A LIBERAL MANIFESTO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3392, 6 December 1911, Page 9

A LIBERAL MANIFESTO.

STRONG APPEAL BY THE PREMIER. LAUDING THE GOVERNMENT. 0 OUTLINE OF LIBERAL WORK

[ter press association.!] INVERCARGILL, Bee. 5. The following Liberal manifesto to the people of New Zealand has been issued by the Premier:—

“Follow Citizens,- —On 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 favour, as to its claims and fitness to continue in your service. The Liberal Governments 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 have 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 wellbeing 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 striven 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 Bmninrion, or whether you wish t-o recall to power the party who were in existence before the democratic awakening of 1891. Tliis is the main issue, and I ask the electors of the Bominion before coming to a decision on that issue to stop a-nd glance at some of the outstanding features of the political history of New Zealand, for the past twenty years, and to compare the condition 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 tardy development, industries languished, our iieople wore 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, wore those which obtained under a system of Government such as the opponents of Liberalism in Now Zealand to-day 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 vivifying wave of Liberalism swept over New Zealand in 1891- The country had to be aroused if it. was to bo saved. The need was urgent and the man arose. The name of Ballancc will be held in everlasting honor in New Zealand, and so, too, that of Seddon. These two men wore the foremliners of the Liberal policy, which lias brought New Zealand to its present high position among the peoples of the world. The impetus given to national progress has grown and been mightv in its "effects, notwithstanding the many changes in personnel and circumstances. The. Liberal Goverment of New Zealand has remained, in ideals and principles, essentially the same, a Government working honestly and resolutely for the good of our country, and for the happiness and well-being for the great mass off the people. What We Have Done.

In 1891 we turned our backs on the old schemes, and shifts of the Conservative party. We decided first cf 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. \Y e recognised that we had to take cognisance of the needs and circumstances of the citizens, as individuals, and to break down the great landed territories and to aim to equal opportunity for all. Keeping tliis in view, we introduced and carried through, in the teeth of Conservative opposing, reform after reform, which has been of acknowledged advantage, to the people. Tliis is simple 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 landowner, the trader and the worker. We destroyed land monopoly, and unlocked the land to the people. Heretofore tilt land monopoly was a relentless bar to progress, and drove small settlers into remote and inaccessible bae'kbloeks. Five hundred and eighty-four owners held, and had been allowed by the Conservatives to hold, between them over 10.000,000 acres of the country’s best land, while in cities the unemployed were eking.out a miserable existence on relief works at 3s 6d and 2s 6d per day. These reforms alone were sufficient to earn, and the polk will, I am confident, prove that they have earned, the Liberal Government the continud support of the poopel. But we have done much more. We have been able to introduce innumerable and far-reaching measures for the social betterment of the people. We have broadened and humanised the law with regard to the treatment of the mentally afflicted. We have-labor-ed 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 respects Now 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 the people on the land, and to-dav there, are 150,000 souk throughout the country on the land, as the result of our policy.

Some Systems Inaugurated. In the face of the determined opposition of the party who now ask to be entrusted with the Government of this country, the Liberal Government established a beneficient system of old age pensions, and they set an example and 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 the Liberal Government has done, and is doing. Frugal and industrious settlers had .to pay exorbitant rates of interest and charges to financial institutions. We won from Parliament in the face of protracted

opposition the power to make advances to settlers. When wo came into power wo 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 ]>erfeet, 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 Book. It were 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 reforms. 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. It- population to-day ‘is greater by 400,000 people than in 1893, and obviously the work of the Government has greatly increased. In the history of every country there arc periodica! fluctuations, seasonable ups and downs. Wo are influenced by the conditions ruling in the other parts of the world. We can put be always on the crest of the wave, but lock round on the other countries, mark what vie. issitudos and oppressions they have with the facts regarding the rich and resourceful United States of America, and then decide whether I am not justified in my reiterated assertion that New Zealand to-day is the most prosperous country- in the world. r l o-day every avenue of trade and 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 or political feeling, know that our financial position is sound, and they have proved their belief in us whenever a New Zeialad 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 un, with only a million people, we cannot protend to' have readied 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 for the people, and for the furtherance of necessary railway and reproductive works. Injudicious borrowng I am as strong against as any man in the ‘pantry. 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 Bominion, I affirm that the loans’ that we had raised have -been both judicious and necessary. Of the total amounts since 1906 some four and ahalf millions 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 lias been advanced. Then a further sum of £2,318,900 lias been advanced to local bodies, whereby the requirements of the people have been provided 1 for, and on which amount the taxpayer pays nothing in the way of interest. A sum of £1,600,000 was devoted to the purchasing of lands for settlement and the interest on that was paid by way of rent by tho settlers who are put upon the land, and not by the taxpayer. An amount of £4.81 5,-68-8 has been spent on railways, and the interest on t-lxat 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. And so I might go on. The Outlook.

There is no question about the outlook It is distinctly encouraging. What aro our aims and intentions as to the future? Wo 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 1.50,000 souls already have been placed upon tho 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 shudders 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 principle of the 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 brandies of our public service. We propose to oiler still further help to the settlers, and the farmer and worker, by furnishing them with cheap money for developing their lands, and building their own homes. Wc arc assisting widows with children by providing them with pensions, and mo-* thers by the contribution of £6 as a maternity fee. We are cheapening the telephone service, as we have already cheapened the railway, postal and telegraphic service. We arc increasing the postiil 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 aro providing a sinking fund for the repayment of the whole of our existing and future loans. Our finances are on a firm and sound basis.

In -conclusion 1 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 liave been fought. It lias been with this aim that nearly all our great legislative measures have been carried. It was with this aim, for example, that we brought to tlie 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 than 32,000 settlers. It is withjthis aim that we have lent £1,800,000 in a few "years to 6487 workers. Contrast the opportunities thus given with the davs when small fanners had to pay 8 or 1.0 per cent, and nwjTfi for tliciir money, witih legal costs and procuration fees into the bargain, and when working men were unable to borrow on almost any terms.. Should tho Liberal Government continue to enjov the confidence of the citizens of New Zealand, the aims; which guided us in the oast shall continue to he our aims in the future. We cannot forget that our opponents in the nresent election. hv whatever name they dc'»inl>e themselves, are the same rwirty who were in power before us. and who have tried to stand in the way of nrogress and have persistently opposed the pnn-

oiipal Liberal legislation provided to benefit the masses of the people, and now the law of the land. If you want a safe tost as to which side, Conservative or Liberal, is on the path of progress, ask yourselves this question: Behind which party stands the great land holder? Land monopoly and progressive smaller settlement are as far asunder as the poles, and no man can bo a true, friend of the principle of smaller settlement, and the increased resumption of the great estates for settlement, who is supported by, and stands in public life as a champion of tlm great landed interests. Finally, I ask my fellow citizens to judge us by deeds, not words; to survey fairly and impartially what we have attempted what we have done, and oil that test, not in vague promises of our opponents, to decide for themselves whether the Government of tire country is to continue along the path of progress and 1 development, or is to he handed over to the party of privilege and reaction. JO.SKI’IT GF.ORG K WARD. Invercargill, oth December, 1911.