NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7160, 14 March 1887, Page 2

NOTES.

Tne Auckland Industrial Association are decidedly in advance of our Otago Protectionists. The latter ask for increased import

--. 1 Atfodest < Demand. < ]

duties to stimulate local industries, but the former demand in addition that money shall be supplied from the public fund to start such industries. A deputation from the Auckland Association lately waited on Mr Ballance to urge the modest request that the Government should contribute LI for LI to the extent of L 2.000 towards the formation of a company which proposes to make sugar from beet-root—the amount to be chargeable against the bonus offered by Parliament for the first 1,000 tons of sugar produced, provided the experiment is a success. This U the most impudent proposal that has yet been made ; but Mr Ballance is reported to have said that the idea had his full sympathy, and that it should have the Government's most favorable consideration. Now at the present time there is an Act on the Statute-book which provides that the Colonial Treasurer shall pay out of the Consolidated Fund a bonus of" one halfpenny per pound on the first 1,000 tons of sugar produced from beetroot or sorghum grown in the Colony; and there is a further proviso that if, during fifteen years after the passing of the Act—lßß4—the present import duty on sugar is removed or reduced, a further sum per pound equal tq such removal or reduction shall be paid " for all sugar produced in this Colony from beetroot or sugar grown in the Colony to every person Sroducing the same." So that the first proucer of 1,000 tons is protected to the extent of one penny per pound. This means a bonus to the first producer of 14,666, and protection to him and all subsequent producers of an equal amount per 1,000 tons. And yot this is not enough to indues the venture. The Government are invited to expend the proceeds of general taxation in advance, and the Minister of Lands thinks well ef it ! Upon the top of this comes a proposition from the Auckland ' Evening Bell,' that the Government should " either start a milk-preserving factory, or make liberal advances on the easiest terms to those who would, and not merely tax more heavily, but put a prohibition absolute on the importation tff a single tin of preserved milk, until one or two ef OHr own factories were successful." We do not'think these outrageous proposals could be excelled ; but of course Mr Ballance and the Government will accord them "favorable consideration."

Encouraging Native Industries.

Ther* are two classes of Protectionists—the theoretical and the practical. The first proclaims his desire to encourage

local industry, and gives the lie to his advocacy by wearing imported clothing and using imported goods of all descriptions. The other, who as often as not is a Freetrader in principle, wears and uses locallymanufactured articles whenever procure them of equal value with imported. The Government, or their officers, spem to belong to the theoretical class. They are building a new Custom-house in Auckland, and the specifications require that the window-sashes and outer doors shall be made of Baltic pine instead of kauri timber. "It is most lamentable," says the 'Star,' " that one of our most important industries should receive a slap in the face like this at a time when, owing to the general depression, the local mills are only partially employed." To give point to this complaint, at the same time the Wcstland papers are denouncing the Government for insisting on the use of kauri in the construction of public buildings there, when, as they assert, their own locally-grown timber is preferable. Then as a crowning feat, practically demonstrating its sympathy with local industries, the Telegraph Department refuses to use looally-made telegraph insulators on the ground that "on analysis" they are declared not to be good enough for the purpose. A firm in Christchurch has gone to some trouble and incurred considerable expense in trying to please the Telegraph Department (which by-tho-way is under Sir Julius.Vogel); but the imported article is to be used, and none other. This is encouraging local industry with a vengeance.

China waking up

Two Chinese warships arc soon to visit New Zealand, their mission being to inquire into the political and social position occupied by Chinese residents here. China is evidently awaking to a sense of her position. She is no longer content that her older civilisation shall be controlled by the new. Great Britain has taught her some lessons, of which she is beginning to understand the value. Never mope so, perhaps, than when Britain insisted on forcing the opium trade on China, than which a more iniquitous event never happened in the history of our country. Now China is asserting herself. Her people have been subjected to indignities, which no others have suffered, in foreign countries. In the United States violence has frequently been resorted to; but there seems to be a turn of the tide when the American Congress passes a vote of L.30,000 as an indemnity for outrages perpetrated on Chinese residents in Wyoming, far as these colonies, and especially New Zealand, are concerned, the Chinese have little to complain of. They travel from end to end of the country in perfect security, which is more than an European could do in China. True, there is the poll-tax of LlO imposed on Chinamen entering the Colony in greater proportion than one to every ten tons of tonnage by any vessel; and our people would feel it to be a grievance if they were similarly restricted in entering China. The objeetion to the Chinese comes principally from the gokl-miners, but without sufficient cause, for the Chinaman is usually content to work over again the leavings of the European. There may be some who are in dread of being " ruined by Chinese cheap labor," but so far as our own observation goes we find that John Chinaman knows the value of his services and rates them accordingly. It may be said in his favor that he is very inoffensive—he does not swell the ranks of the unemployed, neither does he often appear in the Police Court, and that on the whole he is a good citizen, though his habits are not as our habits, and he is not in some respects a model for our imitation. As to the political position of the Chinese, they are placed upon precisely the same footing as other foreigners.

Charitable Aid.

