A VISITOR'S VIEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9115, 28 May 1895, Page 5

A VISITOR'S VIEWS.

THE BISHOP OP SALISBURY ON NEW ZEALAND. (FBOJI Otfß OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, April 20. The Bishop of Salisbury has been writing to his own diocesan gazette a very interestiug account of his recent visit to Now Zealand, and has expressed his own views with much clearness and point. He expresses his pleasure &t having been able to be present at the opening of Bishop Nevill'a temporary cathedral at Dunedin, and to preach in the "fine cathedral" of Ctuistchurch. The Bishop is enthusiastic over the " magnificent deep land locked harbour" of Wellington. It will sadden the good people ot southern New Zealand to learn that their iiue district is immortalised in the Salisbury Diocesan Gazette as " Octaeo." Evideutly it ia imagined that the entire proviuce took its name from the Dunecun Octagon, the simple process of dropping the last letter providing an appellation for the whole country. " Octago" is good ! After giving au account of the fauna and flora of New Zealand, the Bishop proceeds to record his social and political nnproaaions. He says—" My impressions of New Zealand character arc, on the whole, extremely favourable. One cannot help being struck by the wide diffusion of intelligence and self-respect, as well as respect foe others, enabling you 10 hold a reasonable conversation with anyone you meet and to be certain that you will be met with kindliness and courtesy. I have never travelled in a country where people seem so ready to look at different sides of a question, even if they have a atrong impulse or decided conviction in a special direction. The danger of this temperament seems to be the readiness with which they are williug to try experiments, which is most seen in their legislation. I suppose the mass of laws made and unmade in a short time must be very great, considering the smallness of the population.

