The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1912. A BREEZY OPTIMIST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8053, 6 March 1912, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1912. A BREEZY OPTIMIST

"GRIGG OF LONGBEACH." "I saw samples of New Zealand butter and cheese, and was many times in Smithfi'ild to Bee ouv meat. I was delighted to see how well it has carried, and it all ate well. . . . Wc have been ablo to borrow money at from 31 to 4J per cent, to develop this splendid little country, when at ilia &ame time the Argentine has had to pay 5,7, 8, and 9 per cent, private- ! lv and publicly. Why this difference? tsimrlv because wc are under the British flag, and guarded by her splendid navy. . . This lovely conntry will carry people thick on the land, and the votes of men on the land should go into one ballot-box. There is no lo&3 in spending money well in a. young country, but spending it badly or extravagantly is a, debt for all time. . . Richard Seddou, an Imperialist, put 10 per cent, surtax on all goods not made in Gveat Britain, but we should go one better and take 5 j.er cent, off, making a difference of 15 per cent, between British manufactures and t foreign."

Wo are all in jeopardy of becoming little New Zealanders. Recent events have demonstrated the menace of our becoming immersed in an all-absorbing parochialism, to the exclusion of widel' and more important issues. With British peoples local politics are apt to occupy us too intensely, to our loss and to our detriment, while the matters which vitally concern the commonwealth are overlooked. The danger is lest we should pay too much attention to mere persons, trio little to the .intrinsic ' interests of the country. It really matters little by whom New Zealand is governed so long as she is governed .ivisely—that is to long as she-is governed on business lines,

O'er modes of government fools contest. Whatc’er is best administered, is best. ; Here we are, a million people scattered thinly over one of tho most fertile tracts in the whole world, a tract capable of giving nurture to a. wonderful population. Compai'ed with other countries we are exceedingly prosper ous. The unit here has a better opportunity of a happy and a useful life than the unit of any other territory on tho taco of tho globe. A great destiny is before us it w© handle rightly our Opportunities. .We canVot handle rightly our opportunities if we quarrel about trifles and close our eyes tight to the larger issues. It is Well we should be reminded of this. The best reminder we can get is to ponder the words of those who Have gone abroad and looked back over the whole prospect from tho wider outlook. It would be , a fine thing for New Zealand—and a sound investment—if we subscribed a sum periodically to send some of pur hidebound politicians for a jaunt, abroad. This leads up to a consideration of tho words of wisdom of Mr Grigg—- “ Grigg of Longbeach.” ‘ Two decades ago Mr Grigg’s father was in the forefront of our pastoraliats and agriculturists, not a Tit© Barnacle, not a squatter, but the most strenuous and enterprising of them all. He saw the potentialities of the frozen meat trade when most men were timidly to hold back and prone to belittle the future. He set the example of breeding for tho market; speculated enormously in order to keep that market supplied with bulk; and never ©eased predicting an immense trade almost without limits. When the wisest of the wiseacres were airing an uncertain certainty of a half million limit, “ Grigg of Longbeach ” was discoursing with his usual vehemence about many millions, and backing his opinion in • variety of substantial ways. In these days of the success of his predictions with records of ten times the quantities grudgingly admitted by the pessimists, it is pleasant to know that the mantle of this capable pioneer has fallen on the shoulders of a worthy son. When the present “ Grigg of Longbeach,” returning from Britain, tells us that he has seen the meat and can speak of its equality and of the admirable manner in which it has been carried to its destination we feel that he speaks with authority of knowledge acquired in a very exacting school. It is equally satisfactory to not© that his discourse ,0n what he saw fails to include any of the numerous complaints about careless handlings and other defects in the distributing trade. He is obviously not concerned with points at which wo fail. His mission is to enlarge upon the points at which wo may succeed.

The son of the pioneer refrigerator has inherited tEo spirit of enterprise. He gives good advice for the pushing of the trade into the continental markets. His advocacy is that there should be substantial expenditure from the office of the High Commissioner. His suggestion is that foreign experts should be invited to New Zealand to study the frozen meat industry from beginning to end. He knows that prejudice would bo dispelled by first-hand knowledge, and that Governments anxious to please majorities of consumers would be forced by tbit process to disregard the quasi scientific fables of those interested in the isolation 'ocal sup-

plies. These benefits would be especially valuable in Germany and Franco. In the latter country, indeed, the one thing that retards the opening of the local market is an and quite unnecessary precaution which, as things stand, amounts to a prohibition of our meat. Once efficiency of the local inspection was demonstrated, prejudice and precaution would both fall to the ground. Whether Mr Grigg is right in his view that the consumption of frozen meat is sure to increase largely in Britain is a question we may not hear the last of for some little time. Inasmuch as it is a long way removed from the pessimistic views recently held it is to be much commended. "We may add that these sturdy pioneers of industry are not accustomed to take anything for granted.

As a believer in this country, Sir Grigg spoke with strong conviction and most praiseworthy directness. He is not afraid of the future. He is not appalled at the “ fearful growth of the national debt.” *; There is no loss,” ho said, iiithily, “ in spending money well in a young country.” This is an indirect endorsement of our 80 per cent, of self-supporting loans. Mr Grigg declared that to ensure enterprise and solvency the farmers of tha Dominion must ‘‘put nil their votes into one ballot-box.” Of tho political label of that box there can, in the face of the published facts, bo no doubt whatever, :

Coining to criticisms of the “enormous debt ” of this country, Mr Grigg contends, with great simplicity and truth, that it is in one respect far greater than it appears to be. Our indirect debt to the Mother Country, lie implies, is huge by comparison with that which we place in the ordinary lists of loans. It represents the enormous sums paid by tho British taxpayer for tho upkeep of tho navy without which these countries would not bo worth a moment’s purchase. It is a debt we can never hope to repay; ono which we shall never bo asked to repay. But every attempt wo make to repay in part, and every recognition of the practical character of tho obligation under which we stand, is welcome to the Mother Country and a strengthener of tho Imperial bond which keeps together the greatest and the most rapidly-growing association of free Powers the world has ever seen. No better defence .of the preference policy, or even of the Dreadnought gift, could be wished.