THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1875.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1875.

Tue present outgoing mail will convey to home readers the intelligence that thero lias been a re-construction of the Ministry. The materials of which it is composed are the same, with the exception of Sir Julius Vogel, who is no longer Premier, the Hon. Dr. Pollen taking his place as chief of the Cabinet. Such a Ministry, at the present juncture of affairs, without Sir Julius Vogel to direct its action, will be viewed as incongruous as tlio play of "Hamlet" with the Prince loft out. Sir Julius has been appointed Postmaster-General, in virtue of which he retains otlice, and will draw his salary, until such time as his resignation is sent in or he returns to the colony. In the latter case, should his coming not be long delayed, there is little doubt but that he will be reinstated as Premier. The present Ministry is confessedly very weak. Dr. Pollen, not being a member of the House of Representatives, but merely holding a nominated seat in the Upper Legislature, will find himself greatly inconvenienced, and will have to leave the leadership of the Lower House in the hands of some one or other of his colleagues. Who will accept the responsibility is not just now known. Probably the Hon. H. Atkinson, possibly the Hon. C. C. Bowen, a gentleman who was lately a Resident Magistrate at Christohurch and but very little known in the iield of politics. Ho is mentioned as being a very able man, but certainly inferior to many members which could be named as representing either the I'pperor Lower Chamber. .Sir Donald McLean, Native Minister, was at one time talked of as likely to lead in the House of Representatives, but ho cuts out so much v.. Uk for himself in the Native Department, of which lie is the head and controlling power, that he would have no time, even did he possess the debating powers necessary for a leader in a place where it is quite likely there will be a very powerful opposition to contend with. Neither the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs, nor the Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, is likely to covet the honor. Both are active and painstaking in tlieir respective departments, but outside of them neither could hope to exercise any influence upon the House.

If the -Ministry should remain in office , during the session, it will be entirely : due to members, who will be actuated by a desire not to disturb the existing state of tilings until the next general -elections, which will take place immediately after the close of the next and last session of the present Parliament. Indeed, there are few members of the House with a capacity for conducting the Government of the colony who would care to accept such a responsibility under existing complications, both political and financial. It is the general belief that when Ministers table their resolutions, as it is alleged they will, for abolishing Provincial Governments, they will take the opinion of members whether these shall be allowed to remain in abeyance until a new Parliament has been called together. It is tolerably certain that the resolutions will not be allowed to involve a question of the " ins or the outs." A direct vote of confidence, if carried, will cause the resignation of Ministers, but this, should it be moved, will, for reasons already stated, be likely to be negatived by a majority. This, at least, is the general supposition. It is possible there may be a severe battle on the question of the land revenue of the provinces. There may also be a protracted tight as to the allocation of the loan liability. Otago and Canterbury members will die hard before they are compelled to throw the proceeds of their land Bales into the Colonial Treasury, to become part of the general revenue of the colony, for equitable distribution throughout both islands. But to tlii3 pass, it is tolerably certain, must they come to at last.

Some of the railway lines, so far as jiliqy have been opened, liave not paid. This lias not caused any surprise to those, who have given due retlection to the subject. Until many more miles have been completed, and the separate lines more closely connected, it is not to be supposed that they can pay ; but there has been a most unfair and unconstitutional attempt to make Up the losses upon the working of the lines, by stopping the capitation moneys due to the provinces. The experiment was tried in the case of Wellington and Auckland. But .Sir George Grey, the Superintendent, proved himself mole than a match for the Colonial Secretary and the audit ollicials acting ill combination. He showed by the 1 tail ways Act that provincial liabilities for lines opened and worked at a loss were not to be met by stoppages of money due by the Central

Government to the provinces. Dr. Pollen, then only Colonial Secretary, was shewn that the action he had taken in the matter was altogether ultra vires, but he maintained for several days a position he had assumed with something bordering on official insolence. Sir George Grey, as Superintendent of Auckland, and his Honor Mr. Fitzherbert, the Superintendent of Wellington, having threatened to carry their cases into the Supreme Court, Dr. Pollen, with the best grace he could assume under such a total misapprehension of his powers, admitted his error and paid over the moneys due to the two provinces which he had hoped to retain. The Colonial Secretary, who now unites the title of Premier with the office, has certainly not added to his reputation as a Minister ; nor has he gained in tlio general estimation by a course which the most indulgent cannot call by a milder term than an attempt to perpetrate a great injustice.

