Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-30
mated and in which the people are

mated and in which the people are
apotheosized.
As a further result the progressives of
the United States in the discussion and
settlement of novelties in radical legis-
lation turn instinctively to New Zealand
as the worlds legislative experiment sta
ton, and inquire: What on this particu-
lar subject has New Zealand done. or
what is it doing. and what is the lesson
Of its experience" The scope of New
Zealand experimentation is not as ex-
tensive as popularity imagined: some of
the experiments have failed or worked
out dubious results. and differences in
vitality important conditions of constitu-
ent elements and environment between
it and other nations or states render un-
certain the applicability Of the lesson Of
its success or failure in any particular
case to the community struggling toward
the light and seeking to profit by its ex-
perience- However. after all the sug-
gested allowances have been made New
Zealand has reason to be proud not only
of what has been accomplished for its
own benefit by it's progressive legislation.
but also OF the wholesome and practically
effective example. which 1t has set for
the world and by which the world has
benefited.
Successful or Promising Experiments
There are certain legislative novelties
initiated or exploited conspicuously in
New Zealand which the United States or
certain Of our states have In some shape,
with good results. adopted. U Secret
safeguarded (so-called Australian ballot.
to) Postal savings banks. (3 Torren's
system of title registration. D Parcels
post, just adopted in the United States.
10 direct nominations of candidates by
petition. The nominating primaries in
certain or our states have the same pur-
pose OF destroying the caucus and con-
vention system and of taking the election
machinery and nominating power from
our state primaries are expensive and
burdensomely complicated compared with
the New Zealand system. 80 Antitrust
laws. drastically regulating monopolies.
- Laws preventing undesirable immigra-
ton 80 Woman suffrage.
There are certain administrative devices
In the public interest which have worked
well In New Zealand, and which would
De neipfui In any state where substan-
tally or approximately similar conditions
prevail ID public trustee. executor
and administrator. CD Government life
! insurance %, Compulsory insurance to
provide against approximation and inca
pacity or employees in civil service. This
law gives needed and timely hint to the
United states of the wisdom in its own
interest or enacting some system of pen
sion retirement. a. Old age pensions. 90
STANDARDIZATION OF credit through govern
ment loans at low interest to farmers.
mechanics and workingmen as well as
to capitalists and spectators
Some OF the laws already indicated
are on their face intended to eliminate
pauperism. experimenting these are
other wholesome enactments intended to
prevent the concentration of wealth and
| TO abolish the plutocrat. In this connec-
ton the taxing power is used as an ef-
fective weapon. A graduated land tax
imposing increasingly heavy burdens on
the holders OF immense tracts tends to
break up these tracts into small holdings.
The government facilitates this procedure
| by buying up these large estates and IT.
| self leasing or selling 10 small holders.
/ The diffusion OF wealth other than LAM.
Is promoted by graduated or progress
sive income tax, the rich man paying a
higher percentage on his income than his
poorer neighbor.
The spirit animating these laws is
strong among thinking people in the
United States and Will doubtless in the
pubic interest be crystallized into con-
gressional and state enactments along the