The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-29
A SOUTHERN UTOPIA.
What A New Zealander Thinks
of His Country.
THE WOMEN VOTE AND LIKE iT,
Government Owns Railroads and Tele-
graphs. Incomes Are Taxed but
improvements Exempt

| A. d. willis. a member q the lower
/ house OF parliament Of New Zealand,
great liberal and f1rm believer IN mod
& crate protection 20 home industries. ar
rived IN this city Saturday and registered
at the Butler. He has been in the United
States for one month past. and viii isaFe
next Tuesday from san Francisco Tor
/ New Zealand. Nr. Nillis comes from
/ country where the government owns the
railroads and telegraph lines. conducts
an insurance business OF its own. loans
money 10 It's settlers. has an income TAX
law which operates with great success,
protests It's industries, has put IN opera
ton the principle Of the single tax, and
/ last, bat not least, allows its women TO
| vote al any and all elections.
4 lett New Zealand said Mr.. Willis
/ last evening. BECAUSE / was tired after
my work In parl!a meat and needed rest
! 4 have spent some time In London, Hol-
| land and the Eastern states, and am now
! on my way home. think that America
/ IS one Of the most charming countries IN
| the world. IN fact | cannot praise IL too
/ highly. But you have not the perfect sys-
/ tenn Of government which we enjoy. |
/ never get tired talking about il, though
/ since coming TO the United States l have
avoided being interviewed for the reason
/ that / do not wish my people to think
/ that l Was doing too much talking while
! In another country.
| New Zealand. as is well known. is I'M
| der the control OF England. and let me
| say thar our people are very loyal; they
! love England. our parliament Is made
/ up Of the upper and lower houses. The
/ members Of the lower house are elected
/ by the people and serve for three years.
and those OF the upper houes are nomin-
| ated by the government of the day and
serve for seven years.
| Since coming 10 the United States l
| find that one Of the greatest questions is
| that relating TO the right OF women TO
| vote. The result of the last election in
| New ZEALAND. which was the first time
| the women were allowed TO vote. shows
| that the government made wise move
| when IL conferred upon them the right
| 10 have say in the election Of those who
rule. They have thus far manifested the
| greatest interest in the elections
| Throughout the country leagues are be-
| ipg formed. Women who were formerly
| opposed 10 the exercise of the franchise
| now see the Importance of having a vote.
| ana nothing could persuade them to sur
| render II. They are well organized. and
| In some Instances show more ability than
| men IN organiza ton. Contrary TO expec-
| taIion. the result Of the last election put
| more Liberals in power thus showing
/ that the women did not favor the Con-
| seryatiyes. although had ii not been for
/
| nave passed the parliament. | am salts
he'd that 1t Is only a question of time I'M
| III every Tree country will enact laws
/ which VIII give women the right to vote
| AT the present time the government
| owns nearly all of the railroads in the
| country. ana IN another year or two |
| think 1t Will be in possession of all of
| them. l must say that I was greatly
| shocked when / learned that the Cana
| dlau government had been idiotic enough
| 10 turn over 10 corporation such val
| liable line as the Canadian Pacific rail-
| ROAD. ana at the same time subsidize the
corporation. The government will. / am
| positive find that In doing so IT made the
| greatest mistake in its history IL means
| great zeal 10 the people OF that coun-
| try. At the present time they have a
| great territory, but they are getting rid
| OF " in a reckless way. Large blocks of
| Ahl are being turned over to syndicates,
| anu Settiefs VIII nave 10 so a great way
| before they will be able 10 make A seller
| ton. The syndlcates will hold on n tho
| lahd ana Its value will be increased
| through the efforts and industry of the
| people. FINALLY IL will be sold 10 these
| people VINO have made Il valuable nj 4
| price which will be fixed by these cor
| pofations New Zealand has learned this
! lesson ny bitter experience Former Can
! seFNatlFe governments parted with tha
| and OF the colonies in a reckless way
| nut at the last session a law was nassad
| "hleh gives the existing government the
| Fteht 10 take back all large holdings nv
| giving iul compensation for them The
| present owners are given the right to Sc
| 4''t a poftion OF the land as a homestead
and this cannot be touched. As soon as
| this property is in the hands of the gov
| eminent IL will he cut UP into blocks and
| leased 10 individuals for a period Of 900
| years at low rate of interest.
| Our government recognizes that the
railroads are the property Of the people.
| anu they are charged very low rate. In
| the transportation Of goods We have a
regular tariff. but big concessions are
! made In the matter OF lumber and grain
| IN order that they can De brought from
| the interior and exported
| Inc government also loans its settlers
| from TO 10 ti.e0 at low rate Of inter
| est par cent. sinking fund is Great
-, 50 that the entire debt is cleared I'm
| thirty-three years. leaving a margin ~
| about per cent. for possible lossas
| Good security is required In the matter
| or taxation the government collects an
| income as wNll as a land tax We give an
| exemption up 70 t5i@. and charge six
I pence per ti0@ on the excess over ma
! amount ip 70 tltHa From Il go howard
! t@"Te IS a gradually ascending scale Of
| taxation In other words we make, rha
! wealthy contribute fair share 10 the
| revenue ~ the government We Ye~oe-
! nlEe the fact that all should De encour-
| aged - improve their properties. and as
| result all improvements are exefnrt
from taxation, Instead Or a pronerfv
| owner being taxed for making irnsro,.a-
meais. We really offer premium for i'm
| prov@mauts
| me government 8r present lets an
| contracts direct 20 the laborer. SO that
| the latter receive fsir wages Tor "A falr
! DAYS work and ihera Sc ra contractor
! - force them into giving their services
/ for ltfle or nothing Ne have. "A Grim
| anal code which required seven wears rs
/ Rrr.te't and oar Ia@ operates more ran
/ iii} AMI moro economically Ednea fl5f,
/ Is compulsory in our country. ana re-
hcton docs not figure fn the psa.fi,
] eaof.s Prohibition has caused uz gra4t
/ f-ouh8e, hnt a present we elbow ths air
te0~nf districts 20 ~ay by vote 81 fba
/ people every three wears whether thare
SHAH lts prohibition iu thr respective Ills
! iT8rte fhnf eaB also vote fur "a rt.if.--
I ttan tn tfe n3ma*r of licensees and tn tha
event 4, Tarrsss 10 per cent az the saloons
/ 5nusf eis@e.7
TuE SIGNS or TuE TIME.