POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 35

POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.

THE HON J. C. WARD IN ENGLAND-

Bu Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright, London, May 15.

Mr Ward will confer with Earl Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, respecting a naval station in New Zealand. MR WARD’S DOINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS. From Our Special Correspondent. London, April 5. The rumour to which I referred last week anent changed arrangements for the inscription of stock was, as is usual with city gossip, only partially accurate. Mr Ward does not, I hear, intend to follow South Australia’s example and make the inscription of stock a portion of the duties of the Agent-General’s department. There are several sound arguments against this course in his opinion, immense saving though it would signify. For one thing it would deprive New Zealand of her financial friends in London, and that would be most unwise. In a crisis she would have no helper to look to but her own Agent-General’s department. In times past the Colony has benefited materially through having the counsel and countenance of the Bank of England. But .£SOO per million is nowadays too much to pay for this privilege. Mr Ward’s intention is to recommend the transference of the inscription to a cheaper quarter, or to speak plainly —to their own Bank the Bank of New Zealand. The exact terms of the new arrangement (which cannot come into force till the 12 months notice required by the Bank of England has expired) have not come out, but the Treasurer anticipates the Colony will save quite the sum I mentioned last week, viz., .£15,000 a year. THE O AM ABU BONDHOLDERS. A deputation from the Oamaru bondholders waited on your Treasurer at Westminster Chambers on Monday afternoon to urge the New Zealand Government to guarantee them a lower rate of interest, and to pledge themselves in that event to remove their receiver. Mr Ward, as you may suppose, could not grant the request, and explained very clearly it was quite impossible the Government could guarantee the Oamaru Harbour Board or any other local body. He nevertheless went into the condition of affairs at the Otago seaport with considerable elaboration, and gave the bondholders a good deal of information and some sound advice. The hon. gentleman said the Oamaru folk were straight, honourable, right-feeling people, who had never for a moment entertained the faintest intention of evading their just obligations. He advised the bondholders strongly to withdraw their receiver. The latter was not only an unnecessary expense, but his presence caused friction, and really prevented instead of assisting the end they had in view. He (the Treasurer) might say he considered a consolidation scheme for their loans quite feasible, but the Government could not assist in any way in bi’inging it out. The present administration in New Zealand had done all they could to help the Oamaru people, not pressing for the interest due on their loan, &c. The bondholders must not look on the Government as in any way hostile to them. The deputation on withdrawing thanked Mr Ward for his lucid explanations. THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND DEPUTATION, On Tuesday afternoon Mr Ward received a deputation from the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, headed by Mr Horace Snow, who, as you are aware, has been a standing dish at the Bank’s meetings for years past, and initiated the recent agitation against the call. Mr Snow commenced by thanking the New Zealand Government for coming to the rescue of the Bank. He confessed, however, they could not understand the recent call, and should like some information on the subject, More especially the deputation would be glad to be assured that no further drafts on the uncalled capital were likely or even possible. The Treasurer, replying, said that the Government had come to the rescue of the Bank in the interests of the Colony generally, and because they thoroughly believed it to be a sound concern. He was thankful to think that their action had averted serious trouble. The shareholders dissatisfied with the c all might be thankful, he thought, that worse things had not befallen them. The frying-pan was a less uncomfortable locale than the fire. If the Government had not guaranteed the Bank, the shareholdSrS~'would almost certainly have had to dump up far more than .£500,000, As a matter of faot this much discussed call was really made in the interests of the shareholders. On the face of it the first thing for the new management to do was to get the Bank into a thoroughly strong condition. The wisdom of the call would be apparent to any intelligent shareholder who perused the report of the directors presented to the recent meeting injNew Zealand, Mr Ward then entered into a number of business details, which it is inexpedient to particularise. He further said the directors were all independent men, and might, he was confident, be trusted to incline the institution in the direction of sound stability. The shareholders had undoubtedly experienced a bad time, but he firmly believed that before very long they would again own a thoroughly profitable institution. With regard to future calls, the Treasurer said he must distinctly intimate that the Government could Jmake no promise or promises on the subject. He might, however, state his individual opinion, which was that no further call would be necessary. Finally, Mr Ward exhorted the shareholders to co-operate with the management pf the Bank, and not to injure their own

