RECLAMATION AND LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 101, 2 May 1881, Page 3

RECLAMATION AND LOCAL INDUSTRY.

* TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING FOBT. Sir — On reading the report of Tuesday evening's meeting, one cannot fail to see that the speakers tried to make out that the reclamation of Te Aro shore would be the salvation of Wellington. Reclamation is all very good and desirable, but why should we want 55 acres more building ground when at present we have some 400 or 500 empty house? We don't see a great rush for the present reclaimed land. Of course it would give temporary employment to a lot of men, who would be mostly non-taxpayers, and when the job is completed who is to build on it ? or who is to pay the necessary Corporation expenses for sewerage, lighting, &c. ? Mr. Hutchison said, " there was nothing to prevent the citizens laying ont the money in any way they chose fit." To my mind, part of this £25,000 could not be spent in a better way than by starting Borne local industry, which would be a lasting benefit, and as one industry invariably begets another, the people would be kept in the oily. Just take ona instance from among the many. Anyone visiting the wharf can Bee the quantity of New Zealand flax which leaves every waek to give work elsewhere, when the same could be manufactured into rope, twine, paper, &c, nthome. True, the Government have offered bonuses for the manufacture of various articles, but a more practical way would be to give grants for the starting of some industries, which England did at the beginning of the present century. The present arrangement is like offering a prize for a race when the athletes' feet are tied. The promoters of the reclamation scheme would do well to map out the land in sections and dispose of them first, as otherwise the amount involved is too heavy to run such a risk. If taken up, by all means go on with it ; but if not, they are only enlarging the city and inoreasing the poverty. I am, &c, Wm. Alderd'ce. Wellington, 2nd May, 1881. Acoording to the Times correspondent at Capetown, " Sir Hercules Robinson has made a favorable impression at the Cape, and there is a pretty general feeling of satisfaction that an administrator of such large experience and Bound judgment is at the head of affairs at a critioal time."