THE PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 19, 22 January 1875, Page 4

THE PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

f From the Australasian.] The steady, not to say rapid, progress of New Zealand in population and prosperity must be a source of gratification-, not only to ihe inhabitants of those islands, but also to the people of Australia generally. For the welfare of one is the welfare of all; and it ia . especially interesting to watch the growth and development of a country which in soil, climate, configuration, and geographical position, bears a closer resemblance to the cradle of our race than ony other British colony. In the statistics of New Zealand for 1873, we find much that tends to confirm the soundness of the immigration policy adopted by its statesmen, who are more fortunately situated, as well as more courageous, than * our own leading politicians. In Victoria successive administrations have sacrificed their own convictions to the clamour of a class — the operatives of the metropolis. In New Zealand, where there is no large city, no hydrocephalus head containing upwards of one-fourth of the total population of the country, the interests of the whole community have not been deliberately subordinated to those of a seotion, and hence the gratifying state of thing . disclosed in the blue book under notice. In 10 years the population has arisen from 172,158 to 299,385; and it is a healthy und vigorous population . The summum bonum of political wisdom is not supposed to consist in the creation of artificial inducements in the population to concentrate itself iv one or two big places on the sea-board— in building legislative forcing frames for exotic industries, to the impoverishment of those which are " native;" in crowding thousands of young girls into factories so as to ensure their physical degeneration and their moral decrepitude; and in weighting, farming and mining occupations with fiscal burdens so as to discourage both pursuits, and to impel those who would otherwise follow them to migrate to other colonies. This was a stroke of genuiß reserved for Victorian statesmen calling themselves freetraders, but masquerading in the •cast-off garments of the Sibthorpes, the Chowlers, and the Q-eorge Frederick Youngs who formerly assisted to kill protection in England, by rendering it odious and contemptible by their ad--Tosacy and defence.) >\. In New Zetland public policy has been wisely directed to the distribution of population over tbe surface of the country, aiid the resuic is that there are 15,883 agricultural holdings with 1,651,712 acres uojler crop, as against 36,602 holdings and 6,964,996 acres m cultivation in Victoria; the population being, in round numbers, as 300,0(30 to 800,000. The imports of New Zealand for the year 1873 were of the value, of £6 ,464,687, and her exports £5,610,371. Those of Victoria were £16,533,856, and £15,302,454. Now, as the consuming power of a people is generally accepted as an accurate gauge of its prosperity, we find by 'a reference to the following figures that the New Zealand colonist is better off that the Victorian.

During the year 1873, the population of New Zealand increased by 16,386, its normal point being 297,560 ; that of Victoria during the sainey W, starting from the normal point of was only 19,765. Tbe excess of births over deaths in the former colony was 7,575, as against 16,599 only in Victoria _ and thef balance of arrivals by sea over departures was 8,811 in New Zealand, and no more than 3,166 iv this colony. But let ua now proceed to inquire what is tbe materiil condition of the population of the two dountries, as indicated by the earnings of tbe working class "in each. It is a favorite sophism •—for it would be an abuse of language to call it an argument — with stump orators in Victoria, that immigration tends to bring down the rate of wages; -and that the fewer tbe inhabitants of a large expanse of country, the more rapidly will those few acquire wealth in it. New Zealand thinks otherwise, and is Securing a steady influx of adult laborers, male and female, from Europe. With what result to themselves, let the following figures, taken from the Blue Book before us, and from the Victorian Yearjßook, just issued by the Government statist, testify : — Farm" laborers, with board, 15s to 20s per week in Victoria ; 18s to 35s per week in New Zealand. Ploughmen, with beard, 18s to 20s per week in Victoria ; 20s to 40s per week in New Zealand. Reapers, with board, 12s to 14s per acre in Victoria ; 17s to 20s in New Zealand. Mowers, with .board, 3s 6d to 5s 6d per acre in Victoria ; 7s to 20s in New Zealand. Shepherds, with board, £30 to £50 per annum in Victoria; £35 to £70. per annum in New Zealand. Stockkeepers, with board, £35 to £50 per annum in Victoria ; £35 to £65 in New Zealand. Sheepwa9hers, with board, 15s to 25s per week in Viotoria ; 21s tflr42a per week in New Zealand. "^ Shearers, with board, 14s to 15s per 100 in Victoria ; 15s to 25s per 100 in New Zealand. Masons, 10s to liar per day "in Victoria . 8s to 20s per day in New Zealand.

Plasterers, 10s per day iv Victoria ; 8a to 15s per day in New Zealand. Bricklayers, 10a per day in Victoria; 8s to 16s per day iv New Zealand. I Carpenters, 8s to lis per day in Victoria; 8s to I4s in New Zealand. Blacksmiths, 10s to ISs per day in Victoria ; 8s to 15s per day in New Zealand. General laborers, 6s to 7s per day in Victoria ; 5a to 12s in New Zealand. Provisions, as a general rule, are rather cheaper in New Zealand than in Victoria, although the difference in price is inconsiderable ; but rents are lower, fuel is more accessible, and air I most every article of wearing apparel is much raore moderate in cost at Dunedin, for example, than in Melbourne. Thanks to their immigration policy our fel.'ow colonists in New Zeulnnd are shooting rapidly ahead, and they deserve the success they have achieved. We may entertain some doubts as to the wisdom of contracting so heavy a debt as tbat which has already been inpurred, amounting in round numbers to eleven millions sterling ; but, on the other hand, it is to be remembered that a great portion of it has been, and is being, expended on public works, and that if the population- doubles itself during the next decade, as there is every probability that it will do, the individual incidence of the debt will be very light indeed, while the resources of the country will be largely developed by the establishment of railway communication from j end to end.

VALUE PEE HEAD OP POPULATION. £ 8. d. £ s. d. Imports. Exports. New Zealand ... 22 9 S| 19 9 lIJ Victoria 21 3 9 19 12 2|