OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 209, 16 October 1888, Page 2

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[fbom oub own correspondent ] COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS. Sydney, Oct. 3. The revenue returns for the quarter just ended seem to show pretty plainly that matters have reached their lowest ebb, and that, in the natural course of events, a gradual recovery may be look«d for. The Treasurer and Frectrade dailies, indeed, cla'm that the upward movement has already commenced, and that the estimate of a moderate surplus bids fair to be realised. The estimate, however, was to a great extent visionary, and depends in a great measure on the manipulation of figures rather than bn a decrease of expenditure or an increase of revenue. At least that is what the ex-Treasurer assured us. He pointed out the items to which he referred, and his reasoning seemed quite conclusive, and has never been satisfactorily refuted. So with the present estimates. The Star, in an article which shows intimate acquaintance with the subject, states that credit has been taken for a large item of pastoral rents which are usually paid in December, and that the amount debited by way of interest on loans is considerably less than the sum due for the quarter. Unfortunately, the accounts are so enormous and so complicated that it is easy to shuffle the figures about in a manner th it will deceive the vast mass of the public. But, sooner or later, of course thia must come to an end. Receipts must in the long run balance expenditure or else the voice of the public creditor begins to be heard. The common practice in the past has been to conceal minor deficits as long as possible, and to pass their accumulated weight on until there comes a year in which the state of affairs is patent to everbody, then to make that year the scapegoat for all the predecessors. That at leant is the conclusion to which we are led by the mutual recrimin itions of ex Treasurers.

One point in very prominent in the returns and although the amount involved is small it possesses great significance. I refer to the deposits on conditional purchases, which for the three years just past have shown a steady d«cre ise every year. Mr Coghlan’s statistics published, also show that the number cf persons employed in manufactures in 1887 was lens than that of the previous year. Here then are two weak points revealed, which cvl for remedial action. What that action should be is a point for the statesman, rather than for the press correspondent. But indifference and imetion would be inexcusable. The industries of a country, constitute its strength and vigor. The progress of settlement is the guage of c olonial prosperity, What will our legislators do about it? Some say they ought to do noth ng and can do nothing. Laissez-faire is always a popular doctrine with the dominant pa»ty. It is so comfortable, relieves one of such a weight of responsibility, and is so beautifully easy to carry out. It enables us to regard the misfortunes of those dependent on us with the most philosophic and stoical unconcern. But the people who suffer may be pardoned if they get a li'tle restive under their troubles and begin to enquire whether it is absolutely necessary that they should continue to suffer without nuking any effort to obtain relief. I, for one, shall be much surprised if there is not a determined effort to secure tor the fundamental industry of agriculture, at least, such a measure of encouragement as may enable it to compare advantageously with that of the other colonies. DETERIORATING MAN AND ADVANCING WOMAN. An encouraging sign of the times is the opening of the Women’s Industrial Exhibition which was formally stared on its career yesterday by Lord Carrington. It shows that the enfranchisement of the weaker sex is proceeding in Australia as it is all over the civilised world. Besides the employment* which have commonly been regarded as their only sphere of usefulness women are now becoming lawyers, doctors, preachers, editors, reporters, typewriters, cashiers, clerks and a variety of other occupations too numerous to mention. The necessity which compelled a self respecting woman to depend upon marriage as her sole means of livelihood is departing. Whilst men are betaking themselves to bubble-mongery, and companypromoting, syndicate forming, bookmaking, scrip gambling and other fashionable forms of preying on the public, women are betaking themselves to honest work. Sooner or later the moral condition of the weaker sex gives the tone to the whole of society, and we may reasonably, therefore, hope for a gradual return to a be r ter state of things. The Exhibition opened yesterday makes a very brave show. It has been taken in hand by a number of influential and wealthy people and a much larger number of industrious and willing workers. Consequently the result is encouraging. It wfcl be open for some time, and a prominent feature m its proceedings will be a series of elaborate concerts, iu each of which some particular phase of musical art will be illustr ited and emphasised.

THE TYPE WRITER. That useful and handy instrument, the type writer, which has long been in use very extensively in the older capitals of America and Europe is now being very generally adopted in Sydney. Scarcely any important commercial home is now without it, and even journalists are beginning to find that it is a great improvement on the pen. An ordinary expert operator, after a few weeks’ practice can work with a type writer twice or three times as fast as he can write with the pen. The Remington, the Hall and other great manufacturing companies have established agencies here and a large trade is being done. The price of a Hall is only eight guineas, and it is really a marvellous piece of mechanism doing excellent work, and preferred by many to the more exoensive machines. Tike price of the Kemin 'ton is ti)ore than twice as much, and it, of o )urse, has its admirers, and its special advantages.