STATE ACTIVITIES. New Zealand has become well known because of the various ways in which the functions of the State have been extended.
The tendency in this direction was well devel oped prior to 1890, but became especially marked abort that time. The movement has been the outgrowth largely of the influenee exerted by or ganized labor upon legislation. The tamer of this element has been exereised through the exist ing political parties, and not through the agency of any politico-soeialistic organizations. such as have generally sought to advance radical move ments in other countries. The experiment. for instanee, has been made of preventing strikes and lockout and ad ju.ling questions at issue between labor and capital by compulsory eon ciliation and arbitration. Provisions are made by which either employers or trade unions may bring the dispute before a board of coneilia lion. and if a satisfactory agreement. is not renebed the question can be earried to the een tral court of arbitration. The decision made by this court is final and is enforced, the award against all association, however, being subject to a maximum limit of £500. In practice the plan has accomplished the purpose intended, strikes and lockouts having been wholly pre vented. A number of other measures affecting labor have been carried into effect, such as fac tory inspection. prevention of child lalmr, speci fication I) f hours of labor, and the occurrence of holidays. A system of old-age pension provides that all persons of good character who are over sixty-live years of age and have been twenty-five years in the colony may be pensioned if their income falls below specified limits.
Another phase of State activity receiving much attention has been the public land policy. The attempt is being made to secure and retain the puldie ownership of the land, and freehold is gradually giving way to perpetual lease. The policy of compulsory purchase has resulted in the breaking up of many large holdings held largely for speculative purposes. and has secured
a genuine settlement upon such lands. Ordi narily purchases are affected by friendly negotia tions. and compulsion is not often necessary. Prior to March, 1902, £2.117.352 had been paid for 107 estates. In order to make a settlement and improvement of the land possible by per sons of small means, the Government advances loans to the settlers. The interest charged is 5 per cent. OM' £3,000,000 has been lent in this way. Lands that are leased are leased for 999 years subject to certain conditions of residence and improvements. The annual rental is fixed at 4 per cent. on the cash price or `prairie value' of the land, and there is at no time a right to purchase the freehold. Dis trict land boards have charge of the transfer of lands. The State has assumed the owner ship of a number of utilities, including railroads, telegraphs, and telephones. and engages in the life insurance and the banking business. The results have been generally satisfactory to the advocates of the system. The colony has also taken an advanced position in regard to taxation. The colonial property tax consists solely of a progressive land tax. The system exempts small farmers entirely. Local communities have the privilege also of restricting tax levies to their land values. There is a progressive income tax. New Zealand has created the office of public trustee, whose incumbent has care of intestate estates, certain private trust estates, etc. Any property-owner has the right of appointing him exc•eutor, A local option law provides that licensed liquor houses may be abolished by a vote of three to two in any district, and that the number of them mint he reduced if de manded by a majority of the electors. The question is voted upon every three years.