PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10651, 11 May 1895, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE LOAN. The Australasian first three par cent loan is an unqualified success ; itjcaarka a now departure in Australasian finance ; and Mr Ward has been universally complimented for it, as he deserved. These are facts which cannot bo altered by the ravings of prophets infuriated by the failure of their predictions.--Neio Zealand CHRISTCHURCH EIRE BRIGADE REFORM. These sums ought to bo sufficient to secure a thoroughly efficient aad welldisciplined brigade. It is rather a new departure in the colony, and an such will be closely watched by the many firemen of whom the colony can boast; but wa have no fear of its ultimate success ; though it may parlmps have tho effect of striking a blow ufc that excellent spirit which prompts so many of the best men is. the towns of tha colony to devote much of their time to this nobly philanthropic service. Ash* burton Mail. DANGERS OP BUTTER EXPORT. Hare in South Canterbury they make « oleomargarine) ” and they send it Home under an honest name; but. who ahull say that after its export from Tirnaru it will not make its appearance in the London market as a part of first-class Haw Zealand butter. History repeats itself; if we no hear of wooden iiume. or nutmegs carved out by Yankee ingenuity,’ wo may at least expect to be told that Now Zealand butter, quoted in tho Loudon market lists os firet-elftav, is after all merely a nutritious compound of 86 per cent of tho right thing and 17 par cant of goodness knows what.— Timaru Herald. thu suarium. In their eagerness to decry tho colony’s finances they (Opposition critico) are mating themselves supremely ridiculous. _ By saying now that the Government are bringing forward last year’s cur pin a they are admitting that there was a surplus last year, and thus giving tho lio direct to their criticism of last year, when they rousdlv asserted that there tsus no surplus. What can be done against criticism of this kind? There is nothing to bo done but laugh at it and wonder what shifts the Opposition will eremually bo driven to to find a vulnerable point ic the armour of the Government. —Taitri Advocate. WOMEN AND PARTY PDXiITICS, Tho Women’s Franchise League expresses its impatience of tho peasant evstem of party politics—rets through that system, thinks that its day or usefulness has gone by. This expression of opinion cannot but redound to the credit of the League; perhaps it represents the Leafue’s moat reasonable claim to public i sympathy. If tha enfranchised women of Mew Zealand lend a-really helpful hand to the work of sending party to the rightabouts, their action iu this respect will cover a multitude of extravagances and crudities. “ Bealta-ruiniag party ” v?ag Lord Tennyson’s phrase, hut it is permissible to hope that New Zealand at least may get rid of tha monster'bafora the ruin has been finally workcd.—Ofayo Daily Times. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. It may be presumed that tha Treasurer had reasons for departing from tho course intimated to tho House by at onca raising tho total amount authorised for the year. He was probably advised by the Cabinet that tha whole would be required, and wa have little doubt that the applications will more than cover the moneys available. This will ia ono respect be advantageous, eiaco the money borrowed will bo thus earning interest without delay.— Dunedin Star. POLITICS AND PATRIOTISM. Even the deserving nmong- the awagmeu are being turned away hungry from tha lordly squatter’u gate, tho jibe that is handiest being slung at him: “Go to your Liberal Government for tucker sad rest 1” It is deplorable that New Zealand should bo compelled io foster each unpatriotic colonists. The want of national feeling among New Zealanders has even been noticed by the English Press, and it ia shameful to” have to acknowledge that tho Government was obliged to send a Minister Home to repudiate tho base calumnies circulated by persons who, in their despairing efforts to grasp a Government billet, have developed a new form of madness, —Napier Nows. MR' WARD AND HIS CRITICS. No man’s patriotism can be so utterly dead that he is incapable of rejoicing at the news of Mr Ward’s financial successes, yoS it cannot be denied that there are many admirable and influential colonists who have striven hard to injure the Government by creating a feeling of ias-cu-rity amongst Home financial circles. These persons and their newspapers might just as well, have never uttered a syllable, so profound has been tha contempt with which their representations have been treated by those whom they have hoped to influence to their own poUtical advautage.— Oamaru Mail,

Tfiosa cavilling critics, who meanly insinuated that the Treasurer was merely taking a holiday jaunt at the colony's expense, will, &o doubt, be chagrined to find that the outcome of his visic has bean to effect an annual saving in interest to the colony of more than the honourable gentleman's ftliniateriai salary. Tho resultant gain during the currency of the loan will amount to many thousands of pounds, so that, as a matter of fact, if Mr Ward has received special payment for hia services in addition to his salary it would have been a profitable expenditure of public money. —Southland Daily Nevis, Where now ia the picture of tho frightened capitalist vnthdrawing his treasure from the colony ? It has gone, like a beautiful dream, from the gaze. Where now is the cry of the lack of that confidence without which the colony cannot live ? Dead as the great Csusar. The gilded apotheosis who rules kings sad queans, and at whose frown dynasties tremble ia the balance, has smiled on Colonial Treasurer Ward. Colonial Treasurer Ward smiles back a sympathetic smile, aud fills hia pockets with bullion’ Where now ia Sir Eobert Stout’s elaborate array of figures showing that boirowing means ruin ? The net result of Mr Ward’s visit is that he has secured a loan at something like -1 per cent less than would have been demanded had ha not been on the scene. A tiny fraction, truly; but it moans to tho colony a saving of some thousands of pounds a year. No one can | say now that*Mt Ward’s mission to EngI land was fruitless,— Southern Standard.