We may fairly be permitted to hope that when the present session is closed, and a new Parliament is assembled, Sir Julius Vogel will be found one of its representative members; and that with more able Ministers than he has been compelled to work with in the past, he will, under a stricter control, be allowed to remain one of the guiding hands in directing the business of the State. Hitherto ho lias been permitted to follow his own courses, without any restraint being placed upon him ; or rather, by the force of a dominant will not allowing himself to be restrained. He might, had he chosen, have selected better colleagues, but he did not so choose, preferring to connect himself with men who were not likely to challenge or dispute his commands. With Ministers of heavier political calibre whom he will feel bound to consult, and to whose advice, warnings, or admonitions he will have to give heed, he will prove himself the most useful of statesmen. But he has been permitted for too long a time to pursue a reckless, albeit a brilliant, career without the political "brake" being applied to lessen his speed. We have now at our command a supply of money from the last loan to carry on the public works of the colony for some time longer, but it is quite certain that before the public works which have been authorised are constructed, we shall require to become borrowers in some one or other of tlio money markets of the world. We do not believe that our credit is yet exhausted, but unless it is understood that the raising of further loans be under more discrete sanction and control, we shall either be refused further accommodation, or shall have to pay for it upon usu rous terms.

The duty of Ministers now is to asccr- | tain the exact financial position of the colony, and to find a way for meeting : the interest and sinking-fund, without imposing too heavy burdens on the people. To use a homely phrase, it is now time to " draw in" ; to curtail all unnecessary expenditure, and enter upon a new and improved system of economy. In such matters, what is right and proper for an individual or a family, is right and proper for a Government. We are well aware that we have all the natural and indigenous wealth to cover our liabilities a hundred-fold, but so it may be with a merchant. He may have an immense stock of exceedingly rich raw material lying in his warehouses, but there may bo little demand for it at a time when he luvs most need for money, for the reason that those who would be his customers have not the present means of converting such material into the manufactured article. He is not ruined, but merely sull'ers great temporary inconvenience. At the worst, this would only be our own case.

By cable message we have been advised of the completion of a contract with the Paeitie M.S.S. Company, and John Elder, of Glasgow, and — Macgregor, of Leith, " jointly and severally," for the conveyance of the English and American mails between San Francisco and New Zealand and New South Wales. The cablegram briefly recites the terms of the contract to be as follow :—" Term, eight years ; each colony paying half ; speed, 11 knots; subsidy, £811,850. The service begins in November next, from Sydney and Port Chalmers, and continues once every four weeks. Boats for San Francisco sail from Port Chalmers, and the boats from San Francisco through to Sydney, connecting at Fiji. The boat from Sydney to Fiji meets the boat from San Francisco, and carries the mails to the New Zealand ports ; this boat then being the next through boat from Port Chalmers to San Francisco, returning tlience. to Sydney, and so on. Elder supplies two new ships, and the American Company three new ships, all upwards of 2,800 tons, and of iron. The contract forwarded by the out-going mail requires continuation of the present session of Parliament." Before the contract is agreed to by the New Zealand Parliament considerable discussion will probably ensue. There are three classes of objections raised to the service and its terms. First, there are those who uncompromisingly object to the mail boats running down the coast, and interfering with the Interprovincial trade of locally-owned boats, thus incurring the [expense of paying the mail boats not only to interfere with their passenger trade, but to undertake the distribution of the mails, a service which could be more efficiently and much more cheaply performed by an Inter-provincial steam line company. Secondly, there are those who object to the route chosen. That at present taken by the A.S.N. Company is by them deemed to be not only cheaper but the least cumbersome and the most conducive to the convenience and comfort of passengers. Failing that, they would prefer to have the boats run upon the principle of the " forked" service observed by the "Webb line. Thirdly, there are those who possess a strong prejudice against American mail contractors, experience leading them to fear that some trouble will sure, to arise, and that if it does there is little chance of pecuniary redress. By those who raise this objection it was hoped that to either an English or a colonial company would the service have been given. We might add, as a '• lastly," that there are a few who think that all our wants would be met by a conjunction with Victoria in the Suez mail service. This latter class, however, is not very large nor demonstrative. It is now generally conceded that the route via San Francisco is our natur;d highway for mails and passengers, and the desire is still as i strong as ever, notwithstanding all our | troubles with contractors and their boats, l that a permanent and efficient line shall j be established. What the Sydney people i think of the matter we have not | yet heard. It is, however, probable j the lowest tender, as sent in, will i be agreed upon. There may possibly | arise this difficulty : that the New South I Wales Parliament may be willing to agree ' to one thing, and that the' New Zealand i Parliament may wish to arrive at a diti'erJ ent conclusion. Should such a i-mi/ri- ' temps occur, much inconvenience would j ensue, and a considerable amount of i time would be lost in settling the difficulty. As, however, the New South Wales Parliament is now in session, and will have discussed and decided, probably, upon their course of action before our

