the people and now the law of the land: If you want a safe test as to which side, conservative or liberal, is on the path of progress, ask yourselves this question: "Behind which party stands the great, landholders?" Land monopoly and pro-! gresisive smaller settlement are as fa'r apart as the North and South Pole, and no man can be a tree friend of the prin-

ciple of smaller settlement and the in- | creased resumption of the great estates | for settlement who is supported by and I stands in public life as a champion of the great landed interests. Finally, I ask my fellow citizens to judge us by deeds, uut words, bo survey fairly and impartially what we have attempted, what we have done, and on that test, not in the vague promises of our opponents, to decide for themselves whether the government of the country is to continue along the path of progress and development, or is to be haii&Vd over to the partv of privilege and reaction. JOSEPH GEORGE WARD. Invercargill, December 5, lflll.