THE AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 18 April 1893, Page 2

THE AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES.

WHAT THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL SAYS.

In addition to the particulars wired bo us of bhe interview with Hon. J. G. Ward, on his return from Australia, the Dunedin " Sbar " contains the following: —In reference bo bhe question of esbablishing a Customs Union in Australasia, Mr Ward was asked, Whab aro the views of your colleagues on this question ? Ho replied : In answer to that, I may say thab, before leaving for Australia, aba special meeting of bhe Cabinet, bhis mabber was discussed, and I was commissioned bo confer wibh bhe Governments of bhe adjoining colonies. The feeling of bhe Minisbry is bhab we should have a free interchange of nabural products between New Zealand and Australia, with protection againsb fcreign couribrios, and, as I before remarked, opinion in favour of this is rapidly gaining sbrengbh on bhe obher side, and should bear fruib before long. Asked whab the effecb of bhe financial crisis in Australia had been, bhe PosbraasberGeneral said bho3e colonies were in a bad way. Victoria was suffering from the efiecbs of bhe land boom. Bub whab waß telling againsb her mosb was bhe large concentrabion of people in onecenbre. There bhey had gone in for Probection to such an exbenb bhab foreign imporbs were almosb cotnplebely shut oub, and bheir Cusboms revenue had fallen bremendously. The besb indication of bhe complebe stagnabion in Melbourne was bhe almosb entire absence of shipping, bobh in the bay and in bhe Yarra. The presenb Ministers seemed to realise the greab re--Bponsibiliby thab rosbed upon bhem, and were debermined bo grapple wibh the colonies' difficulties. If allowed bhe opporbunity, he believed bhey would before long pub bho country in a sounder posibion financially, and so do bhe firsb essential to enable ib bo overcome bhe depression which now clouded ib. Bobh Melbourne and Sydney were overgrown, and many residenbs in bhose cities would have bo go on bhe land before bhe glub in the labour market would bo removed. Asked whab was the view baken of the progressive legislation of Mr Ballance's Government, Mr Ward said thab New Zealand was now looked upon in Ausbralia as bhe mosb democratic colony of ihe group. Some public men on the obher side expressed surprise ab the progress the colony was making under the present Government, in reply to which ho pointed oub bhac their policy was calculated to benefit all cla39es. Both New South Wales and Victoria "Were now going in for an income tax, and some of the more imporbanb legislative reforms of tho presenb 'Governmenb were being followed. Inquiries had been made of him for full informabion regarding bhe working of bho co-operative system, and for details as bo our land administrabion, and bhe working of bho Land and Income Tax in two of bhe adjoining colonies, and bhe informabion would ab onco bo supplied.