VISITORS FROM VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11877, 28 April 1899, Page 5

VISITORS FROM VICTORIA.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR TRENWITH. OPINIONS OF THE VICTORIAN ✓ LABOUR LEADER. . [From Our Correspondent.! WELLINGTON, April 27. My first acquaintance with Messrs Best and Trenwith dates back as far as 1888, .when Melbourne was in the hey-day of the exhibition and land boom. Mr Trenwith was then a prominent member of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, and was in receipt of a regular stipend as an official of that body. My duties as a reporter on the staff of the Melbourne "Age" frequently brought me into friendly intercourse with the energetic and enthusiastic leader of the Bootmakers' Union, Mr Trenwith himself being a worthy disciple of St Crispin. I was at that time writing a series of articles in advocacy of a form of protection for the agricultural and pastoral interests of Victoria, and Mr Trenwith, being a candidate for the representation, in the Liberal and Protectionist interests, of tho electorate of Richmond, in opposition to Mr Bosisto, the famous inventor of the eucalypti remedies, I was invited to address a meeting in the East Richmond Town Hall in support of the Liberal candidare. I remember that on that memorable occasion I got somewhat piolix in my speech, the subject of Protection opening up a wide field of discussion, and just as the audience at the back of the hall was growing restive, the candidate lugged me down by the coat tails with a vigour that threatened disruption of tho garment. The meeting, however, was very enthusiastic, and Mr Trenwith received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. I had the gratification of afterwards beholding him a full blown member of the Legislative Assembly, when he had undergone a most remarkable transformation. The "Argus," the Conservative organ, was pleased next morning to depart from its usual sober and. sedate tone by waxing humorous over my friend's tout ensemble. He was adorned in a lively blue doublebreasted frock coat of exquisite fit, unmentionables of unexceptionable pattern and cut, a snow white vest crossed by a massive watch chain, a gorgeous tie, an ample field of spotless shirt front, patent leather boots and a top hat of dazzling brilliancy. In fact the honourable member's appearance would have done credit to Bond Ktreet in the fashionable season. The " Argus " protended to see something incongruous in the new member's apparel, but I rather think that his intention was to show that a labour representative could outshine tho_ most elegant of the Toorakites if occasion required. Well, I lost sight of the honorable member fcr some years after the crash of the land boom, and only heard of him in a fitful and casual way until to-day, when I found an opportunity of renewing the acquaintance. Mr Trenwith is looking extremely well, albeit somewhat less portly than when I knew him more than a decade ago. Time has dealt tenderly with hitxi. Ho looks as young, alert and as genial as ever. Of course, the weather formed a convenient introductory topic, and after some mutual reminiscences of men and things; I plunged into the immediate object of tho interview. The Victorian was lavish in his praises of the New Zealand climate and scenery after so brief an experience. Asked as to the doings of his colleague, Mr Best, and himself, he said that they had been consulting directly with Ministers and responsible heads of departments, and collecting valuable information on the labour legislation, resumption of lands for settlement and tho laud laws, co-operative works, old age pensions, arbitration and conciliation, and sundry other subjects. Y/hat is your opinion, I asked, of these matters, so far as your inquiries have gone ? "It is much too soon," Mr Trenwith replied, " to express a definite opinion on any of these subjects, with the limited information wo have acquired. Our investigations, so far, have been merely preliminary. We have only gathered important matorials as a basis for maturer consideration by-and-by. When We have seen more of the colony we shall be in a much better position to Wo are taking careful notes of everything that comes under oitr observation, that is pertinent to the scope of our inquiries, and tho results will be submitted in a report to the Government and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria." Naturally, »tr Trenwith does not wish to anticipate the official report, and I recognised that it would be futile, as well as in bad taste, to attempt to force the interview. I gathered, however, that the Commissioners are very favourably impressed with what they have seen, and that many features of our legislation are regarded as worthy of adoption in the neighbouring colony. The Commissioners go to Christchurch on. Friday morning, and will go on, after a brief stay, to Cheviot, afterwards returning to the City of the Plains. Nothing has yet been definitely decided regarding a visit to Dunedin,but as the Commissioners' stay in New Zealand will extend over a period of six weeks, they are nob likely to forego the opportunity of observing tho condition and progress of that enterprising . community. I regret to say that Mr Best is indisposed, but it is hoped that ho will bo well enough to continue tho tour toI morrow.