The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-30

land schools are far behind those or United
states. This the teachers acknowledge
and were eager Tor all Information we
schools.
When we arrived I'm Auckland tho com
munity was quite stirred over n new law
just then going into effect. n is called
workers compensation FOR accident act.
By its provision if an employc is seriously
injured ne may collect indemnity from his
employer. II disabled he NAV collect the
tull amount OF $50. In case of death his
family can collect the same. As this APP
piled TO any employment of labor DO was
raising a storm OF Indignation. Manufac-
turcrs who employ labor 10 amy extent were
Fastening To insure at their own expense
the lives of the employees. while many who
had been accustomed To call in occasional
help about house or grounds We're dis
peusing with Il, not caring TO take the risk.
The question was asked - "a poor widow
should employ a man 20 assist about the
place would she, IN case he met with an
accident. have to pay EA92 The inter
prefers OF the law said yes. even II sine
must mortgage her home 90 raise the funds.
y rather curious case came up while we
were in New Zealand I'm an accident both
employer and employee were killed. In this
particular case the employe was as well
of financially as his employer, and people
wondered who was 20 provide Tor the i'm
poverished family Of the latter. The case
was not settled when We left
COMPETITION IMPOSSIBLE.
a legal weekly half-holiday without loss
Of pay is enjoyed All over New Zealand.
This is favored by both employer and those
in his employ. 1t has become so much a
part Of the life OF the colony that it viii
not be likely to be done away with, These
half-holidays are usually spent in recrea-
ton, and 1 never saw a place where so
much time is spent in picnics and excur-
sions, and where the people seem 20 work
so little. But in the face OF all this. there
is before the present Parliament a bin stiu
further TO shorten the hours OF labor. but
il has raised such a storm OF opposition
from manufactures, farmer and employer
of domestic labor that IL viii not be likely
TO go through. Farmers and householders
cannot let all their work wait till $ o'clock
IN the morning. All know II would be utter
folly 10 limit such labor TO eight hours a
Gay, with "A weekly half-holiday taken out
Of that. Most of the manufactures Of New
Zealand are highly protected industries. but
Notwithstanding this, manufacturers can
not compete with countries where labor is
cheaper. As an eXample-the boot and shoe
trade enjoys a protection OF 33 Is per cent.
but the importation has doubled I'm the past
two years, and il is likely that the whole
boot and shoe trade OF New Zealand viii
shortly be captured by the United States.
The man who Is responsible for much Of
the recent legislation Is the leader OF the
Liberal party, Richard j. Seldom, who has
been premier since 1S93. He is a picturesque
and remarkable character whom we should
call in America a self-made man. An IL
literate man Of Lancashire farming stock.
he has risen from a wOrkingman 10 the
premiership of his adopted country. In his
past he has been miner, farmer and tavern
keeper.
1 heard quite diverse opinions about this
interesting man, who has come 10 have al
most unlimited influence over the working
classes and through them rules the cOun-
try. Those of his party call him the noblest
man New Zealand has ever seen, the savior
| and father of the npOnle- Others call him
a political ~demagOgue, using dishonest
means TO obtain and keep the power he
loves, while a few class him among the
visionary enthusiasts. The verdict Of the
future may class him as philanthrOpist.
utopian or rascal. All admit he is clever,
with much magnetic power as a speaker.
and has pushed forward some OF the most
remarkable legislation of modern times.
OVERRIDING THE THING.
But even Mr.. Seldom is becoming alarmed
at the state of affairs and said in a recent
speech: eff things go on as they are going
there will be a breakdown" that ''the
unions are riding the thing 20 death" The
opposition is growing TO such an extent
that Mr.. Seddon's days seem numbered.
The governor, who is appointed by the
British crown, resides In the colony and
is nominally at the head Of the govern
ment, though he is little more than an
ornamental fgurehead. representing roy
atty on public occasions. He has the power
to veto, on behalf OF the crown, any meas
ure passed by Parliament. but this power
is scarcely ever used and the New Zealand
ers run the country 10 suit themselves.
They have the most liberal use OF the bal
lot; men and women, even those Of the
native Maori race. vote side by side. and
there is no educational or property test
whatever, neither is there a poll tax. Sim
pie residence for the required time Is suf-
] hcient. Women were admitted TO the fran
chise in 1898. 1t seemed TO be the consensus
OF opinion that the vote of the women
affects the decision OF public questions very
little.
New Zealand is also a white mans coun-
try, and offers no inducement 10 alien
races. To keep out the Chinese a high poll
tax was placed on all immigrants from
the Celestial kingdom. In 1896 this was
raised TO el00 and the number Of Chinese
for every 200 tons burthen. So, though
Australia is overrun with the Celestials. a
Chinaman is a rara avis in New Zealand
The problems that New Zealand has
tried to solve are those that are vexing all
countries. and SO the world looks on with
deepest interest TO see whether she sue
ceeds or fails. Most students Will concede
that she has made sonae progress. even
though legislation has been carried TO an
extreme that cannot hold. Her experiments
must be a help 70 those In other countries
who are struggling with the same vexed
questions.