Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16

way 10 dttenO tHe COTONdllOn Ol HlliS
George and the imperial conference Of all
British colonies and dependencies.
New Zealand is enjoying wonderful
prosperity" said Sir Joseph. I'VE have
had great revival of trade without any
abnormal boom. We are q community
numbering of whites only 100000, but
our import and export trade last year
amounted to $2O0,OO0.OOO. which repre-
scented an increase of about 10000, 600
over the year before.
1--WE are taking up the Harvesting of
all the natural water supply OF the state,
and are spending for that purpose SO, COO, .
coo a year and are going to spend 10000
600. We are Harvesting the rivers at
points that will supply centers through
out the country from north to south, for
factories, for lighting and so on. and we
shall supply municipalities at low rate
and prescribe q maximum charge for
them to impose upon private consumers.
We intend to use the power also for sup
plying electricity to some of the rail-
ways, principally on suburban traffic, to
get rid of the SMOKE trouble.
Care as to Immigrants.
1--WE are not forcing immigration as
some other countries are. Last year
our immigration, which came mostly
from Great Britain, amounted to not
more than $4,000, but we are very
strict in our qualifications. The law
prevents the importation of Asiatics to
a large extent, requires an educational
test, health test, which throws on
the steamship officials, before leaving
q port Of embarkation. the responsible
ity Of guarding against any break Of
the law. under the penalty Of having to
depOrt undesirable persons brought
over. The result of our laws is that
should call pure stock, 9sla per cent of
our immigrants being Of British origin.
Seventy per cent of the population
rs New Zealand born. and as the out
come of our system Of education and
our entrance requirements the amount
Of illiteracy in the country is very
small indeed. and won't amount to a
quarter of I per cent. Nearly all of
this number consist OF persons Of
sixty five years of age or upward.
vanced legislation. a great deal of
which has now been in operation
eighteen or nineteen years and has
been thoroughly tested For instance.
we have universal suffrage. Anybody
Of either sex, who Is twenty-one years
old and who has been a resident of the
country twelve months. is entitled to
vote. In the matter of party poll
tics, the comforting Of suffrage upon
women made no difference at all. So
cially and in the home and manner Of
living 1t has done great deal Of
good.
Controls Public Utilities.
1.-The government controls all the great
institutions in the country. all the public
utilities. the railways. telegraphs and tel
ephones. We have great state lending
department, which has lent about
100000 and the losses in the depart
ment in the sixteen years Of it's exist
ence have amounted to only 500. AS
corollary to this department we have the
state valuation department. It's officers
who are permanently employed have to
appraise values and to show proper
grounds for the figures they set. and
this department has been absolutely free
from abuse Of any kind.
New Zealand has adopted legislation
that has put into effect a system of
treating men who are In receipt Of pay
under $1,000 per annum. These contribute
70 cents week, and after five years Of
payments they can receive, when a GER
tain period Of years has passed. an an
nuity Of 1892. If they like they may
make g. large weekly contribution. SO
that they can receive an annuity of $500.
In addition to this. at any time during
the continuance of the contribution if
the breadW1nner of the family is laid up
by illness his wife and children receive
contribution to their support.
Pension for the Old.
age pension law, which has been in opera
ton sixteen years. Under this We pay
out 100000 a year, and it has not
proved a burden. A man or a woman who
has reached the age of siXty-five and who
has been in the country twenty years
without a break. and who can also show
that he or she has not been convicted OF
drunkenness in the five years prior to
the award Of the pension, is qualified to
receive the pension. In the event OF his
or her giving way to drink after the
pension is bestowed the pension is can
celed
'One effect of this law has been to re-
lieve the charitable aid contributions
They still exist, but prior to the adoption
Of the law they required much larger
sums. Then the law proves more humane
than the actual giving Of charity.
from the assistance it gives to the
wife and children il the father is sick.
1t also contributes the services Of
medical man for woman at child
purpose II all of this is not needed
to pay the physician. the rest may be
used for carrying on the home. This
has all been done with view to help
ing the birthrate and bringing into the
world children under the most healthy
conditions possible. SO that they may
have a free chance Of attaining mans
or womanS estate
1--WE assess the value of an adult in
ness standpoint and on national grounds.
We regard the expenditure Of a sum up
to $50 as judicious, when the value of the
infant to the country may be fifty times
that sum. Thus the small wage earner's
wife and children are provided for, and
his fear about being unable to provide
for large family is decreased"