property by parading supposititious business difficulties before the public. Recent events had, he hoped, inspired them with a belief that a better future was before the Bank. Let good sense and discretion, then, prevent them from weakening the hands of the executive and from playing into the hands of those enemies of the institution who would, if they could, literally crumple the Bank up. Mr Andrews, who was present, then answered a number of questions. MB SNOW ON THE SUBJECT. The foregoing, of course, gives but the very faintest notion of what transpired at the* meeting, ! which lasted two hours. Pressmen were rigidly excluded, and all “ outsiders ” sent to the rightabout. Caution was necessary in the interests _ of the Bank, and in view of tho important disclosures which Mr Ward and Mr Andrews had to make respecting its business and in answering the multitude of questions formulated by Mr Snow and his colleagues, your Treasurer thought it advisable to bind those present to complete secrecy. That they’ve kept the vows they swore I am in a position to testify, for I have attempted to “ pump ” one or twe of the committee, and the result is painfully meagre. First of all I tried Mr Snow, who seemed rather surprised to find that a mere Cournalist knew anything about the meeting. He was close as an oyster regarding details, and would not even say whether he was personally satisfied that another call would not be made within the next few years. “ Were you,” I asked, “ entirely satisfied with Mr Ward’s speech and his replies to your questions ?” “ Entirely so,” said Mr Snow. “He was frank and straightforward, arid gave us the idea that he was a very capable business man. Whilst he is in power, I’m sure we shall have every assistance from the Government, and that the management of tho Bank at the other end will bo in capable hands.” “ Then,” said I, “ there will be no more cries of * stinking fish ’ from the committee and the shareholders ?” “No, we are going to fly our best flag now, and try to inspire public confidence,” replied Mr Snow. “ And the committee,will it dissolve ?” “No, wo remain in being as ,a committee, so that if anything goes wrong again we shall he able to act without delay.” On the whole, Mr Snow seemed very well satisfied that the two hours spent with Mr Ward were not wasted. Mr Glass was my next victim, and our chat was very short. He was, Tike Mr Snow, entirely satisfied with the explanations and information vouchsafed by your Treasurer and Mr Andrews, both of whom impressed him as eminently capable men of business. Mr Glass, indeed, paid the Hon J. G. Ward a high compliment by remarking that his preconceived notions of your Treasurer, both as a man and as a financier, had been upset entirely in the course of the meeting. “ I was prejudiced against him by things I had heard, but that’s all passed away,” said the committeeman. “ What about the Bank’s future ?” “ Well, I shan’t give my shares away now,” said Mr Glass smiling. MB WABD AND BBITISH MANUFACTUBEBS On Wednesday the Hon J. G. Ward was the guest of the evening at the Article Club monthly dinner. This Club is composed entirely of manufacturers ; in fact to be a member one must havo made a success of some article of commerce. Sir Albert Rollit, Sir Herbert Maxwell, Sir Robert Herbert and other M.P.’s were fellow-guests with Mr Ward, and Mr Bullivant presided. Your Treasurer, in a short after-dinner speech, appealed straight to the pockets of his auditors. He said that owing to the subsidies granted to tho foreign lines of steamers they were able to compete successfully with our own, and that in consequence the New Zealand importers found it pay best to go to the Continent. Reporters were not admitted to this function, but I expect to be able to give you Mr Ward’s speech in full next week. MB WABD ADDRESSES THE COLONIAL PABTY.

The Hon J.G. Ward addressed the Colonial Party at the House of Commons yesterday afternoon. Reporters were not admitted, but through the courtesy of your Treasurer I am able to furnish the following summary of his remarks : ‘ Mr Ward be gap by explaining the attitude of the Government of New Zealand on the Samoan question. He said he and his colleag'ues in their willingness to undertake the supervision of the affairs of Samoa were not actuated by any desire for territorial aggrandisement. The policy was based upon the fact that the present general control and administration of the island were so unsatisfactory, and the object of the New Zealand Government was to remove what, was admitted by most people who understood the position to be a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. The Government desired also to meet what seemed to be the ardent desire of the British residents in Samoa, who naturally looked for fraternal sympathy arid support to. the pearest British colony. But as exception had been taken to the proposals, there was not the slightest desire on the part of the New Zealand Government to make any further representations on the matter. While they would have been prepared to manage the island, there was really not much to gain so far as New Zealand was concerned. Still, they were convinced that they could administer the affairs of Samoa much more satisfactorily than they were managed under the existing system. Mr Ward also referred to the whole question of the financial position of the Colony of New Zealand, as well as to the taxation and the way in which it affected landholders. He next dealt with the absentee tax, gave a general outline of the land policy, and explained the system of co-operation as applied to contracts for public works. Then he went on to deal with the more im-

