The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-09
NO POVERTY THERE.
No Trusts, MonopoIies or Beggars in
New zealand.

New York, July "A typical New
xealander has come to town-Sir Joseph
George Ward. premier of tn colony
A talk with him was as full OF sur
prises as dialogue with man from
Mars. This representative Of the new
est and most philanthropic government
in the world told things to the New
Workers who met him that made them
stare in anna cement.
Everybody who reads knows, OF
course. that the government Of New
Zealand IS only 65 years Old that the
1.000,0 600 men and women living on tnal
long narrow island which contains
about as much land as Great Britain
are the richest people in the world;
that they have abolished monopolle5
and trusts and poverty; that the central
government runs the railroad, postal.
telegraph, police, telephone water and
drainage service: that the government
pays a pension of $120 q year to any
decent citizen IS Years or older who
asks for it, and that it provides life
and fire insurance, lends money to farm
ers on mortgage at 3 per cent, and
acts as a wise trustee of dead mems
estates.
But when the New Workers who met
Sir Joseph heard him tell in simple
language just how he and his country
men worked out these things in detail,
how the New Zealanders have actually
created a government Of the people by
the people very much for the beneht
OF the people, they were astonished by
the apparent ease with which these
things are done
1T is the most surprising history
have ever heard" said one of them to
the New zealander. Tt all sounds so
ridioulousIy easy=provided that all are
working for the common good"
Every Man Has Equal Chance.
Our system hardly implies that Sir
Joseph replied. I'VE simply give every
man no matter how great or how
small. an equal chance before the law.
Ne have absolutely no privileged class
or privileged individuals. I don't think
youu find a beggar IN the colony. I'm
sure we have not had one at our door
in 10 or u years"
The premier was the guest of honor
at a luncheon given at the Lawyers
club by c. ". McMurran. Lady Ward,
Miss Eileen Ward. Vincent Ward, W.
Gray. B. NJ. Wilson, Lord Northcliffe
Alfred HarmsWOrth, Arthur Brisbane
and dozen other newspaper men were
also present.
After luncheon the premier made a
brief speech, telling of the wonders of
New Zealand.
"Socianstic and paternal our govern
ment has been called" he said but
the present administration has been in
power for fifteen years. and today even
those who opposed it-and in some cases
bitterly opposed it-WOuld not dare to
advocate a repeal of the laws by which
the resources or our country are admin
istered for the greatest good of the
greatest number"
How Government Helps People.
Sir Joseph told how the government
maintains a labor bureau so as to bring
those who need men and those who need
work into quick contact; of the loan Of
railroad fares to those who wish to
travel to get work; of the cheap rail-
road; telegraph and telephone rates; Of
the low rates of fire and life Insurance;
Of the postal savings banks and the
many ether marvels of his country.
What would you do if any man or
trust should try to corner the market
IN any commodity" was asked
The government, Sir Joseph replied,
would not make the risky experiment
of fixing an arbitrary price for any
commodity. But the situation could be
met. For example. complaint was made
a few years ago that combination Of
dealers had agreed to pay price un-
fairly low for wheat. and charge an ex-
orbitant price for flour. The govern
ment made a careful examination into
the facts; then threatened to take the
tariff off -four. so that it could come in
to the colony free. The movement to
corner the market ceased Immediately.
We think that the people can success
fully cope with any attempt to corner
any needful thing"