Liberal Policies

1
Liberal Policies

• Lecture 4 of 148.205 Modern New Zealand Politics

2
The age of social experimentation

• Australasian colonies gained reputation as
  social laboratory of the world

3
Reeves the first socialist?

• Prided himself on knowledge of socialism
• But he had no class analysis
• He was a nationalist and racist
• He wanted a strong state

4
First Term Industrial legislation

• Reeves formed Bureaus of Industry 1891
• Labour Department created 1892
• Began to plan major factory reform
• Also sought to strengthen trade unions

5
The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act
1894

• This banned strikes and lockouts
• It set up a system of conciliation meetings
  followed by judicial arbitration
• Unions had been badly affected by the 1890
  maritime strike
• It produced industrial peace
• In 1901 the Willis Clause tipped it towards
  arbitration

6
Later Labour Legislation

• Shop Hours and Workers Wages Bill
• Seddon contracted workers to run public works
• Shops and Offices Act 1905
• Aimed to reduce hours of work
• Under pressure from retailers it was suspended

7
Social Welfare Provisions

• Previous legislation in 1885 all to avoid
  introducing the Poor Law
• Seddons Old Age Pensions Act 1898, gave 52 p.a.
  to deserving poor
• Government Life Insurance extended and State Fire
  Office
• Urban Dwellers Act 1905 and Advances to Workers
  Act 1905

8
Social Reform

• Prohibition Issue
• Stouts 1893 Bill
• Seddons Local Option Bill
• 1911 Bill allowed a national poll
• Womens Franchise 1893
• Liberal Minsters wives pro
• Death of Ballance a blow
• Seddon manoveured but beaten by the conservative
  Sir John Hall
• Little done for education

9
Land Policy

• Ballance John McKenzie keenly supported land
  reform
• Wanted to bust up great estates
• Some believed in land nationalisation
• Supported the single tax on unimproved land
  value (Henry George)

10
Measures in First Term

• Land Tax for absentee owners, 1891
• Department of Agriculture founded 1892
• State Farms established 1892
• Land for Settlement Act 1892, and purchase of
  Cheviot Estate

11
Leasing Crown Land

• Perpetual Lease (1882) adapted to a 31 year lease
  1891 failed
• 1892 Land Bill compromised with Lease in
  Perpetuity 999 years with no revaluation
• Very popular
• In 1905 LIP ended, with sharp dispute over
  freehold vs crown estate

12
Land Reform after 1893

• 1894 Act allowed compulsory purchase of large
  estates
• 1.3 mi acres acquired, plus 3 mi acres of Maori
  land
• Advances to Settlers Act, 1894 undercut banks
  with 500-2500 loans
• 13350 loans _at_ 4.2 mi

13
Why were the Liberals so radical?

• European radicals were active Henry George and
  Edward Bellamy had a great influence
• Colonial society liked improvisation
• Not doctrinaire, apart from faddists
• They liked a strong, active state

14
Democrats and Statists

• The effect of liberal reforms was to enlarge the
  state
• New Zealand society was heavily regulated
• They believed in democracy but not in the working
  class