portant points in the social legislation recently carried out. The Public Trust and Government Insurance Departments also received attention, and at the request of Mr Henniker Heaton, M.P., and J. F. Hogan, M.P., prominent members of the Colonial Party in the House of Commons, Mr Ward explained the working of the telephone service in New Zealand. Speaking upon the question of British and colonial trade, and the extent to which it is being* detrimentally affected by the heavy subsidies paid to foreign shipping, he strongly urged that, in order to enable British manufacturers to compete successfully with foi'eign competitors, it was necessary and highly desirable that the Imperial Government should show more sympathy than at present for British maritime trade, and should show that sympathy in a practical form by granting subsidies to lines of steamers running between the Australasian colonies and the Mother Country. New Zealand, he said,would cordially co-operate with the Canadian and Australian Governments in making Mr Huddart’s new steam service a success, and ho thought the Imperial Government ought to give effect to the recommendation of Lord Jersey in his report on the Ottawa Conference. Mr Ward was also in favour of preferential trade relations within the Empire. He then proceeded to deal at some length with the position of the New Zealand Government in connection with certain harbour boards, pointing out that upon the whole the local public bodies of the Colony were financially sound. But he thought the general Government would not, under any circumstances, become responsible for the finances of those bodies. Speaking of tho action of the Government in guaranteeing the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Ward said it was generally admitted to have been a wise step, as it was the only course which could avert- national disaster in a time of impending crisis. He believed there was now every reason to hope that tho future of that institution was assured, and that its operations would be successful. In addition to these views, your Colonial Treasurer declared himself a strong supporter of Imperial penny postage and of the laying of the Pacific cable, though ho thought the latter was not a matter for the Government, hut should be carried out by private enterprise. Unfortunately, Mr Ward’s address was interrupted by a division, so that the concluding part of his remarks was very hurried, and he was obliged to omit some important points. He will, however, at the invitation of the Colonial Party, address them again at a fitting opportunity, when he will go more fully into matters, and deal with other subjects of interest on which the Colonial Party desire further information. [This has since been done, as we learn by cable. — Ed. N.Z.M.] THE BIMETALLIC LEAGUE. Mr Ward attended by invitation the annual meeting of tho Bimetallic League on Wednesday last, but not as a member, nor did ho speak on the occasion. Asked whether or nob he is favourable to the views advocated by the League, Mr Ward replied that he had spoken on the question in New Zealand, and, though he had no settled views, his mind was open to conviction. April 6. Your Treasurer is just at present in the unfortunate position of not being able to cram 24 hours’ work into 12- For a nice light thing in holidays commend me indeed to a trip like Mr Ward’s. From eight in the morning till 7 at night this week his nose is firmly to the grindstone in some form or other, and from that hour till 2 a.m. he exchanges the business for the social treadmill. On Friday evening Mr and Mrs Ward followed up the reception at South Kensington with a visit to the Haymarket Theatre, where they witnessed the peiformance of “ An Ideal Husband.” Next day, Mr Ward’s cold being still troublesome, they went for a jaunt into the country, returning early on Monday. Besides receiving the afore-men-tioned deputations, Mr Ward visited the House of Commons again on Tuesday afternoon, and made the acquaintance of many more honourable members. He agreed to address the Colonial party at the House on Thursday afternoon, and to dine there with Colonel Howard Vincent arid ff so/ne old soldiers” this evening. Dinner parties have also been arranged in Mr Ward’s honour at the Junior Carlton, the Constitutional and tho St. Stephen’s Clubs, The Earl of Onslow called on your Treasurer yesterday, and all the Agents-Gonerals, &c., have paid their respects. Mr Ward attends tho first levee in April, and Mrs Ward is to be presented at Court at the fashionable May Draw-ing-room by the Marchioness of liipon. | The suffocating atmosphere of 7, Park Place proved more than the eminent New Zealander and his wife could endure complacently, and sorry as they were to separate from Sir Geo. Grey, Mr and Mrs Ward moved last Thursday to the. Westminster Palace Hotel. tfiey have pice airy rooms, overlooking tfie Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, with the river and the embankment in the background, It is possible to see the sun and sky-—sometimes (both are permanently invisible at Park Place), and the New Zealand Government offices lie within a stone’s throw. Mrs Ward was much the best dressed woman at Lady Perceval’s reception last Friday. I wish I dare venture on a description of her gown, or frock, or dress, or costume. But I feel sure I should make a mess of it. We know the effect of a dainty toilette on a pretty woman, but how that effect is brought about only a feminine pen can safely say, I almost forgot to mention Mr and Mrs Ward were at the boat race on Saturday as the guests of Mr and Mrs Gwynne, who have a villa on the hanks of the Thames. They witnessed the most exciting phase of the struggle betwixt the rival blues, and spent a very pleasant afternoon. In the course of an interview with the

British Australasian, Mr Ward was asked : “ Generally speaking, wliat is the feeling you have found existing in this country in regard to New Zealand?” <f It is distinctly favourable. There has been a good deal of misconception upon some of the points of policy of the Government.” “ How has this arisen ?”

