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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 42

Mr P. E. Quinn, a prominent citizen of Sydney, who recently visited Wellington, has since his return been talking to a newspaper representative on New Zealand affairs. Mr Seddon. lie remarked, is now at the zenith of his power; he has obtained the rewai d which undoubtedly he merits, and when hostile criticism has done its worst, lio will figure in the pages of history as a man with the undoubted vision of a statesman and as the greatest exponent of humanitarian legislation that his generation has seen. In his hand the legislative machinery ceases to be a mere machine; it may be said, indeed, that lie lias equipped it- with a heart. Sir Joseph Ward, his chief lieutenant, is a man of affairs, whose astute intellect has been of great assistance to the Ministry. “Arc there many unemployed in New Zealand?” asked the pressman. “As a matter of fact,” replied Mi Quinn, “the unemployed problem does not exist in New Zealand. At present there is a scarcity of labour. The main trunk railway connecting Wellington and Auckland, is being vigorously pushed on and contractors all round the islands have a difficulty in obtaining suitable labour. Trade is flourishing, and it is interesting to note that a number of representatives . of English houses who have been driven, out of the Australian market by the increase of production under the Federal tariff, are taking refuge in New Zealand, where there is preference to British products amounting to Hi per cent.” “The buildings going up in Wellington and Christchurch,” said Mi' Quinn, ip reply to another query, “are an indication that in those places people are wetting over their nervousness with regard to earthquakes. Solid brick structures of five and six stories are replacing the old wooden buildings everywhere, much to the advantage, of the appearance of the oities. On the whole,” said Mr Quinn in conclusion “from the standpoint of its scenery, its fertility, and its legislation, New Zealand remains full or attraction for the tourist, the yvprissr, and the thinker.*