The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2431, 19 May 1893, Page 2

The Star.

[published daily]

FBIDAY, MAT 19, 1893.

TEE WEEK

The position of affairs in Australia is really most seriou3. Each week for some time past it has appeared as if the lowest bottom had been touched, and yet the news has continued to show still lower depths. Institutions one after another have -continued to come down, banks attd financial societies and companies, whose balance-sheets present most satisfactory evidence of soundness ; until at last the banks remaining may now be counted on the finders of one hand. There appears to be little in anything Australian. Business men, large firms, extensive associations, and public corporate bodies are all paralysed in their commercial relations, and just at the time when a free use of the private resources of individuals would be of inestimable advantage in stimulating the industrial energy of the colonists to carry out the policy of work which must replace that of the speculation of the laßt few years, everything is thrown j into further confusion by tfie financial panic. The effect upon the public i finances is shown by the low prices to which the colonial bonds have"; sunk, and unless some means be soon discovered of dealing with the position by a method which shall restore public confidence no one dare suggest what the end may be. The Australian Governments are doing what they can to meet the case, but the difficulty is that their position has little in it to inspire confidence in their ability to meet the crisis. There is not one which is not dependent on borrowing, nor one whose current finance is satisfactory. We believe that the case is so desperate that it may be beyond the control of tbe colonial Governments now, and that it may possibly demand the assistance of the Imperial authorities. If the Imperial Government or the Bank of England came to the rescue, with a word either could etay the trouble, and unlesa there soon be a turn for the better some outside assistance will have to be given in order to preserve the stability of the Australian portion of the Empire.

Me. Beddos's speech at Napier appears to have been on the whole a fair and moderate deliverance. There was a certain amount of the usual misrepresentation of opponents and a liberal indulgence in th« selfpraise which is said to be no recommendation. These things are looked for in all political speeches, and Mr. Seddon is too much a party man not to take full advantage of his opportunity. But apart from all this there was plenty of suggestive matter iq the speech, and the tone waa good. By a more extended report than the telegraphic summary, which was received t»o late for insertion yesterday, but is printed to-day, we gather that the Government have Bet tbe eeal of finality upon the taxation of land so far as they are concerned. "He wished to say now that the Government had obtained the revenue required from their taxation. They did not intend to do anything that would cause alarm. That being the case, he hoped the, owners of those large estates would rest and be thankful." As to the question of private lands for settlement purposes he said : " The Government had received offers of land in Otago, Canterbury, and other districts, and he would now state that in the course of a few days the Government would ask the landowners in Hawke's Bay to sell land for settlement purposes. If land were offered for sale there would be no necessity for the compulsory taking of it. He hoped there would be some patriotism in this direction, as there coulii be no prosperity for a colony if a select few insisted on keeping that which should be used for the benefit of the people generally. The Government gave every credit to the pioneers and early settlers, and he wished to state that they would deal fairly with them if they were met fairly."

Of course the subdivision of private estates is good, but what would be better would be the briaging into occupation lanJs that are now producing nothing. The large estates are producing wealth, which, if unequally distributed as between individuals, is, at an j rate, assisting the colony to meet its engagements, and increasing the wages fund of the oommunitv ; and unquestionably it would be more prudent to spend money in the acquisition of land which at present is in the handa of the natives, is producing nothing, and will become more expensive to purchase as time goes on. The Premier did, not say where the money for the purchase of private estates was to come from. But whether it is' to be borrowed or whether it is to be taken from the revenue, the House will probably feel a disinclination to agree to the expenditure which wonld not be felt were tbe money demanded for the purchase of native lands.

But the native land question was not overlooked. It is in truth becoming of so much importance that no Go vernment can afford to overlook it And we think that most colonists will agree that tbe time has arrived I " when the natives, who shear, say, 100,000 sheep, should pay local rates in the same way as Europeans." It is understood that one of the Premier's colleagues, Mr Carroll, is a remarkable object lesson in this matter, for it appears that he declines to pay rates not only in respect of the native lands he acquired by descent, but also has successfully resisted the payment of lates on land which be acquired by purchase from Europeans, and which previously to his proprietorship was subject to rates. That, certainly, is a very remarkable illustration of the need of some amendment of the law.