“ Either by correspondence or by reports sent Home from the other side. I have endeavoured to clear up many points since my arrival, and I hope not without success. Our. Colony, as a whole, is particularly sound, and our financial position is very healthy. I expect to hear within the next few days the actual results of the year’s finance work, and my own opinion is that our surplus should be something like <£350,000 or <£3SO,OOO. One thing that the Colony is suffering from is low prices. It is the one disturbing element we have to deal with, in fact. lam glad to note there is some improvement in wool, and, with a general rise all round, it will be found that the Colony was never more prosperous.” “Should you advice people to go out to New Zealand now r”

“ Anyone who chose to go out to New Zealand could certainly make a home for himself and his family. The field of operations for workmen, it is true, is limited. We are not a very large population, as you know, but the facilities for getting land, and good land, in New Zealand are considerable, and the general land policy of the Government is such that any man who is disposed to apply himself assiduously to work can certainly make a comfortable home for himself and his family in New Zealand.” “ But he must have capital ? ” “Yes. A man should not go to any of the colonies at the present time unless he is possessed of moderate means. But to go to New Zealand a man does not want to be a capitalist. It is one of the few countries where men with very small means can do well. There is no centralising process there as in most of the Australian colonies. Our chief towns are small, the populations running only from 20,000 to 50,000. We have a very long seaboard, and harbours and ports abound, in addition to which our railway system enables settlers inland to have great shipping facilities. The tendency of the Colony generally is not to have people idling about the towns.” “ What about the frozen meat and dairy industries ?”

“As I have said, it is very unfortunate that prices are so low. It looks as if there was an over-supply. How that is to be dealt with is very difficult to say. If it is not an over-supply, then it is a want of regulation of supply. lam of opinion that expansion, such as we have seen for the last year or two, must be curtailed, and if the price of mutton should continue to fall, the Colony, I should say, would cease shipping.” “Of course, there must be a point at which the shipment of frozen meat ceases to pay the producer ?” “Exactly so. It so happens that the bulk of the sheep-owners in New Zealand can afford to hold their sheep, and if they find that the froaen meat industry does not pay they will, doubtless, devote themselves to the boiling-down process, and turn their attention once more to the raising of wool.” (Correspondent Christchurch Press ) London, March 29. The New Zealand event of the week —in fact, the only New Zealand event in an exceptionally dull week—has been the reception given by the Agent-General and Lady Perceval “to meet Mr and Mrs Ward.” It passed off with remarkable eclat, in spite of somewhat adverse weather, there being a stiff N.W. gale all day, with occasional showers. The stormy elements did not keep away colonists and ex-colonists, or, at any rate, many of them were not deterred, for some 300 peoplo assembled during the afternoon at the Imperial Institute, where the reception was held from 4 to 6.30. Sir Westby and Lady Perceval received in what is known as the Australasian Conference Room at the Institute, which was suitably arranged for the purpose. Mr and Mrs Ward stood near at hand, and the introductions were very numerous. There was. a great desire on the part of many persons other than New Zealanders to meet the young Treasurer, of whose abilities report has spoken in high terms, wholly apart from questions of agreement with his policy or dissent from it. And the fact that this was the first visit of himself and his wife to the woHdh metropolis associated special interest with the occasion. Sir Geo.Vgo Bowen, your ex-Gover-nor, wa.?, one of the earlier arrivals, accom-. panned by his daughter. He looked very aged and somewhat infirm, but is still a wonderfully handsome old man. He walked about rather slowly and feebly, chatting freely ; but his hearing is much impaired, and this is rather an, obstacle to. conversation. Miss Bowen is a fine-looking girl, reminding me strongly of her mother, Indy Bowen, as I knew her in New Zealand many years ago. Then Sir George Grey soon turned up, looking very bright and cheerful, though he did not seem in the best of health or any too strong. He conversed with numbers of people with all his accustomed, charm and interest, and seemed genuinelypleased to meet several more recently arrived New Zealanders whom, fib bad not previously fallen in with. Sir George was accompanied by h,i,s. nieces, the Misses Campbell. A third New Zealand notability who soon put in an appearance was Sir .Julius Yogel, who, I thought, was looking very well and more cheerful than the last time I met him, when he was still almost crushed by the sad loss of his son. It has evidently done him much good to have his other son, Mr H. B. Vogel, home with him, and he speaks with great pleasure of the comfort it has been to him. Lady Vogel was not well enough to be present. Most of the other Agents-General were present, as well as a lai’ge sprinkling of English and colonial notabilities.