Legislative bod; meets, it will doubtless be the desire New Zealand Parliament to stretchy point, in order that an amicable underat>n/liTi<y may be arrived at and uniform upon. The great stumbling-block vn the discussion will be the acceptance v>f an American contract; but, should «atisfactory information be received from Sir. Thomas Russell of the bona jidet. of the contractors, this prejudice will no doubt be overcome. Our American friends can scarcely blame us for the existence of such a prejudice ; that it does SO ia entirely due to the conduct o: their own business representatives. Aj we have before observed, American steamship owners have a right to look upon this route as peculiarly their own ; and if we can only be assured that they will undertake the work in a fair spirit and with an honest intention to carry out the contract offered them, nono will be more gratified than ourselves to join in a commercial iy lationship with them. We shall only 1>? too glad, upon such conditions, to see a little more of the "stars and stripes" in our waters.

It has for some long time past appeared to very many men, whose opinions are worth entertaining, and entitled to all serious consideration, quite unaccountable that home capitalists should neglect such a wide and profitable field which presents itself in New Zealand for" 1 new enterprises. The objections set forth have been the high cost of labour. This no donbt has been allowed to weigh in the scale, but then the increased price of labour as compared with that paid in the manufacturing districts of England is more than counterbalanced by the cheapness of the raw material. For instance, we export something like fifty million pounds weight of wool, which is shorn from our own sheep. This enormous quantity of a valuable staple is sorted, packed in bales, and shipped away to Bngland at a heavy cost, a large proportion of which is returned shipborne to our cities from whence it was forwarded in manufactured articles, such say as blankets, shirts, women's dress pieces, tweeds, cloths, flannels, and the thousand and one things into which wool is converted. We see soon after the shearing season is over numerous drays wool-laden coming down the country and discharging at the wharf. At the outset there is the" cost of carriage and wharf charges. Then follow shipping charges. Then insurance and dock fees upon arrival in London or Liverpool, again to be followed by wai ehouse dues, and an infinity of minor charges and imposts. The wool is sold at auction, when a commission is charged, and between this and the manufactured article from the raw material there are at least two profits. Well, then, it is asked, taking the subject of wool alone into the discussion, would it not be well that the fleeces shorn from the backs of our sheep should be converted into manufactured articles for our own use and for exportation ? It is a maxim, wo believe, with commercial and manufacturing economists that where the raw material exists there it should be converted to the uses for which it is intended. The excuses of the lack of the necessary supply of labour is an invalid one. Labour invariably follows where capital leads the way, and the description of manufactures which we hava in mind is more the product of machinery than of hand labour. Here on both islands of the colony we have wool, flax, hides, tallow, skins, coal, iron, and timber, to s*y nothing of other products, which only awiit skill, enterprise, and a juidicious investment of capital to yield rich returns, using an ex- ! pression of the great lexicographer, '' beyond ' the dreams of avarice." We have now no j great dearth of labour. The genial climate ! ot the c»lony, and the profitable employment I always open to the industrious man, be he I a> mere labourer or the skilled mechanic, w3l ; never leave us without population. What . is more urgently needed is capital in combination with enterprise to convert our valuable raw products into manufactured goods.

