THE MOTHER COUNTRY AND THE COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8475, 28 January 1891, Page 6

THE MOTHER COUNTRY AND THE COLONIES.

Last week- Mr. G. Hold.-hip arrived by the s.s. Waihora from Sydney, having arrived by the P. and 0. steamer from England, after nearly a twelvemonths' absence in travel. The object of his going home was the health of Mrs. Holdship, who is now staying in London, in order to obtain the best medical advice. He went home by the Suez route. During the five • months Mr. Holdship was in Europe, he spent the most of the time in travelling in Great Britain and Ireland, and on the Continent. In conversing with a Herald representative yesterday, regarding his visit to the mother country, Mr. Holdship said that during that time he conversed with a great number of people ■ about New Zealand affairs, and found that in most cases the opinions respecting New Zealand were completely changed from what they were when he was last in England four years ago. Then the •whole of the British journals were full of damaging articles on New Zealand, and most people looked upon it as hopelessly involved in debt. Now the general feehntr is that New Zealand has surmounted its difficulties, and they are astonished at the marvellous increase in its exports, and the fact that therevenueof thecountry has maintained its present figure. The result is that the journals which formerly decried New Zealand are now loud in their praise of the colony, and he would not be surprised if the results of this change of tone does not lead to an accession to our population of a very desirable class of emigrants. The climate arid other advantages of New Zealand are so far ahead of other colonies that it is only the great distance from the mother country which prevents this colony having a steady stream of immigration. Owing to the increase of the tourist traffic to the colonies, and the increased facilities for rapid travel, the former ignorance of the colonies and their resources is disappearing among the trading and commercial classes of the mother country and the British public generally. When the knowledge thus acquired has permeated the masses we may, Mr. Holdship thinks, expect * beneficial accession to our population. Another thing which is bringing New Zealand prominently under the notice of the British public is the large quantities of frozen meat, wool, grain, flax, timber, and other commodities exported from the colony. Four years ago, Mr. Holdship states, he conversed in England with some commercial men as to the probable quantity of frozen mutton which could be exported, and they expressed the opinion that New Zealand could not keep up the supply, but alter the four years the output is largely increased, and there seems to be, speaking generally, practically no limit to the amount which may be exported. As to timber, there is no doubt as to the market for kauri timber, when its qualities are fully known, but at present there is a great deal of ignorance as to New Zealand timbers, and it will take time to remove that ignorance, owing to the conservatism of the British public. During the New Zealand and Australian strike great interest was taken in the matter by the British public, and there is no doubt that the labour troubles did a great deal to advertise the colonies, and to make the home people acquainted with the wages, hours, and social condition of the working classes, which presented a great contrast to that of the labouring classes at home. The general opinion outside of New Zealand, not only in England, but in Australia, is that this colony is improving; but Mr. Holdship says he was not prepared to find on his return to New Zealand that the improvement had been so marked, | judging from the language of the people ! with whom he had come in contact, and so pronounced a renewal of confidence in the j future of the colony. The consensus of j opinion in English financial circles is that, j as the colony has now shown its ability to ] meet its obligations, and carry on the I country out of current revenue, it should I refrain from borrowing, and give the colony J a period of rest. This would remove the I objection which many capitalists have to j invest their money in the colony, inasmuch j as they feared it was only a question of j : time with further borrowing, -when the necessities of the country would lead to 1 such an increase of taxation on property as 1 to amount to practical confiscation. ' -