The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-11
SOME SURPRISING LAWS
Island Colony Of the Pacific Most
Progressive Country On the
Globe-Things Done By
Government.

Mr.. q. G.. Manning, chairman OF
the committee on Social Welfare OF
the South Bend Chamber OF Com
meree, talked Monday night before
the Civic Club, and after his lee
ture answered many questions about
that Far away and interesting land.
The lecture was a most valuable
one and provoked much thought as
to what governments are doing and
might do for the good of their
people. The meeting was held at
the beautiful home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Miner and was largely attended. At
the close refreshments of coffee and
crullers were served.
Mr.. Manning said New Zealand
was a country about the size Oh
Indiana and Illinois combined, and
had population fof about million
people. 1t is about as far south OF
the equator as Japan is north and
has a semi-tropical climate. The
people are English, Scotch and Irish
with very few other races.
The series of remarkable laws In
New Zealand are the results OF
dealing with critical conditions In
the country. They are not the re-
suit of socialism or of any par
ticular "ism," though they were en-
acted by the liberal or progressive
party. In New Zealand the govern
rnent owns and operates the rail-
ways, the telephones, the express
business, the telegraph business,
life insurance, owns and leases
much land, owns and works many
coal mines to keep the price Of coal
down to a reasonable basis, have
compulsory arbitration for strikes,
loan money, have a public trustee
to act as lawyer, guardian and ad-
ministrator, and do many other
things for the good Of the people.
The taxes are graduated, those
having the most property paying the
most tax. The man of small means
pays very little, perhaps nothing to
the general government, the revenue
being raised by a tariff, income
tax, inheritance tax, and by a
direct tax on the large property
holders.
The country has a large debt on
account of all these activities, but
they do not worry about that, be-
cause he people are happy and pros
porous. The average per capita
wealth of New Zealand is $1700,
whereas in the United States it is
only about $1,000.
The purpose underlying all these
statutes is to help the people to a
more comfortable and happy life
The spirit of brotherly assistance
for the poorer, and restraint on the
powers of the rich prevades all the
government does. They have nc
tramps and no very rich, and they
want none Of either.
The government railways haul
school children, below the higf
school, free, Picnicing parties
from country to city and from city
to country ride free. Fertilizer
for farms are shipped free, as arr
also imported blooded stock. The
government loans money at Az PEI
cent, takes packages in the post
Office up to 56 pounds for a few
cents. Local merchants do a larg
business by mail in this way ant
have the advantage of not having
to carry so large a stock of goods
Large holdings of land were brok
on up and made into small farm
which are leased (not sold) by tn
government at 4 per cent of tn
value per year. The government
does not sell its land,
A vote of thanks was tendere
Mr.. Manning for his interestin
talk. At the head Of the Socis
Welfare committee Of the Chambe
of Commerce in South Bend Nj
Manning has been developing i