The reference of charitable aid to the local bodies is evidently effecting the cure proposed by the supporters of the Act for the

checking the propensity to pauperism and its encouragement. So long as the Public Treasury furnished the funds, none cavilled at the expenditure. People are slow to understand that the money expended by Government is furnished by themselves, obvious though the fact must be. It is only when the pinch comes in the shape of special taxation that they unwillingly recognise the fact. It is one of the chief arguments for direct taxation that, if the people knew exactly what they were paying—if they met the tax-collector face to face—they would insist on more uigid economy in the public expenditure, and would moderate their demands in many directions. There is reason to fear that some portion of the money expended in charitable aid is bestowed improperly. It is not pleasant to learn that, as har been stated by Captain Mackenzie, a recipient of 8s a week has. left his heirs L2QO. The remedy appears to be approached in a compliance with the request of looat bodies that they should be furnished with a list of persons residing within their districts who are in the receipt of aid. The sentimental objection offered to this course is not worthy of consideration, in view of the importance of a proper supervision being exercised over the expenditure of public money. The following extract from Montague's • New Socialism ' is harsh in its tone, but unfortunately only too true :—" State oharity, as soon as it overpasses the narrowest bounds, cannot be kept within any bounds whatsoever. The recipients are numberless, shameless, and insatiable. The distributors* are few, helpless, indifferent in most instances to everything but their own popularity. Discrimination becomes almost impossible ; caution is at an end ; frugality is denounced as hardness of heart; the expenses of the State and the appetites of the needy are multiplied a hundredfold; industry is burdened, diligence relaxed, accumulation discouraged ; the sources of revenue; are dried up; and public bankruptcy.and national pauperism are the inevitable consequences." The Melbourne * Argus ' makes Femals merry with the advocacy cf female Suffrage, suffrage by Sir Julins Yogel, In, not too complimentary terms it says:— ' ' • ■ ' ; ■■' ■:•'■' - Such of the softer sex as desire the suffrage have at last found a declared champion in these southern lands' in Sir Julius Vogel.. The womenkind need not think too highly, however, of, their knight 4t wm a wonder how Sir i " '' ~ • i '.' '' <2 ' > ■ ■ ■ ' * .

Julius obtained office this last time. He had to form extraordinary alliances to succeed, and now that he seems to have had his day—now.twt the fortunes of the fight incline against him —he has to attract new recruits ,to his standard. He has been coquetting with female suffrage and with Protection alike of late, in the hope that he would not drive away the, party which accepts him, while, he would gain additional adherents, and now our telegraphic messages say that as regards female suffrage he has definitely made up his mind for this particular lead from his cards. In public life, at all eventß, "there is much in Sir,Juliu* of the gambler. "There is a trick the flret round," he may argue, "if we cannot go on with the suit. The woman advo oates—the screeching si-.terhoad, as some call them—will work hard for me. and no one may be much offended. And the proposal will entitle us to call ourselves Lrberals." But, as the • Argus' says, women do not really desire the suffrage. The sex know when they are well off. The woman to govern the house, the man to fight the world, as a broad rule of life, amply satisfies the division of the human race which in many respects is rather shrewd than soft.

The Russian madman who occuWill the pj e8 the throne of the Czars is still imperilling the peace of the world. He hiis intimated that henceforth ha will pursue his own course unchecked by European trammels, and the issue is beyond calculation. All the nations of Europe are arming, and as they cannot afford to maintain such enormous armaments in idleness, an explosion may occur at any moment. Bulgaria 6eems determined to preserve her national autonomy, and the formation of a powerful Balkan State is amongst the probabilities of the future. Everything points to an outburst of unprecedented dimensions, and our hope is that Britain, selfcontained geographically, will stand calmly by and allow the nations to settle their own quarrels amongst themselves. She has nothing to gain and muoh to lose by interference. Her national debt is chiefly owing to her in her interposition in Continental affairs, and these colonies will have to consider their own position If their security is endangered by any imprudent proceedings on the part of the Imperial Government.

The Rev. A. C. Gillies took his . farewell of the North Duuedih . Presbyterian Church vesterday. There was a fair attendance, and

North DnnedioCburcb.

at the close of the forenoon service the Abdiels of' the congregation—the faithful among the faithless—held a meeting, at whioh Mr A. J. Burns proposed a series of strongly-worded resolutions directed against the Dunedin Presbytery generally, and certain of its members specially. The resolutions were a sort of Parthian shaft, and beyond theße there was little or no indication of leave-taking; Mr Gillies having closely read for fully half an hour a well-' reasoned sermon on the immortality of the soul. And thus, it appears, has ended the five years' pastorate of the rev. gentleman. The dissatisfaction and unrest of the members of the congregation will not end so easily. There is so much that is personal in nil religious matters that, in cases of division, men, and even more so women, are sure to become partisans, and cling to their side. This is not unnatural, and Mr Gillies has been fortunate enough to retain a few devoted followers, who at least furnish proof that his lack of success as a minister has been owing more to infirmities of temper and utter want of tact than any worse cause. Mr Gillies proposes visiting the Old Country, taking Jerusalem on his route, and ultimately returning to Canada, of which he is a native.