Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-29
REVIEWS BAD CONDITIONS ABROAD
Socialism in New Zealand is Having Denor-
slizins Effect on the Country and
Its People.

| EDITOR CENSOR: 1t is generally con
sidered that New Zealand has enacted
into laws more of thesdelightful sound
ing theories of socialism than any other
country. This has been carried to suci
an extent that many call it the land OF
socialism. But l cannot see that any
real beretit has resulted to that portion
OF its citizens most needing a change OF
/ conditions. Take the wage workers as
an illustration: During the past few
years they have succeeded in having
their wages increased l5 to 20 per cent,
while the cost of living has risen 80 per
cent. Their hours of labor have been
shortened and conditions generally un-
| der which they work have been greatly
| improved, but this has caused a CORES
ponding, if not greatly snhansed dis
advantages to nearly all the people of
this country not factory or day laborers,
so that | can't see that there is any net
beneficial result.
Let ms call your attention to the
enormous and rapid increase in the tax
alton of the people of this country that
is now taking place: Dividing the
whole taxation, general and local, for
the year ending March 81, 1900, among
the white population it amounted to
6 4 lSs (S24. 500 per. head. In 1906 it
amounted TO SIS lbs lid ($28. an, In
1907 it had mounted DO to IS 3s Sd
(six pounds three shilnigs and three
pence per head $3.50. 81, an increase
in one year of nine shillings and four
pence (S2S3) per head for every white
man, woman and baby in the country.
Such statement seems incredible, but
1t IS not mine, but what the govern
ment says, and they seem to think that
It needs explanation, for theyxadd this:
IT may be well to call attention to the
fact that full yield of taxation per
head of population may indicate tout
SIDE the question of increasing the rate
OF any particular tax leviedl a salts
factory condition Of business as show
ing activity. But why does not the
Premier Sir Joseph Ward, explain how
1t comes that with the enormous sur
pluses the government claims to have
had at command for the last thirteen
years this huge increase of taxation
should be allowed to take place? IL
Goes not seem that the soeialistie
measures that have been passed in such
abundance by the Seldom and Ward
administrations (the last two) have de-
creased the burdens of the people at all.
The cost of living has been enormously
increased, and the taxation Of the peo-
pie since Mr.. Seddon took charge has
increased continually till now il is G
los l0d (S9. 20) per head per annurn more
than it was then, and Of this great in
crease 9s i'd 1888 took place during
last year, in one year, be it remembered.
Socialism is just beginning to tell in
New Zealand. The people will find it
out IN few years. If change is not
soon made nothing can prevent the
railways, state coal mines, etc, from
being sold TO private companies. How
ever, the government tells the peopls
that the increase in taxation is d sign
OF increased prosperity. They ought to
know. Do they? Time will tell.
| am opposed to socialism chiefly be-
cause | am convinced that If socialism
was adopted in any country a deep ani
lasting injury would be done to that
naticn, and especially to the workinr
classes, who would be most exposed ii
its demoralizing effects.
The London Spectator recently said:
We recognize as strongly as any one
of our socialistic opponents, the evils
of poverty, and desire as passionatelv
as they can to get rid of those evils and
to endow the working classes with a
larger share of the profits of industry
We want to see, not the rich richer and
the poor poorer, but better division
of the worlds wealth. I"
But think-nay, | am certain judg-
ing by what has been done in this
country, that this improved state of
things can never come about under
system of state socialism. On the
contrary, state socialism will not only
immensly reduce the wealth of the
world and so provide less to 90 round,
but what is far more important. xviii
render the individual citizenless capable,
less independent, less self-respecting,
and therefor morally an inferior man.
Very truly,
HENRY c. MILLARD.
Auckland, New Zealand, Dec. %.