Interview with Colonel Gorton.

Manawatu Herald, 12 April 1892, Page 2

Interview with Colonel Gorton.

_« In Friday's Post appears an account of a most interesting interview with Colonel Gorton, from which we make the following extracts: — The climate of New Zealand ig far more suitable for the growth of sheep than that of England, and I have no hesitation in saying that I have seen finer Lincoln rams in New Zealand than I saw in the Old Country. I was speaking at a 11 Harvest Home " in Suffolk, when a little event occurred which shows, however, the difference even now between the life of an agricultural labourer here and there. After describing life in New Zealand^ 1 asked my hearers one question which I was very anxious they should answer. It was, whether anyone in that room had heard of the attempt on the life of the Emperor of Austria by the placing of a bomb under a bridge, which had taken place four days previous. I was not surprised to hear that even the more educated class present had not even heard of the occurrence. I then told them that I would guarantee that in New Zealand, 15,000 m'.les away, from north to south of tho two islands, twothirds of the population had full knowledge of the fact a few hours after the discovery, and that the labourer working in the bush discussed the details of the affair over his pipe on the same evening and that probably that some labourer knew far more of what was going on in England than they in England knew themselves. This seemed to strike my audience more than anything else that evening— and yet how true it was ! "I must confess this, that the recent legislation was looked upon with great alarm at Home. I know positively that a very large sum oj money which was being sent out to New Zealand for investment was absolutely withdrawn directly the Land and Income Tax Act became known. . . . , . . Wherever I went the constant question to me was, ' What on earth . are you people doing in New Zealand, taxing money sent out, and which you want so much for opening up your magnificent country ?' The English press at this time were practically unanimous in condemning the new departure, and up to the time I left England - sth February—l heard of no reaction. At the same time, I must say that I don't think it was clearly understood that the same tax was really paid under the Property Tax under a general head. It was when it was so particularly specified that mortgagees were called upon to pay that the fact was brought so vividly before the public. Speaking on N.Z. Mutton, Colonel Gorton said " I firmly believe now that the prejudice of the lower classes against this class of meat is being greatly broken down, but it meets with great opposition from the farmers, who consider we seriously injure them."