" The experimental legislation which most attracts a visitor's attention is that which is promoted in the supposed interest of the working classes, that which touches temperance, and the gift of the franchise to women. The last was carried on the proposal of an excellent arid much-respected Conservative gentleman. Sir John Hall, but was accepted by both parties, I imagine with a view of preventing the other from claiming any special allegiance from the new voters. By it every woman over twentyone has a vote for Parliament. It does not seem to have so far much disturbed the balance of parties, bat it is likely to be favourable, I suppose, to tbe prohibitionists' views. The danger of such a change iv the franchise is not so great here as it would be with us. Here women are mostly domestia and contented. There is a very small female factory or lodger population; and the franchise is so widely extended among men of no substance that woman are probably quite as well able to judge on public questions as many voters of the stronger sex. My impression is that the change was not called for, but that it will do little mischief unless it be by propagating the idea in regions where it would be more dangerous. " Legislation in the supposed interests of the working classes is very rife. The most obvious form of it ia the compulsory closing oi all places of business at 5 p.m. and the compulsory weekly half-holiday, to which a good many others are added from time to time. The most far-reaching is, I suppose, the recent Land of Settlement Act, which reminds one of the legislation of Caiua Gracchus, though it is not, of course, ao drastic an attempt to force people on to the land and to take it away from tbe present owners. I had the advantage of hearing an exposition of it from the Premier himself, Mr R. J. Seddon, who put his case with ability. With the objects of giving men of enterprise who are without capital a chance to start upon the land, and of preventing the growth of a pauper population ia the towns, everyone musfc sympathise. But whether it was neceseary to unsettle the basis of freehold tennre in this country in order to do it, is much more doubtful. We are of course familiar with the idea of compulsory taking of land for purposes of public utility—for railways, schools, burial grounds, and similar objects, for which a proved demand exists— but theaa are all cases in which the whole community is more or less interested. We have also had some recent instances of an advance towards legislation pressing more heavily on one class than another in the graduated death duties; but we should shrink from the extension of this principle in the direction of redistributing private property in the land. Glass legislation, i.e., legislation in favour of one class and to the disadvantage of another, hae always an air of unfairness, ..and requires a much more abundant justification than legislation which confiscates or taxes for the good of the whole community. It is obvious that it opens the door to motives of personal ambition, avarice and jealousy, and tends to unsettle public confidence in the justice of a Government, and so must end in driving capital out of the country, unless all countries are equally affected by it or the case is a very olear one for some change." Iα further discussing recent legislation in New Zealand with respect to land, the Bishop remarks that he is afraid it is clear that it is hostile to the creation of a landed gentry, a class which he does not doubt is desirable in New Zealand. The legislation in question " is apparently based on the rash assumption that the existence of rich men in the country is to be prevented as far as may be as a matter of public policy, with possibly a crude suspicion that it is rather an immoral thing to be wealthy. Wβ know that it is a dangerous and trying thing to the rich man himself; but we know also by experience that, where this fact of morale ia recognised, such men become helpers and leaders to the com* munity, who are able to do what even the community cannot do for itself, because it) lacks that unity of purpose and simplicity of aim which a single strong man can give to a good design." The Bishop goes on to say :—" Legislation in the direction of prohibition of the liquor traffic is also much in the air. A scheme of local option, permitting the total closing of publichouses, or the reduction oi their numbers, without compensation, has been carried, and is adopted in some districts. I cannot venture to pronounce on its results, but I hear reports that it is nob very effective so far. It is difficult quite to account for the strength of the prohibitionist party. There » little visible cvi. dence of drinking, much lesa of drunkenness. On steamers and at mealn in hotels very little . liquor is drunk. Wine il sold at a prohibitive price; and spirits are also dear. Beer and cider are fairly cheap. I am inclined to think that in a small community like this, the misery caused by drunkenness is more apparent, and the value of the lives wasted by it more I appreciated than amongst ourselves. It attacks men who would otherwise be vary good and useful citizens, and sometimes I even disfigures the career of well-known ! public men. This is felt as a slur and a disgrace by the whole body, and many of those who have little positive sympathy with tbe exaggerated views of some of the prohibitionists, are willing to suffer personal inconvenience in order to remove tbe temptation. Thus, generally, no liquor ia allowed upon a sheep station or to shearers; and very little is consumed in private houses. It is possible that public opinion against the use of liquor will gradually grow co strong in New Zealand that a general prohibition of its sale will be accepted as only a slight hardship. If I were aiming myself at legislation, I should direct) it against the sale of liquor at tbe bars, I and towards the compulsory treatment of habitual drunkards, and not attempt anything further at present, leaving the habits of the people to develop the rest of a rea« sonable custom. I should also {I think) take off the duties on Australian wince, wbich are cheap and good in their own country, bntare sold at twice or three times their value in this colony, if sold at all." In conclusion, the Bishop writes, with reference to the religious and ecclesiastical condition of New Zealand :—"My impressions under this head must, I think, be left for another letter, when I have seen Auckland and Napier, and made more aoquaint* anoe with the diocese of Wellington. Much may also be learnt ftrom the aots of the preM&fe Syaod» which will eifc for another fort*

night, and from conversation with its members. I think, however, that I may well My three things now, on which I shall en large in my next letter. First, it is eyideut that the constitution created under Bishop Selwyn works well, and is on the right lines, and produces a real and widespread interest in the church and its future. Secondly, it is difficult to exaggerate the moral value of the Church of New Zealand, of the missionary work which it is called to do, first to the Maoris and next to the population of the islands. This gives a stimulus and an outlet to enthusiasm which might otherwise be lacking in the rather pleasant and commonplace conditions of Church life in so healthy and temperate a climate with so many comfortable surroundings. Thirdly, I should say that the chief duty now pressing upon the Church is to take a greater share in the religious education of the young, in which it plays only a secondary part, except in its higher grade schools. The system of secular education in State schools is good as far as it goes, but it brings tip the greater number of children in simple ignorance of the facts even of Bible history. How we may mend this most dangerous state of things is the Juestion which has occupied my mind since have been in this country. I find every churchman interested in it and ready to talk about it."