AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

Evening Star, Issue 7471, 15 March 1888, Page 2

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

[Special to the Star.]

INVERCARGILL, March 15.

Mr J. G. Ward, M.H.R., who recently returned from a tour of the Australian colonies, has been interviewed by a ‘ News’ reporter. Among other things, Mr Ward says:— AH AUSTRALIAN TARIFF WAR PROBABLE. Discussing the question of Protection with a number of the leading business men of Sydney, the feeling appeared to be that ere long New South Wales must in self - defence adopt a protective Kolicy. One of the sorest subjects with few South Wales and Victoria alike is the bitter feeling which apparently exists in both colonies on the subject of their respective fiscal policies. It crops up among all classes, and Mr Ward feels certain that in consequence anything in the shape of intercolonial reciprocity is very far distant —that is, until all colonies have adopted a protective policy, and have had an opportunity to attain to the position that Victoria now occupies in the way of manufactures. The feeling in New South Wales is that to adopt intercolonial Freetrade just now would be to open her ports to Victorianmade goods, and to make the possibility of the establishment of local industries within either New South Wales or New Zealand more remote than ever.

“In New Zealand,” continues Mr Ward, “many people (myself among the number) have feared the effect of a duty being levied against our produce; but after visiting Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, 1 have come to the conclusion that it would not be a serious matter to us if that were done, as it is quite evident that neither Victoria norNew,South Wales, whatever duty they might levy, could possibly do without our supplies. The result would simply be that while their farmers received more for their produce those colonies would draw as largely from us as at present, and their consumers would have to pay the additional duty.” THE SILVER BOOM IN ADELAIDE. “ During my visit to Adelaide ths effects of the silver discovery were very noticeable. Depression, so far as the city is concerned, has disappeared—never again, it is fondly hoped, to show its forbidding presence. Bustle and excitement prevail everywhere. One very gratifying feature of the position deserves special mention : During the recent bad times many business men and others had to go to the wall, tho victims of circumstances. Then it was a case of the ebbing tide ; but of late a few of them have made their ' piles ’ in silver speculations, and it is no uncommon thing to hear of people who ‘ went through the court’ calling their whilom creditors together and paying the orthodox 20s in the £. The ‘boom’ has brought about all sorts of striking illustrations of the vicissitudes of life, proving that truth is stranger than fiction. For instance, when passing along the street one day, a friend called my attention to a couple driving along in a phaeton. ‘There,’ he said, ‘go two of the lucky ones. A few weeks ago he was cook and she housemaid in one of our hotels, but they happened to hold some mining shares, and the other day they bought a residence in the suburbs for L1,500.’ During the week of my stay I was told that LIOO,OOO would be distributed in dividends to people who were poor yesterday, but are to-day rolling in wealth. New Zealanders may be interested to learn that an old resident of Southland, Mr P. K. M'Caughan, ex-M.H.R., has, in mining parlance, ‘struck it rich’ both in silver and land, and is, as might be expected, more than his old self again, full of ‘ go,’ and as jolly as the day is long,” PRISON V. FREE LABOR. “ While in Sydney I visited Darlinghurst Gaol, which is right in the city—a most objectionable site in that respect, and due to the wonderful way in which building operations have extended. The gaol is massive but gloomy, and Is formed of a large number of structures within » square. There were 700 prisoners within its walls at the time of my visit. A great many of them were .engaged in varions trades. They have carpet factories, printing, bookbinding, and tinsmithing establishments. It would be interesting to know to what extent this prison labor affects the free article; but certain it is that many of the inmates of the Darlinghurst Gaol are far more productive than they would be outside. Among the prisoners X noticed EXolt, the ex-bank manager, who did not look so ill as I had been led to expect. It is said that when he is set free he will come into a small fortune. Just before his committal he invested in some land in Sydney, and there has since been a rush in that direction, the result being that his lots have been selling at an enormous increase on the price he gave for them. It is said that his wife, who was reported to have gone to America, has returned to Sydney, and is waiting till he is once more a free man.” THE BUILDING BOOM. “ I heard both in Sydney and Melbourne that a good many people were out of work. The classes that find work most readily are the mechanics, carpenters, and such like ; but even they will soon experience a change, for people representing all trades are pouring in by every steamer. There is no doubt that a great deal of work is being done ; but, on the other hand, there is such a thing as overstocking the labor market—of the supply being greater than the demand. I met a good many Southlanders in Sydney and Melbourne, and was glad to learn that in every case they had obtained employment. They appeared to be well satisfied with their prospects. Some of them say if oar climate could be transferred to Victoria life would be blissful, indeed. Mongolians arc to he found in all descriptions of trades and businesses, but I did not hear a single w'ord in their favor all the time I was there. Both in Sydney and Melbourne shocking scenes of vhc in some of_ the dens among the lower order of Chinese were reported. Their presence is almost a scourge—one that I hope we shall never suffer from. Both in Melbourne and Sydney there is a perfect craze for speculations in property. To an outsider the prices realised for some of the allotments in the leading streets appear to be fabulous. Syndicates are busy everywhere, and it is said that they are freely investing on behalf of British capitalists. A feature about the business is that the latter are not advancing money on loan, but buying properties out and out. This, of course, gives people on the other side great satisfaction, and when I ex pressed the opinion that a reaction must come, and with bad effect, I was told that if the properties receded In value it was the outside capitalists and not colonists who would suffer. They have had splendid rains in New South Wales, and localities formerly dependent on outside sources for supplies are now exporting to Sydney. In South Australia the wheat crop is very good this season, but owing to the poorness of the soil individual holdings require to be much larger than we are accustomed to see in New Zealand, Stock, of course, does not look nearly so well as here. They may have the best of us in the matter of cities, but so far as the country is concerned we are far ahead of them. ’