Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-05-16
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

| OA"OHs' 10 "AAus 'AcAOuALy anu IupTac"
tlcable, Will find food for thought in
the following editorial which recently
appeared in the Chicago Times. 1t
shows the marvellous success with
which it has met in New Zealand. and
has set at naught the supposed argu-
ments conceived by Sophists in the
vain hope Of bringing its feasibility in
to question:
The eyes OF practical-minded re.
formers have for the last two years been
fixed upon New Zealand, that modern
little Australian colony where advanced
theories Of sociology and political econ
omy have been put to experimental test.
In the current number of the Outlook.
Mr.. A. c. Fradenburg outlines the
course of these experiments and sums
UP the results achieved in the most i'm
portant. His article is quite compre-
hensive and bis conclusions are of ma
ture to attract the earnest attention of
every thinking man and to awaken en-
thuslasm In the mind Of the student
who has attempted the solution OF
many existing problems along tho lines
OF state socialism, or new liberalism
as they term It in Now Zealand.
In New Zealand State activity has
resulted In the government assuming
many other functions besides that of
mere governing. The stste controls
railroads, telegraphs. telephones, mails,
roads irrigation, and other public
works which involve tho management
of natural mOnopolies, and by reason
OF its superior credit and resources has
been able to precede and lead in ciyili-
cation with these instead Of following
at conservative distance, as is the
case wherever these industries are in
private hands. Up to March of 1893
the government of New Zealand had
expended over EOS 900. 900 or $3.50, 0OO,.
600, on railroads and other public
works under this policy of clearing the
way for civilization and immigration.
Some OF the railroads 1t built, Others
built by private parties it purchased.
In 1872, when the policy went into eff
feet, there were only sixty-five miles of
railroad in the colony. Last year there
were 1855 miles under government
control and only $50 miles still owned
and operated by private corporations.
In 1892 the earnings of these State
railroads were $5, 800, 900 and the net
earning over all expenses, $2,249, $50.
Telegraphs, mails and waterworks have
likewise yielded encouraging profits,
the gross income from the two first
named, which are operated together,
being $1,49S,325. Telephones, over
which the government but recently as
sumed control, paid into the treasury
during the same year $95,775, a good
proportion Of which was in excess of
fixed and operating charges. And this,
TOO, In new country, q colony far re.
moved from older civilization, a small
country containing altogether less than
zoo, 900 people!
Had the people of New Zealand stop
ped at this point they would still have
led the world in the rational solution of
vexing social problems. But they did
not stop. The government has assumed
control OF native lands, opened them up,
and will either lease, rent, or sell out
right to settler on easy terms whatever
ground he may require, or II he has no
money will advance him sufficient sum
to make his first payments and to begin
his improvements. The system of land
tenure and taxation is q modified ap-
pllcatlon OF the principles expounded by
Henry George. Most Of the ground is
leased in perpetulty or rented out by the
state at an annual rate varying from
to per cont OF its cash value. Land
owned py individuals is taxed at q low
figure, providing it does not exceed in
value $4,000. On all property over that
amount in value special graded tax is
assessed, which increases with the in
crease in size and value of the estate,
becoming almost prohibitivO when that
value gets beyond $4,000. It is the
settled policy Of the New Zealand gov
erment to prevent the acquisition of a
great tract Of land by any individual or
corporation. II, however, any victim of
this policy thinks his taxes are too high
the state always stands ready to pur-
chase his property. Small bolders have
scarcely any taxto pay on their land
and none whatever on improvements.
The state also acts as trustee, admin
lstration. and runs q free public en-
ployment bureau, with branches in
every town, where the mutual require
ments Of employers all over the colony
may be ascertained.
These are not all the social expert
ments which have been tried in New
Zealand. They are but few of many,
and all have thus far been attended
with most gratifying success. When
the recent financial panic devastated
the whole of Australia and the Aus
tralian colonies, extending in its
effects even to the Sandwich Islands
and California, New Zealand alone of
them all escaped the scourge. Her
commerce was not impaired, her banks
remained solid, her values were I'M
disturbed. Call it, then, advanced
liberalism, what you like, the fact re.
mains that state activity and state per-
Torrance of many functions hitherto
left to individuals has proved an un-
qualified success in New Zealand.
And if in New Zealand why not else
where? Why not in America?
|
A CRANK has notified Mrs. Lease
| that the Almighty came tn him in n