Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-21
REAL GOOD GOVERNMENT.

model conditions that surround the
residents Of New Zealand. \ we'll
known citizen who passed several
years Of hi. life there says that the in
habltants have come nearer solving
the vcXed social question than any
other people on earth. Tie govern
ment, he says, owns and controls al
most all the public enterprises, such as
railroads, banks, the postal system,
lands, etc.
"New Zealand, he says, is very pros
porous undar the present system. A
part of the prosperity is attributed to
the land tax and land policy of the
government. II is not a tax upon
land, but upon land values. 1t ranges
from a penny to the pound to three
pence to the pound, with an extra
| penny added for absentecs. This has
been the cause OF reducing alien
ownership, and gives actual settlers a
chance to obtain homes at reasonable
! figures. Under this plan large estates
are rapidly breaking up. and in very
few years they will have ceased to
exist. Settlers are exempt from land
taxation to the value of $500. The
graduated income tax is a source of
revenue to the government. All in
comes under $500 are exempt; from
that sum to $4,000 the tax is q per
cent; all over that pay 5 per cent. and
all corporations and absentees pay the
full D per cent. without exemption.
The old property tax has been
abolished.
"The government buys up large
tracts of land, which it leases to set
tiers for 500 years. Those who are
deserving and have not enough money
to lease the land can secure loan
from the government with which to
build houses and clear the land. The
government will also provide such
with public work so that they can
earn enough to support their families
until the land can be made to produce
a living. The law provides that eight
hours constitutes days work. This
applies to private enterprises as we'll
as to government work.
"The telegraph, railroads and tel
ephones are owned by the government.
In the country districts where the set
tiers are some distance from the schools
the railways carry the children to and
from the schools free of charge. The
government manages the express bust
ness. Through the enterprises men.
oaed, are not only settlers given the
benefit of a cheap and uniform rate,
but the investment pays the govern
ment.
"The post banks established by the
government have grown so popular
that it was found necessary to fix a
limit upon the amount that could be
deposited. The limit is $500. It
was necessary to do this in order to
protect the private banks, which were
being crowded out of existence.
"In New Zealand the temperance
question must be submitted to the
referendum every three years. The
sale OF liquor can be prohibited only
by a three-fifths vote; on the other
hand, a single additional license can
not be granted except by three
fifths vote. The number of saloons,
however can be reduced by bare ma
jority, but no more than 25 per cent.
can be reduced at one election. The
women are allowed to vote.
"The government has established
life insurance, and does more business
than all the private companies COM
bined. Among other improvements
are several government farms for the
unemployed, but these are scarcely
used, for the simple reason that there
are few unemployed people in New
Zealand. The factory law makes it
obligatory upon employers to provide
dining-rooms apart from the work.
rooms for the employees. Eight hours
constitute days work, and no child
rem under Is are allowed to work in the
factories. All stores and factories
close on Sunday. The government
does its own contracting work, and
deals directly with the people.
"Stiikes are unknown in New Zea.
land. All disputes 60 to a board of
Cancellation, and then in case of an
appeal to board of arbitration, the
Indictment Of which 10 fipo1n