The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-20
Paper Read by
Geo. NJ. Palm
en- Before the
Social Science
Club.

have come to stay, and the opposition
has largely died out. Consul Connolly,
in his special report of 1896 says
81 am pleased to say that with few ex-
ceptions the large contributors under
this act, admit it is a just tax and
they have no desire to return to the
old system. :"
Employers and corporations may be
compelled to give list of salaries
paid to employees. Incomes up to
81, 500 are exempt. The tax varies from
10 cents on the pound for the first
81, 600, over and above $500 exemption,
to "a cents on the pound on any
amount over the first 81, coo. Life
insurance premiums of $50 being
added to the $500 exempt The old
age pensions act is an effort in the line
of taking care of the deserving poor
in such manner as not to bring in
the idea of charity or to cause blush
of shame to those who, either on &C
count of misfortune or other causes,
are unable to take care of themselves.
The pension is to supplement private
means as well as to provide help for
any who may be absolutely destitute.
The idea probably arose, partially from
repugnance to the poor laws or charity
aid system, and partially from the
spread of socialistic views, directly OPP
posed to the laisse faire principles con-
stantly urging on Legislative action
tending to the equalization of wealth
1t provides that the deserving man or
woman who has reached the age of 60
years and whose annual income does
not exceed e34 or whose accumulated
property does not exceed e270, shall
receive pension of SIS per annum.
1t is diminished one pound for every
pound of income above e34 and also
one pound for every complete e15 of
net capital value of all accumulated
property above exemption of $50.
Women were given the franchise in
1898. Commencing some years previ-
Gus with giving women the right to
vote for school officers, they were next
given the right to vote on all ques
tiOns of license. Next rate payers
were given an equal voice with men
in all municipal affairs. Finally
suffrage was given to all regardless of
sex, on reaching the full age of 81.
This act came within 3 per cent of
doubling the actual number of voters.
One marked result has been in the
selection of public officers More at
tention has been paid to the personal
character of the candidate, even to
the point of considering character
more than ability. Female voters
seem to think more of the kind of men
and less of questions than male voters.
Women may become chief executive
officers of municipalities, but as yet
they have not been given the right to
become members of parliament. They
seem to take moderate and conserva
tive view of things as a rule. They
have given all questions on which they
have been called to vote, careful and
intelligent consideration and the result
in general has been most satisfactory.
The liquor business in New Zealand
is matter of local option on broad
basis. While the law does not permit
any saloons, hotel keepers are licensed.
If man is seen coming from place
where liquor is sold, in state of
drunkenness, the proprietor is fined,
and for a second offense is liable to
lose his license.
Once in three years a referendum
vote is taken upon the question of is
suing license The points to be voted
on are three: Shall license be increas-
ed? Shall the number, of licenses re-
main as at present? Shall all licenses
Demolished?
The state also conducts a successful
State Life Insurance department, doing
a large business and successfully com
peting with other life insurance COM
panies. 1t is said to do more business
than all other companies in the colony
The public trust Office of New Zeal
and is the colony, quite unique. The
Office is designated TO enable anyone to
easily appoint an agent, attorney,
trustee or executor. The public trustee
can only be appointed for other pur-
poses than the administration of an in
testate estate, subject to the consent
of the board of the public trust Office
The duties and rights of the public
trustee under any appointment are the
same as if the appointment had been
made of private person. 1t being
part of the government service, the
good faith of said trust is guaranteed
by statute and the state guarantees
the integrity of funds placed in the
pubic trust office, either with or with
out any direction for investment, if
invested in the discretion of the pub
lie trustee, in security in which he is
allowed to invest capital
These securities are clearly set forth
in the laws governing the public trus-
tee. The colony guarantees a common
rate of interest to be determined from
time to time and credited quarterly
on all trust funds Thus the fund
placed in the public trustees hands
are covered by guarantee of the
state, first, against loss from invest
ments in bad or insufficient securities
second, against loss from delay in in
Nestment third, that the interest de-
teamined from time to time by order
of council, shall be regularly and
paid free of all charges
The system of state tax land is such
that all improvements on the land are
exempt. The amount of any register
ed mortgage on land is exempt and
are required to make re-
turns of all mortgages.
The law contains provision that
in case the income of any land or
mortgage is less than 81, 600 per annum
and the owner is unable on account of
age or other good reason from supple
such income afurther exemtion
may be allowed by thecommissioner up
on his being satisfied that the payment