Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-08
SOCIALISM ON TRIAL.
II Is A GREAT SUCCESS IN NEW
ZEALAND.
Che People and the Government in a Very
Pro porous Condition. No Private
Ownership Of Public Utilities Allowed

NV q AAehAAoSg OA1 ~ AZ
If this country said p. Allsop of
Auckland, New Zealand Mr.. Allsop
8 new arrival in Colorado in search
If health.
THE problem Of providing for the
unemployed in New Zealand is about
solved. In fact, the unemployed are
very, very few. The same may be said
of the tramp question. Tramps are be-
coming very scarce there now, though
six years ago they were as numerous
as they are in the United States The
few remaining are the incorrigible
cases. When they die off the tramp
will be known no more in New Zea-
land.
"These are but two Of great many
remarkable changes wrought in the
country in few years. All has been
wrought by the Socialistic policy be-
gun. The country is pretty far ad-
vanced in socialism. The experiments
have been so entirely satisfactory that
when the Government went to the
country with a much more advanced
Socialistic policy last December, the
policy was endorsed by an enormous
majority.
1.-THE common people of New Zea-
land are far in advance OF the same
class in this country for the reason
that the eight hour system has been
vigorously observed, which has provid-
I'd time for reading and thought.
"StrilIes have been done away with
by the substitution of boards of con
citation and arbitration. The law
makes it obligatory in all disputes be
tween employers and employees that
the subject of dispute shall be submit =
ted to the Board of Cancellation. This
board is composed of five mel; two
chosen by the employees, two chosen
by the employers, while Judge OF the
Supreme Court makes the fifth. If
either party is dissatisfied with the
decision an appeal may be taken to the
board of arbitration, which consists Of
three members; ono chosen by the
workingmen, one chosen by the en-
ployer, and the third again judge of
! the Supreme Court. The decision of
the board of arbitration is final. 1t
must be obeyed. Heavy penalties are
provided for violation, and the penal
lies are enforced, too The defeated
party in an appeal must pay the costs.
The boards are to all intents and pur-
poses courts of law. They have power
TO summon witnesses and to punish for
contempt. The moral effect of these
boards has been most wholesome. Dis
putes between employers ard employees
have been reduced to o minirnnm. The
weaker party will yield rather than
risk the payment of costs unless he has
I good cause. But the workingmen in
particular are delighted with the sys-
tenn.
New Zealand is now very prosper
GUS compared to what it was few
years ago. This prosperity is attribut-
cd to the land tax and land policy of
the Government. This is not the single
tax, but approaches it in principle.
The land tax is not tax on land, but
tax on land values, 1t ranges from
penny to the pound to threepence to
the pound, with an extra penny added
for absentees, The effect of this has
been to reduce alien ownership.
European landlords soon get tired of
paying the heavy tax. They very soon
become more than willing to sell out
in small parcels and ut low figures
This has precisely the effect intended
1T gives actual settlers an opportuni-
ty to obtain homes at reasona BILE fig
ures. Large estates are rapidly break.
ing up. In few years they will cease
to exist. should should say in this
connection that actual settlers are per.
mitted TO have land to the value of 500
pounds exempt from taxation. Besides
this we have the graduated income tax
Alliincomes under 300 pounds are ex-
empt; from 300 to 1000 pounds the Cax
is 2ll6 per cent; all over 1000 pounds
pays per cent. All corporations and
absentees pay the full per cent with
out exemption. These two taxes take
the place of the old property tax, which
has been abolished.
"The Government borrows money in
Europe in large sums which it lends to
the farmers. The Government pays
per cent interest and charges the farm
er per cent As a matter of fact, the
farmer pays per cent per annum.
per cent of which goes into the sinking
fund to cancel the principal. After
paying 6 per cent per year for seventy
three years, the debt is extinguished.
This plan has been an entire success so
far as it has been tried. Interest rates
were formerly very high
"The Government owns the telegraph |
the telephones and the railroads in