DETRACTORS OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3862, 4 October 1899, Page 5

DETRACTORS OF NEW ZEALAND.

“Woe unto you,” said* a prophet of-old, “when, all, men speak .well of Zealand is in no danger of incurring doom on that account, for she has never been free from the shafts of calumny, misrepresentation and abuse. When her own jaundiced politicians are tired of unpibtriotically denouncing her public men, institutions and laws, there is generally some London journal (ready to take-up the tale, drawing its inspiration from partisan pamphlets, from the letters of a disappointed and ill-informed “ncw-chnm,'; or from the traveller’s tales toldvby some sea-captainwho has perhaps /a month in the colony. An obscure-publi-cation recently started in the British metropolis, under the title of “The London Letter,” has lately delivered an attack upon New Zealand, under, the guise of a communication purporting to ; emanate from “John Downright, of Lambton quay, IS ollington.’’ Whether the writer' is a resident of this- country or is a Fleet street scribbler does; not much matter, llis-pon-namo is so far appropriate,- fdi ho takes the palm as a downright perverted of-the truth. His ignorance is proclaimed in every- paragraph of his effusion. Anyone with the most, superficial knowledge of colonial affairs can see at a glance that he is altogether at sea in his chronology—events of twenty years ago being presented along with those of today in a most confusing jumble. -When his knowledge of facts is so slender it is not difficult to appraise the value.of his opinions. ’

“John Downright” boasts of his enthusiasm as a New Zealander yet he attacks and maligns the colony in. a manner that convinces one of his insincerity. “If ever a colony had a heavy depression hanging over it for years and years, this is * the one,’’ he says; and he adds: “It makes on© wild to see the stuff that is published about the wonderful progress and the magnificent resources of the country, when, if the truth were told, it is’ really at a standstill, or worse, and nothing is being made of its resources compared with what might bo made.” This. lugubrious writer is evidently unaware of-the expansion that has of recent years attended every department of industry in the colony. Ho has seen nothing of the progress of 'Wellington, nothing of the increase in the colony’s imports and - exports, the growth of her manufactures, the unparalelled development of the dairying and frozen meat industries, or the increased revenue from every source,’ particularly from the railways and Customs duties—perhaps ,the surest gauges of prosperity and enterprise among a people. He- complains that nothing is done to induce people to come to this colony, and yet he proceeds to give the country so bail a name that if ho were to be-be-lieved New Zealand might, find difficulty in retaining her own population, and would certainly never receive immigrants from England. ; - -• ■■■■' ; ■■ Perhaps too much notice has already boon given to the ebullitions of no. cheerless and misleading a detractor of- thocolony; but it is instructive to read further and find how he betrays his party bias by denouncing tho Liberal legislation that has been inaugurated for the betterment of the people. He bewails female suffrage and shop hours regulation,.compulsory arbitration and old age pensions ; and, Tory-like,;. assorts• that while “all sorts of fantastic fads that do nobody any good” are legislated for, no

step is ever taken-towards putting the 1 tinancesof the colony on an honest footing. -If-the finances of the colony were not in keeping with the individual prosperity prevailing, buoyant and inspiriting,'then measures would bo necessary to set them In order. /It is true that the colony’s debt is increasing,' but.'it ought to be borne in mind that tho expenditure has been for tho most.part prudent, and that'the loan money raised of late years has been re-lent' on good security or expended oh enterprises that have returned considerable profit to. the colony. It h, i iievefore, not correct to state, in the face of the facts, and everyone may Know them, that “the colony exists for tin benefit of its creditors,”.or that there.is “a false, appearance ,of conclusion, this downright traducer looks hopefully to federation as a means of restoring hope and/confidence among colonists, .and of removing “the hide-bound narrow-mindedness! That r at; present: ox-’; is.ts.” This final demonstration of his ignorance is:really amusing for all-well-' informed New Zealanders can only smile at tho presumption- that a change which would be destructive of New Zealand’s national life; and would confine her Parliament to -“roads and- bridges” legislation would bring either hopefulness or breadth of outlook. Happy indeed, is the country- whoso enemies can bring nothing worse against her than the-calum-niators of New Zealand arc able to advance! • " ' -