There is no district in any part of >"ew Zealand which is so inadequately represented in the General Assembly as the Thames. With a population of quite 13,000 souls; with a largo commerce, and the richest of quartz goldlields ; with a good harbour, and splendid country at its back, only one member is returned to Parliament The local Press at the Thames, and we Bay add the Auckland Press, has persistently and continuously advocate! either a re-adjust-ment of the provincial representation or an increase of members for the district. There are outlying parts in many of the provinces which have neither trade, commerce, or agriculture to give them importance, which arc numerically and infinitely better represented. Had the Thames country been in Otago, instead of in Auckland, it would years ago have returned at least four members. On the strength of their claims the following petition was presented at the public meeting held at the Thames Academy of Music on Monday, the sth July, and carried unanimously,—His Worship the Mayor in the chair :—" To the hon. the members of the House of Representatives of 2sew Zealand in session assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned on behalf of the inhabitants of the Thames electoral district: Sheweth that the population of. the district by the last census return was 12,*239, and has increased since the opening of the Ohinemuri and Tairua goldfields to over 13,000. That the extent of the district is ISOO square miles. That the value of the gold which has paid duty up to 31st March, 1575, is £ . That the annual amount of duty paid on goods consumed within the district amounts, by . careful computation of the Collector of Customs, to i'Bo,ooo. That within in the last three years the value of the gum, flax, aHd timber obtained in the district amounted to £"250,000. That the district, from its close relation to native territory and in consequence of the industries peculiar to it, possesses special and independent interests requiring attention in the General Assembly. That, taking the great basis of representation, viz., population, wealth, and extent of territory, the district is entitled to at least four members. That in view of the foregoing facts, we, the undersigned, on behalf of the inhabitants of the Thames district, ask that your honorable House will take the premises into your favourable consideration and accord to this district such additional representation as herein suggested, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray." Tiie report of the meeting of ratepayers of the Parnell Highway District last evening deserves a careful perusal. The mode of voting by proxies appears to have developed itself in that district in a very curious way. It appears that a number of proxies had been signed by voters without the names of candidates by whom they were to be exercised being filled in. Then at the meeting the names of candidates were tilled in acsardingly as those who held the proxies required. There was no specific instance rejected, and therefore the question was not cither argued or decided upon any tangible issue. Hut the effect was evident in creating almost a total disorganisation of the meeting. In point of fact it was referred to very pointedly that one set of trustees was elected by a show of hands, and this decisioa was absolutely negatived by the proxies. The leal objection to provies is perhaps the facilities they afford for all kinds of electionary manipulation. The meeting of last night gives one a very poor notion of the claims to ordinary intelligence of the ratepayers of " aristocratic'' Parnell. Why should not these annual meetings of ratepayers be strictly meetings of ratepayers. If ratepayers will not attend to tli- ir own business, why should they complain if they do not carry their legitimate weight as property holders. The claims of !'! '') will no doubt always exercise a paramount inlluence at these meetings. It should be 80 when property chooses to be present. But ratepayers who may bo householders an J dwellers in a district have a right t-> complain if their position is injuriously effected

by arrangements which throw them^altoSSSeTSSt JhTprVty would be of i;+fln vilm» if there wore no people to paj W fnr lt It is complained that proxies swamp aud ihe small ratepayer. There will certainly be necessary a further imitation and safeguard to prevent proxies becoming an intolerable and an oppressive abuse.