While on the subject we may Bay we quite agree with the suggestion made at one of Mr McQuire'a meetings further up the coast that there

should be some provision made by which the West Coast Settlement ; Reserves should directly _ contribute to road-making. But the* matter iB by jqo means free of perplexity. The property is a trust, the trustee has no power, and Parliament, which has the power, would no doubt feel very great difficulty in exercising it. In a sense the lands are private property, and it is a rather .dangerous principle to confiscate a portion of private property for the public good. On the other hand the position of the eettlers is a ha-d one, for they have to make and maintain roads largely used by men who contribute practically nothing to the cost. The Public Trustee some little time ago suggested a plan for securing rates from the natives in respect of unlet land. It appeared to be a feasible schema

likely to be of much benefit to all parties, and we hope it will be carried out

We notify New Plymouth harbor ratepayers that an election of a member in the place of Mr Thomas King, deceased, is fixed for Tueaday next. Erom motives of economy the Board has not advertised the election with us. As to the wisdom of the Board's action or its fairness to the rate, payers it ia not for ua to say anything ; we are quite willing to leave that to the large body of. ratepayers, who, owing to the failure of the Board to use our columns, have hitherto been unaware of the election. From similar motives of economy, presumably, the Board has made rather inadequate arrangements for taking the vote, there bem^. uo polling both at Okaiawa, Pihama, or Rahotu, However, the election takes place on Tuesday, and there are two candidates, Mr Fookee, of New Plymouth, and Mr. MaxwelJ, of Opunake. Against Mr. Fookes personally we have not a word to cay. He is perfectly qualified to sit on the Harbor Board or any board, but the Plain 3 are distinctly entitled to representation, and when a substantial bona fide settler of good abilities offers himself, and is willing to undergo the inconvenience of attending meetings, it would be good policy, we think, as well as good taste, for the New Plymouth people to i abstain from opposing tbe desire of the Plains for representation on the Board. Mr Maxwell quite meets the requirements of membership, and would be an acquisition to the Board. No doubt the town has the voting power and can put in whomsoever it chooses, but :f the matter is well considered town voters may think it well to vote for thrj country candidate. As to the Plains voters we need scarcely point out that they owe it to themselves and to their candidate to support him loyally. If the voting be divided at New Plymouth they may succeed ; but if they do not succeed a large vote at this end will be an expression of opinion which will not be without value. - 1,

Feom time to time we have had a good deal to say about the Midland railway, and our readers are pretty well aware of what we have thought of the whole thing from beginning to end. There is a new development coming, and to show how the cat is likely to jump we take the following from the Government organ at Wellington. " They (the Midland Railway Company) merely want to placate Nelson by continuing the Nelson system a few miles further and getting the Government to buy the completed works for £100,000. This is of, course, matter for consideration. . .

As the colony cannot do better than buy the land grant from the company, and. as the company's line must be extremely profitable, and as the company is decidedly anxious to get the woik done, there ought not to be any difficulty in coming to terms with the company before the end of the seasi n. In which case it will not be many years before a bottle of champagne is broken over the first locomotive to cross the ' Divide ' by the Abt incline at Arthur's p ass. And it will not be many years after that before the lands served by the line will be flowing with milk and honey on tbe surface, and exporting black diamonds from below "

We venture to hope that the exhibition to cdmmence next week in aid of the Hospital funds will prove a financial success. A great deal of work has been dono by most willing but extremely busy men and women, who have made a considerable sacrifice of their time in the interests of an institution which is promoted for the public welfare. Jt would be a pity indeed were the weather bad, or if from any cause the attendance di i not come up to anticipations. The attractions to be provided are mauy. Local industry will be well represented, colonial art and taste will have creditable expositions, and for visitors many attractions and amusements have been provided. Instrumental and vocal music, tableaux, eights of various kinds, and entertainments have beeu bo libera'ly arranged for that each evening will have its special attraction and amusements. To the outside, public we appeal for sympathy I and support ; the people of the town | and district we remind of their obvious duty to give every assistance without being specially requisitioned. In an undertaking of the kind, promoted for the first time on so large a scale, there are necessarily many difficulties arising from inexperience, and one of these may be a lack of system in canvassing for and collecting exhibits; but it is hoped that no one who has anything worth exhibiting will withhold it on account of not having been canvassed. The next day or tm> will be a busy time for the honorary secretary and those working with him, and the task they have undertaken will be materially lightened by ready co-operation on the part of all. We confidently ask for that on behalf of the committee.