MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1905.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8178, 20 March 1905, Page 2

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1905.

NEW ZEALAND TRADUCED.

It is probable that in the exchange of settlers constantly going on between this colony and Australia the advantage in the acquisition of population has lain with us, at least recently. Many years ago, when Australia had wonderful gold-fields to attract, the balance lay much the other way. Now it would appear that climatic conditions have made this colony loom favorably in the eyes of small farmerß and dairymen with tho result that there has been an influx of desirable settlers. But with theso settlers, whom we welcome, comes a number whom wo do not ; but that by the way. Judged by the contributions of a writer to the Sydney Morning Herald, it would appear that some Australians are jealous of this colony's attractive qualities. The critic signs himself "Trutli Teller." We are inclined to think that the lament of the poet Campbell on the dismantlement of Poland applies to the smirching of the good qualities of Maoriland by the writer in question : "Oh, Sacred Truth, thy triumph ceased awhile.". But, as we shall see, New Zealand found in Australia a champion. Commenting on the criticisms the Canterbury Times says: "Trujth Teller" does not state in what part of New, Zealand he gained his 'experience, but, it ha& obviously been a most unfortunate one.. He draws a dark picture of the colony .wrcetling^n the throes of a growing deß- ; pondeney, depicted of population, with dir, minuting flocks and herds, landless, and badly Crowded, withthe cost o^lmng.un.dujy u#ate& en,i .with the depressing grey #<u^ewai dis^anib preying ..upon the jobeip foujfl of a miserable and* degenerate pfopje," Jfaw #ppe is » email rob»t»-

turn of fact in most of these huge misre- ] presentations, and they have been eingly and respectively commented on in the press of the colony with a view to improvement. But the "growing despondency" and the "universal discontent" live not in the land. There is partial discontent, but ' the colony has not even approached dcs- ' pondency. In fact to- see the crowds of holiday-seekers on every holiday occasion, { and the number of tho latter, one would think cheerfulness and not despondency is tho common emotion. But dcbateß on a failing birth-rate have lent a little fact to the big fiction of "a depleted popula- \ tion." The "diminishing flocks" are due to the circumstance that the females of those flocks have been, perhaps unwisely, turned deliberately into coin, but notwithstanding that prices rather tell of ) congested, than of depleted, herds. Though we have sol.d most of our first-rate lands there are still some millions of Crown and native lands which can be occupied to the speedy increase of our flocks and herds. When the critic speaks of our lands as badly roaded he is quite within tho bounds of truth, not only in respect to the more remote back-blocks, and those recently settled, but as regards lands which have been long occupied by sturdy and struggling settlers. There, perhaps, may bo found the germ of despondency lor the roading policy has been the most signal failure of the administration. As to the cost of living being unduly inflated, there is no doubt that for those with fixed incomes the endeavor to make ends meet has been growing of late years. Mr G. J. Bruce took up the cudgels for New Zealand in the Sydnej Morning Herald and produced statistic! showing how much better New Zealant was, in comparison with the mother col ony, in respect to all the matters mad< the subject of "Truth Teller's" tale. Hi also says "if this is the way the Scddoi Government is humbugging tho country it is a kind of humbugging that is badl; needed in New South Wales." This i an aspect of the matter with which w have no sympathy. The abnormal pros pcrity of the colony is chiefly due to th rise of the frozen meat and dairy indui tries, although we may say that, latterlj the Government has done its duty in foi warding the sale of the completed pri

UUCIS. I>UI in ttoouiinj, "'^ ««»w. ~~— - try settler, who yearns to bo a producer, with roads, in some instances paid for by a surcharge on the land, tho same administration has done something less than its duty. Incoming settlers from Australia seeking new lands would probably be discouraged at the state of the roads in the back blocks in which tho new lands lie; and a report from these would lend to such as "Truth Teller" the modicum of truth with which to tinsel his fabrications.