The representative., 1901-04-18
in new ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT CONTROL BRINGS
GREAT MANY BLESSINGS.

0Ot 6NN M0NT CONVxtOA 0HAN0S "A
GREAT MANY BL.EssINGs.
The Japan Gazette Of Feb. 20 contains
an article inspired by H. D. Lloyd's book
'Newest England" on the advances to-
ward collectivism made recently in New
Zealand. The Gazette terms New Zea-
land "a kind of experimental station for
the rest of the world" It says: The
cooperative principle Is almost COM
pletely substituted for the competitive
in most departments of business. In
stores, factories, banks and farms the
consumers and producers, the capitalists
and laborers are one and the same class.
Insurance is effected through the state.
The total amount of government insur-
ance outstanding is about s9,OO0,OO0.
among a population of less than 9G0,-
900. Almost everybody in New Zealand
over Is years of age is insured, the
average for men being about "A pounds
and for women pounds. The govern
ment does more than one-half of the in
surance business, and it keeps the rates
down to a minimum. Nothing illustrates
better the general prosperity of the peo-
tai invested in insurance. The govern
ment conducts the business on the same
principles as a private company. The
fact that the state is behind every one of
;tc nj M fof1 f0
up promptly has added to the popularity
of state insurance. The state has also
freed its policies Of all oppressive re-
strictions. The one restriction Is that
if he or she commits suicide within six
months of the time of taking out the
policy.
The millions Of dollars received by the
government annually go back to the
people In loans. Without advocating
the performance by the state Of duties
which can be equally we'll carried out
by private enterprise, it may be urged
that such q system of insurance might
well be adopted in other countries.
When we think Of the princely income
realized by the great insurance COM
panies, Of the vast sums that must
be expended in salaries of superintend
ents, clerks and canvassers, In remuner-
alton of directors, in advertisements and
costly buildings, it seems q pity that
SO large q source of public revenue
should be lost to the state.
Another admirable feature is the pub
lie trusteeship. When q man dies with
his estate 90 invested that suspension Of
business would probably mean its ruin.
the state, through its commissioner,
steps in and takes the mans place, car
rying on the business till the heirs can
decide upon its disposition.
When a mans widow Is left with prop
erty she does not know how to manage
or invest profltably, the public trustee,
at her invitation, gives her his advice
and the benefit of his assistance by
investing and conducting the business
for her. To this official cities or indi-
viduals desiring to create a public trust
may go. A person wishing to be absent
from his business for an indefinite period
may put his business in the hands of
this trustee and 60 away feeling per-
fectly assured that 1t will be conducted
as we'll as, II not better than he could
conduct it himself. He knows the trus-
tee is backed by the people, who are re-
sponsible for the last dollar IL any blum
der or mistake is made. The property
Of man who becomes insane goes to the
trustee also. and is conserved and pro-
tected for him or his heirs.
The government railroads in New Zea-
land, which means nearly all the leading
roads, are run for service and not for
profit The minister Of railways said
to Mr.. Lloyd: After we have earned
enough to pay the expenses of opera
tion, and the interest on the money bor-
rowed to build the railroads, we reduce
charges as rapidly as profits increase" :"
ANY profit over three per cent is now
returned to the people in the form Of
cheaper rates. Adults are charged one
half cent and children one-fourth Of a
cent per mile. Mr.. Lloyd saw frequent
ly excursions Of school children going
from the cities to the country and vica
versa. Children Of the primary Grades
are carried free. Working people are
given the same rates for holiday tripe
as the schools. The rates on trains be-
tween the cities and their suburbs are
90 low that the working people can at
ford to have their homes several miles
away from the shops. A seven-pound
parcel can be sent anywhere in the COL
ony for Is cents. Newspapers and
books are carried for less than one
half the rates that prevail In the United
States.
4 farmer can send s. pounds Of his
n -