THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 1890.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8404, 4 November 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 1890.

We have frequently drawn attention in our columns to the desirability of inducing people to look to the country' rather than to the towns as a place to settle in. We have lost no opportunity of pointing out that the overgrowth of a city population in a country like New Zealand must of necessity bring distress on the entire community ; i whilst, on the other hand, the settling ! of the unoccupied land must mean an increased prosperity for the whole colony. Unfortunately, however, for some years past, the inducements offered to the farmer, what with low prices and heavy rates of transit, have not been very tempting, and so settlement has not progressed as, rapidly as could be desired. The London, market rules the world, and the great distance of New Zealand from this vast city renders it difficult for her to compete with other countries lying closer to the British Isles. The United States, the immense plains along the River Plate, many of the European and Asiatic countries, sending as they did such enormous food supplies to England, made it a matter of extreme difficulty for New Zealand to realise a paying price for tier products, and principally in her frozen meat trade did our colony feel the effects of the competition. The enormous distance we had to send our meat, the uncertainty of its distribution when it reached England, the immense supplies the other countries had to dispose of, all contributed towards transforming tho trade into a matter of uncertainty, and, as a consequence, of lessening rather than increasing it; of disheartening farmers rather than encouraging them. Time, however, has changed all this. Better arrangements, increased communication with Europe, and a falling off in the supplies of other countries, have put matters, so far as we aro concerned, on a much more satisfactory footing, by raising the price of our products and the hopes of farmers. Many years ago, when the States began to ship live cattle to Eng- j land, the Earl of Beaconstield is reported j to have said that the number of cattle brought in the future to England would depend on the number of vessels avail- j able for the trade. In other words, ! that the supply of cattle in the States ; was inexhaustible. As years rolled on, ' however, it was seen that this was far j from being the case, and now we are ! gradually nearing the time when North • America will require all her food j supplies to feed her large and increas- j ing population. A great deal of the land | in the States has been worked out, and j from recent returns we learn that the extra area brought under culti- j vation each year does not keep | pace with the large numbers yearly j added to the population. Now, as j America furnishes such a large supply to the British Isles, this means that a formidable caterer for the world's market will gradually be withdrawn, and all those countries who have food supplies for exportation will receive a better return for their shipments. To bring the matter more nearly home—of late the price of sheep and cattle, especially the former, has been steadily on the increase, until it is now a matter of no small difficulty to secure a large flock of sheep, except at a very long figure.

If this were merely the result of some temporary decrease in the number of sheep in the colony, or of some unusual demand for New Zealand mutton elsewhere, tho matter might hardly be worth much thought; but by neither of the above reasons can the change be, accounted for. Recent returns go to show that tho total number of sheep in the colony has undergone a very large yearly increase, and that the number of frozen carcases sent home during the last twelve months was much in excess of that exported in any previous year. It is a mere question of supply and demand. The demand lias been steadily becoming greater and the supply all over tho world has not kept pace with such demand ; nor are the present conditions at all likely to alter for some considerable time. The certain market that sheep bring, as well as their enhanced value, have induced many farmers to add largely to their flocks, and as the returns from such investments begin to be better known, a still greater number of settlers will embark in sheep farming. And not only has the sheep farmer a brighter outlook ; other exports as well are beginning to give better returns to the producer. This in a short time will bring about a great and welcome change in our prospscts by inducing settlement, increasing the value of land, an drawing the surplus population from the towns to the country. Already has land gone up in price, and the fact that nearly all the large shipping companies trading with New Zealand, as well as those carrying on the coastal service between our various ports, are rapidly adding to their fleets, goes to still further shew that our exports are largely on the increase, and the prospects of the colony of a very hopeful nature.

We believe that much regret will be folt at the resignation by Dr. Posnett, of his position in the Auckland University College as Professor of Classics and English. In the letter sent to the University Council, which we published a few days ago, Dr. Posnett stated that, notwithstanding the depression and want of progress in the colony, his classes had increased in numbers, and I students had gained some high distincI tions. The desire of the Council to increase tho Latin lectures had been carried into efl'sct, but the duties were heavy. The lectures reached an average of 260 per session, and "involved a mass of work greater in variety and more continuous in strain than the duties of any single Professorship, Australasian or British, with which I. am acquainted." Dr. Posnett suggested that the duties of the Professor of English and Classics should be divided as at Christchurch and Dunedin, If the Council did not agree

to this, he could not enter into a new arrangement except "on the understanding that this double professorship be placed upon the footing of a Melbourne or Sydney Professorship." Dr. Posnett has, we believe, proved himself to be a thoroughly able professor in every respect. He is an accurate and ripe scholar, and possesses high abilities as a teacher. His resignation, therefore, will be regretted by all his pupils. The Council, however, could not see their way to accede to his proposals. On the motion of Sir G. M. O'Rorke it was resolved to release him from duty at the close of the present term, although his engagement extends to March, 1891. Sir G. M. O'Rorke thought they should at once send a cable message to England for a Professor to take up the work at the beginning of next year. The consideration of the subject was adjourned till Monday next. It would almost seem, from the tone of the remarks made by Sir G. M. O'Rorke, that there was a want of cordiality between Dr. Posnett and the Council. We find no fault, however, with the course which the Council took in declining to accede to Dr. Posnett's terms, and in accepting his resignation. They could scarcely do otherwise. But we should like to see the question of university education revised for the whole colony. Dr. Posnett states that he has had large classes, and more work than he could well accomplish, while it is well known that other Professors have had very few students. It is evident that the present arrangements in Auckland are somewhat lop-sided, that there are Professors of departments which are not wanted, while Dr. Posuett has had work sufficient for two. We suspect that the Southern Universities are in a somewhat similar position. True university work cannot be done in this way. Meanwhile, the country lias to pay large salaries to these Professors. The salary of Dr. Posnett is £700 per annum, with £200 in fees (besides travelling allowance). It is evident that this business of "higher education" has mastered the country, and has escaped from the control of both Parliament and the people. There are three universities in .New Zealand, and there is no real demand in the teaching of advanced scholarship for more than one. Wellington is clamouring for a University, not because it is " felt want," but because -Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, has each such an institution, It is quite.certain therefore that, unless the new Parliament takes up and deals with the whole question, we shall soon have a fourth University. And all this while the colony is groaning under taxation, and while no one can look at the political future without serious misgivings.