The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1894.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 231, 27 September 1894, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1894.

For the causa that laeis aßsistsnos, For tho -wrong that'need's resistance, For tie future in ths distance. And tha good that m can ao.

Our local contemporary in this morning's issue trots out the case of a discontented resident at Kingsland. with great complacency. As everybody knows, the " Herald" never loses a chance ot giving a slap-to the Government. The members of the Gabinet individually and collectively are abused*in good round terms; but the chief vials of journalistic wrath are poured on the Premier's head. In Wyndham-street the name of Seddon is associated with political mischiefmaking. The gentleman who bears it is regarded in that quarter as the " Man of Sin," whose policy, if not checked, must bring the country to irretrievable ruin. He is blamed for all kinds of .events in connection with public affairs, although they may be of a .distinctly opposite character and tendency. He is equally to blame whether our returns show an influx or au exodus of population. A year or two ago the arrivals considerably exceeded the departures. The "Herald" then wailed piteously that Mr Seddon's system of co-opera-tive works was attracting a lot of undesirable people from Australia, and that this country would be flooded by spielers and ne'er-do-wells from the other side. Now that the tide has turned, and, owing to causes easily explained, our outward-bound steamers are crowded with passengers, the sapient journal has varied its complaint, and abuses the Premier vigorously because there is an exodus from the colony;

As our contemporary is in such an unhappy frame of mind, and is apparently rather hard up for something fresh to grumble about, the case of the Kingsland complainant proved a veritable godsend. It seems that the gentleman preferred, to contemplated taking up land in Gisborne district on which to place his sons. On second thoughts, however, he abandoned his intention and resolved to settle in Australia. This determination he considered important enough to communicate to Mr Ddthie, who, ever ready to secure a vantage point, read the telegram .to the House. The Kingsland man finds no fault with the quality of the land in the Poverty Bay district, nor with the tenure on which it is offered for occupation. He attributes his resolution to what he calls the borrowing policy of the Government. This announcement, of course, furnishes Mr iDuthie and the " Herald "with a delightful opening for attacking the Premier. Our contemporary once more goes over the old ground that the effect of the Labour Bills will be to drive capital out of the country. The disappointed land-seeker, whose communication induced Mr Duthie's question, is held up as having done a " service to the colony." This is unadulterated nonsense. . Every man who changes from one place to another on account of surrounding conditions finds it easy to attribute his action to the shortcomings of the Government. It is always soothing to one's feelings to have a scapegoat at hand. We are not acquainted with the Kingsland resident, but we doubt whether he

is wise in deciding to ap land in Australia rather i&ffl Poverty Bay. > We know, an faZ* of a former resident in Auckland Jj took, up land.iv the Gisborae district few years ago on the peipetutl-igß: system. His capital only amouritg|p a few hundreds, but by dint of $JL and industry he and his sons ate we! on the highway of success as si..*! farmers, and during a recent visits this city he expressed himself as «. tremely gratified with his prospects! The Kingsland man probably t*k« his politics from the " Herald," uto accounts for his faintheartedness. \\l do'not think he need be alarmed about the " borrowing policy " of the Government, and if he is open to a word of H. advice we would recommend him to I weigh the matter well before embark- § ing his capital in Australia, vy.tiere'thj R land laws are so much less faroura^ » to farmers than in this colony. ~-„., §f So far as the exodus from % shores is concerned, there is no mystery about it. The Premier was correct"ij attributing it to some extent to the cheap fares prevailing, but there can'b.i no doubt that Coolgardie forms the most potent attraction. Even if-wages "were abnormally high in \fl,j, colony, the magnetic influence ~' o[ the Western Australian goldtllldV would be felt. Many of the. 900 who thronged the boats the other day found it difficult to obtain employment here, but there was also a considerable sprinkling of young fellows who have thrown up good billets in this city to try their luck at Coolgardie. Notwitt standing the "Herald's" childish reasoning, it is the magic attractioni!of|jw far-off goldfield to which the exodus; from our shores should be ascribed, instead of putting it down to dissatisfaction with the policy of the Government.