OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1776, 19 June 1896, Page 5

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(MtOM 008 OWN CORESSi'ONDKNa:.)

The opening of Parliament has come and gone amidst the usual booming of guns and display of gold lace and cocked hats. Members have shown their eagerness for business by giving notice of no less than forty-six Bills, thirty two motions, and twenty-two questions. The Governor's speech aroused but little interest; all other matters being completely overshadowed by the probabilities as to the Hon, Mr Ward resigning. As may be supposed the Treasurer and his affairs have been the all-absorbing topic of conversation here this week. There are few who have anything tut the hardest terms to apply to the Treasurer’s business methods. The ‘ Post ’ on Monday, for* getting that, until the case is over no com* ment should be made, said The disclosures, we are sorry to say, show a worse state of things than we stated, or the public could have imagined.’ The Christchurch ‘Press’ has called upon the Treasurer to resign, and the majority of those with whom I have spoken on the matter express the opinion that in the interests of political decency, to say nothing of the interests of Party, Mr Ward should resign. I hear that his resignation will depend on what the judgment is. Irrespective of the|verdict, unless there is forthcoming a satisfactory explanation Of the ‘ oats business,’ many consider that the Treasurer should no longer remain a Minister of the Crown. As a man in the street forcibly, though rather ungramattically, put it : — 1 This d- oats business is the worst feature in the whole lot.’ The drawing of a draft for L 30,000 on a shipmenkof oats which had no existence is a transaction which meets with few apologists. It does not appear that Mr Ward was cognisant of this transaction, though his ignorance of it is difficult to understand. Already it is rumored that should Mr Ward remain in office it is quite probable that at least one of his present colleagues will resign. The rumor goes that the Premier has the Treasurer's resignation in his pocket, and that in all probability it will be announced on Monday. A caucus of the Government supporters is to be held that day, and if the opinions expressed by members count for anything, the Ministry will be forced to agree to the Treasurer’s relegation to private life. It is stated, on what I consider reliable authority, that the Wellington shareholders of the Colonial Bank are consulting counsel aa to the advisability of criminal proceed* ings being instituted against three members of the Upper, and two in the Lower House The Premier’s activity in stumping the country, replying to the speeches of the Opposition, has been the subject of much speculation. Generally, it was looked on as a severe case of politics run mad, and not a few expressed the opinion that instead of having a good effect it only showed that Ministers were apprehensive of their stability. In the light of the facts brought out at the recent proceedings in connection with the offer to purchase from the Colonial Bank the debts of the J. G. Ward Farmeis’ Association, the Premier’s object becomes apparent and those who previously scoffed have now only praise for the generalship displayed. It is contended that had there been no counterblast to the Opposition speeches, the assertions made therein would have been added to the revelations which have been made in the court case in Dunedin, and both together would have had a disastrous effect on the fortunes of the party at the forthcoming elections. Nothing else could otherwise explain the feverish anxiety shown to meet the people when the opening of Parliament was so close at hand. Indeed, the Opposition and the National Association apparently chose ibis particular time to conduct their campaign, in the hopes that Ministers would not have time to reply to their speeches; All may be aa fair in political warfare as in love and war, but the net results of this attempt of the Opposition can hardly be said to have repaid them—a fact which is apparent by comparing the different receptions which were given to Captain Bussell and Mr Seddon at Christ* church. It will be remembered that the South Australian delegates to the Intercolonial Fruitgrower’s Conference did not arrive in time to be present, and that it was decided to include the papers they intended delivering in the report of the proceedings. Having had the privilege of perusing the advance sheets of the proceedings, I am able to give you a few remarks from the paper on ‘ The Wine Industry in Australia,’ by Mr Thos. Hardy, the well-known wine manufacturer. According to Mr Hardy, the total amount of wine produced in the Australian colonies in 1895 was 4,450,000 gallons. Of this amount 632,000 gallons (or one-seventh of the whole) was exported to places outside Australasia, while the intercolonial trade amounted to 51,000 gallons. The consumption of colonial made wine in Australasia was three quarters of a gallon per head. ‘Unfortunately,’ the writer remarks, ‘a large proportion of the vines planted have been of the heavy bearing varieties, and it is now found that they do not produce a wine good enough to satisfy the English trade.’ He writes further on : * Wine growing countries aro wine-drinking countries, and in time the consumption of wine by Australians will become more general. This will be effected by manufacturers putting on the market wine that working men and women will drink. Such a wine must be soft to the palate, free from any undue acidity, and sold at a price to compete with beer—say twopence for a glass containing the quarter of a bottle. Unfortunately for us, retailers of wine look upon it aa an article that they should get a larger, profit from than from beer or apirifcsl As an instance I was recently at a seaside place served with a glass of claret, not more than one-tenth of a bottle, for which I was charged sixpence, or at the rate of five shillings per bottle ; and this for wine which I knew only cost the publican eightpence per bottle, carriage included.’ Aa a means of bringing wine into more general use Mr H»rdy proposes that confectioners and restaurant-keepers should be allowed to serve wine with food, at an annual license of LI, Intercolonial free trade would, in hi* opinion, give an enormously extended market for the vinegrowing countries. In another portion of his paper Mr Hardie states ; —* Possibly New Zealand may enter the lists as a winegrowing country, and fine light wines will Be produced if the difficulties of oidium and fungus diseases can be got over, and suit* able localities selected,’ *We have,’ ha remarks,. * in Australia the advantages of cheap land, and land that requires no manuring for 15 years to 20 years for vines. The South Australian Government have offered to subsidise wineries, both building and plant, to the extent of hall the cost, but as yet no advantage has been taken of this offer/ Owing to the preparations for the opening o! Parliament having been left to so close to the date of opening, it was found necessary for theworkmen to work during the Sunday preceding the opening.

Mr Larnach is making enquiries as to ■whether;! the survey of the RoxburghHeriot Railway has been completed, and, if it has, when the report will be laid before the House. He is, also, enquiring respect* ing several purely local matters, but, as may b« imagined, he has not had time yet to do much.