The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-20
Some Social Experiments
in New Zealand.


f. its legislation. So marked has this
been that recent traveller in that
country says it is the experimental
station of the world along the lines
of democratic or semi -socialistic en-
actment. Its population is now about
800, 900 including perhaps 40, 600
Maoris; it's area about 104, 600 square
miles, about IL times the size of
Minnesota. 1t has mild and equable
climate on the whole, and is the best
adapted TO agriculture OF any OF the
Australian colonies.
The government consists OF COVER
nor appointed by the crown with the
power of proroguing parliament and
vetoing legislation. The parliament,
or as it is called, the general assembly,
is composed of the legislative council
and house of representatives. The for
mer nominated by the governor; the
latter elected by the people. Situated
nearly 1000 miles from any other col
ony, with a well educated population,
almost exclusivelyBritish, many of them
born in New Zealand it is in many
respects admirably situated to under
take this experimental kind OF work.
It's progress and the attempt to work
out these great problems is being care
wv
early vet to say what will be the out
come of some of these new laws, but
whether great success or disastrous
failure shall be the result, we can but
admire the energy, courage and striv-
ing after higher ideals which has ac-
tuated these remote cousins of ours.
Prior to about ten years ago, wave
or craze of speculation had prevailed
for several years similar to the
boom times in nearer localities of
which some of us still have vivid re-
collections. Capital has been borrow
ed by the government and by indl-
viduals heavily. Government railroads
had been built through remote and
sparsely settled sections public works
of great scope and character had been
undertaken and extravagancies, of all
kinds entered into, with as little
thought of the future reckoning or pay
day, as when some of us bought acres
ten to twenty miles out from the
''boom'' city at big prices and on time
and dreamed of the near future
when we should sell lots and be mil
iOnaireS.
The end came year or two ahead of
our own sad experience; and OF course
great financial distress was inevitable.
business demoralized, population di
minishing, for great many people
who were badly involved were leaving
the country Capital was frightened
and ruin seemed sure. About ten
years ago began the era of Democratic
and Semi -Socialistic legislation which
has made the name of NewZealand no
torious or famous depending on our
point of view throughout the world.
There was general demand that, so
far as possible, the state should step
in and do those things for common
good which they thought could not be
accomplishin any other way.
The land originally vested in the
Maoris, had been largely acquired by
some of the wealthy early Corners and
was held for speculative purposes. The
people determined to put an end to
this policy and course of legislation
was entered upon with view of
breaking up these immense estates and
thereby giving every man chance to
obtain piece of land for a home.
Laws were passed by which land could
be bought from private owners by the
government when desired, for settle
ment purposes. In fact, land can prac-
tically be condemned for this purpose
when the owners and the state APP
praisers cannot agree on price.
A graduated land tax whereby 81, 500
is exempt and an extra tax over and
above the ordinary tax of 2 cents in
the pound, ranging from a of l cent
in the pound of holdings valued at
S25, 600 increased to cents in the
pound on 1850, 600 worth of land
made large owners very anxious to dis
pose of their lands. An absentee tax
20 per went higher where an owner
has not resided in New Zealand for
three years. made it very uncomfort-
able for nonresident land holders
The government disposes of land to
actual settlers on several plans: First,
by actual sale; second, lease in per-
petuity, rental being per cent per
annum on value of land at time of
rental without revaluation.
In case of land bought in by the
government for settlement purposes, it
is per cent on value with revalua-
tion every 81 years; also the village
special farm settlement plans by which
any number of persons. not less than
twelve, may select block of land of
not less than 1, 600 acres or more than
II, 600 acres on lease for 999 years.
The government will assist settlers to
open their farms, will buy seed for
them, furnish public work to those in
need of it, and $50 to 500 will be adj
vanced to help build a house. All these
plans are subject to occupation and
improvement of the land and one more
than $3.50 acres of first class land can be
sold or rented to any one person.
The government loans money to far
mers ON mortgage security at rate of
5 per cent with payments arranged so
a small part of the loan is repaid
each year This has resulted in lower
ing interest rates and of course is
popular with the farmers, but not
with the money loaners whose business
was interfered with. The state owns
practically all the railroads in the
colony. The railway mileage on March
1, 1898 was 2, 055 miles, the total cost
thereof having been e15, 993, 903 The
average cost per mile, 81, 1888. The
total revenue from the railroads for
the year979S amounted to e. 376. 90;
the total expense, 1857, 1911; the per
cent of expenditure to revenue 60. g.