The Mena weekly star., 1906-07-12
THE NY ZEALAND NAY
Premier Ward, Now in This Coun. try, Tells How Trusts are
 Treated There.
GOVERNMENT ON sOCIALlSTIc LINES
Regulations to Control Railroads and 9th. CT Great Aggregations of Wealth Must be Drastic to be Effectiye--PubIic Utili ties Only Allowed to Earn l-2 Per Cent on Investment.

ties Oniy Allowed to Earn ; l-2
 Cent on Investment.
 New York, July 7.-Among the pas sengers on the Majestic of the White Star line. which arrived here Thurs day from Liverpool and Queenstown, was the Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, K. C. M. G., and Lady Ward Sir Joseph is the new premier of New Zealand, having been chosen to suc- ceed the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, who died recently on shipboard off the Australian coast.
 Sir Joseph was for many years the postmaster general of New Zealand, and was in attendance at the Inter- national postal congress at Rome Australian by birth, and entered the government service at the age of 13. He has been minister of tourist and health resorts, minister of railways and postmaster general of the Brit ish colony, noted for it's socialistic form of government.
 rIe was asked In the course of an extended interview what action would be taken ill New Zealand if an ice company increased the price of the commodity to consumers to obtain more than reasonable profit He said:
 "The solution of that problem Is simple If any man or company should buy up all the ice plants, con- trol the supply of ice on hand, and then push ID the price to consumers, we would immediately build ice plants and give the people all the ice they wanted at a small price and fair profit We had similar condition arise at home in rhe coal industry, and we put 1t down quickly
 When the question of government regulation of railroads was suggested. Sir Joseph said that regulation to control railroads and other great az gregations of wealth which oppressed the masses would have to be drastic to be effective. He suggested as a remedy extensive publicity obtained by an impartial and thoroughly hon. est system of investigation. Concern ing the operation of railroads in New Zealand the premier said:
 We have the largest per capita of wealth in the world in New Zeal- and and We have proportionately the lowest rate of taxation We have the cheapest public utilities and probably the most efficient Our railroads haul people cheaper than any in the world, and nowhere are railroads operated more economically. Whenever we find that public utility is earning more than 3is per cent we reduce the charges to the public !"
 Sir Joseph made plea for closer commercial relations between the united States and his country, saying|
 T can speak with the responsible ny of prime minister for my coun- try when I say that we are quite pre- pared to enter upon a commercial treaty with the United States to let you have our wool..af which we have surplus, and to take American pro- uncts in exchange. I would be ready
 '''NrS SutH q pTppoSitloH WitH gentlemen in responsible positions in Ihis country even before I go back to New Zealand"
 oyster Bay, N. r., July 7-Slr joseph Ward, premier of New Zealand ook luncheon with President Roose- 'elt at Sagamore Hill Friday. Before groceel ling to the presidents home Sir joseph said he was most interested in nscussing with the president the pos hDllity of negotiating a reciprocity .eeaty between the United States and NeW zealand. The latter country he 'ald had surplus of wool and gum New Zealand could negotiate treaty "ith the United States, he said, with 'ut reference to the British government ma ne was prepared to take the off aal preliminary steps in that matter ma was anxious that such steps should se taken before he leaves the country ne said he should endeavor to leave ne matter in the hands of the British 'noassy at Washington on his de- garture from the country.