A VISITORS IMPRESSIONS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9320, 22 January 1896, Page 6

A VISITORS IMPRESSIONS.

m A CHAT WITH MR JAMES BUCHANAN. (BT OUR SPXCIAL REPORTER.) Mr James Buchanan, a member of th c firm of Buchanan and Co., the celebrated Whiskey distillers of Glasgow *nd London, is at present on a visit to New Zealand. Mr Buchanan has recently taken an active part, in conjunction with other prominent members of the London Licensed Victuallers' Association, in the recent elections, which resulted in so brilliant a victory for the Conservative party in England. Mr Buchanan has travelled through the North Island and on here, and, being of an observant nature, his remarks on the coincidence of the political outlook here and that in England just prior to the general elections will, no doubt, be read with interest. Mr Buohanan had a brief chat the other day with a member of tho staff of the Pbess, and the result appears below. THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS. "Though the revulsion of feeling in England," eaid Mr Buchanan, "was tc some extent a surprise, to us who had been watching the course of events it was not so unexpected. The first note of change was sounded in connection with the election for Parish Councils. It was noticed that the labour organisations were voting in connection with the Parish Council elections for Conservative candidates. Then came the second phase of the change, the County Council elections. Following bard upon the Parish Council elections these still further accentuated the note of change. Conservative candidates were returned where before there was not the ghosc of a chance. This gave us courage to go out and try to find out what was at the root of the matter. We found, on going amongst the working clashes, that they were sick and tired of tho promises of the Gladstonians. They found that their wajsee were getting lower, their chances of employment fewer. They had been promised tnat their wages would be higher und that more employment would be available for them if they supported the Liberal cause with a large L. But they found that this was not so. People shut up their pockets and refused to epend any money in improvements. Hence the working man, finding no result from the promises made to him turned round and voted for tho Conservatives. Whilst I have been in New Zealand I have been observant of the signs of the times. I have gone amongst the people, and I see something of a similar character existing here to that which I have described as taking place in England. lam not sufficiently acquainted withithe politics of the country to say more 1 than that, but you tell mo that a general election is not far off, and I fancy I can see signs of a eimilar reversal of political matters here. The Licensed Victuallers' Associations at Home have now become a very strong and recognised factor iv politics. The time was when we were disintegrated, when from the political opinions of many of our members inclioing towards Liberalism we were divided. But all this is now over, and we are all federated together as a trade organisation similarly to the labour organisations, with the result that we had a considerable influence on the late elections. How any one connected with the trade here could have been favourable to the candidature of a prohibitionist merely because he came out as a Government candidate I cannot understand. IMPRESSIONS OF THE COUNTRY. " This is my first visit to New Zealand, and X am simply oharmed with its scenery and olimate. I have visited the wonders of the hot lake district, and shall take care on my return home to make them widely known. Christchuroh, too, impresses one very favourably. There Iβ about it a very ■trong resemblance to the old country, indeed it is hard for mc to realise that I am 13,000 miles away from home. I intend taking another trip next year and bringing my wife and spending some time in the colony, so as to make myself most thoroughly acquainted with the different parts of it."