THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 2.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2004, 2 June 1868, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 2.

This evening the Provincial Council will resume its sitting, and it is sincerely to bo hoped that attention will be given to the business of tho Session, rather than to trials of party Btrength. There is an evident tendency on tho part of the Opposition to claim for themselves tho character of friends of those who work for wages. On what especial item of their political programme they assume this title, it is difficult to divine. If they are friends of tho working-classes who desire to narrow Provincial outlay on public works in tho greatest possible degree, then the Opposition have a fair claim to that epithet. We are no advocates for recklosß expenditure ; but there are those who withhold more th;m is meet, and it tends to poverty. On what possible theory can tho Reid party imagine, that it' would bo a good thing for tho Province to confine tho expenditure on necessary works to its actual revenue ? They admit that there .are circumstances that would justify a loan, but they do not appear to think those circumstances are present. It is perfectly true that the population of the Province is well employed, and that wages are sufficiently high to securo to those who depend upon labor for a living, comfort and a prospect of independence. This is a result that should be placed before every immigrant, and which may with confidence bo assured to a very much larger population than is at present in Otago, provided development is continued. But it ia tho prospect of development that appals Mr Reid. He is content with tho progress the Province has made. He sees largo breadthß of land cultivated, and a large area occupied by gold miners; ho sees that certain works have been executed, and he confesses they must bo maintained ; but ho lias not seized tho idea that there must be extension ; that it will not do to stop ; that public works must be continued, in order still further to develope existing industries, and to provide for that accession to population on which tho prosperity of the Province, as of every Colony, depends.

None can have a more thorough conviction than we have, that the settlement of population on the soil should bo tho end and aim of every Government. But what is to be feared, when men of Mr Reid's turn of mind are in power, is, that one industry ia developed before its time. There is a time for all things, and tho experience of last year should show the agricultnrißta that it is posaible that one particular industry may be too largely f ol-

lowed in relation to other pursuits. When, therefore, ho and his party claim to be friends to the working classes, what do they mean ? Do they mean that thoy would be their friends by proclaiming Hundreds in Districts liko tho West T.vieri 1 Is that tho way they would give opportunity to men of small means to invest in tho purchase of land that is barely fit for pasture ? Yet this has Ijeen gravely proposed :uj a desirable measure. Such, a proposition alone ought to cause every one who is asked to place himself under the patronage of tho Reid party, to ponder, and to inquire what could have led to such a proposal. Two answers inevitably suggest themselves : First, nince th<>. agricultmal land in tho district is all disposed of, nnd under cultivation, it cannot bo argued that the proclamation of ,i Hundred is necessary to settle the people on tlto land thero ; but it may bo very clearly seen that those steep mountain sides and indented gullies would enable the neighboring agriculturists to run stock upon them. And in this view of tho case, tho proclamation of a Hundred there would bo equivalent to a bonus presented to those who have already purchased land, equal in value to tho quantity of stock they could graze.

Hut if, on the other hand, it be affirmed that the proclamation of a Hundred there would enable men of small means—-or, aa the Opposition choose to term them, tho working classes—to purchase land, what would be the consequence ? The land is only fit for pasture, and to that purpose it must be devoted. The purchasers having been induced to buy in tho neighborhood, would moat likely seek to livo on tho land : not being able to cultivate if, their time would necessarily be nt the disposal of tho surrounding settlers, who would employ thorn a3 day laborers, from which condition they would seek in vain to emerge. On either hypothesis, the claim to befriend them is hollow, and it is hard to believe that thoso who advocate that course can be sincere. A very little reflection ia Hiiflicicnt to convince every ono whoso judgment is not biassed by foregone conclusions that agriculture cannot flourish alone. What advantage is it that land teems with fertility, if after its abimdanco is reaped, it lies in the stack unthrashod, because there sire none to eat tho grain ? Can ho be a friend to a man of small capital, who induces him to embark it in an industry, which, at the tinio, provides sufficient for the supply of the market ? The necessary consequence would be : farming would bo overdone, and prices would bo ruinous. What is wanted to render agriculture profitable is a ready market for all that can bo produced ; and the readiest and best market ia always a well employed home population. Adam Smith says, "Tho great commerce of every " civilised society, is that carried on " between the inhabitants of the town " and those of tho country. It consists in " tho exchange of rude for manufactured " produce, either immediately, or by the " intervention of money, or of some sort " of paper which represents money. The "country supplies-the town wit"i tho " means of subsistence, and tho materials "of manufacture. Tho towfi repays this " supply by sending back a part of the " manufactured produce to the inhabi- " tants of the country. Tho town, iv " which there neither is, nor can be, any " reproduction of substances, may very " properly be said to gain its whole " wealth and subsistence from the country. "We must not, however, upon this " account, imagine that tho gain of " tho town is the loss of the country. "' Tho gains of both are mutual and re- " ciprocal, and tho division of la 1 or is in " this, as in all other cases, advantageous " to all the different persons employed in " the various occupations into which it is " sub-divided." Juai'such populations of consumers .as are required are found on the goldfields and in the towns ; and that statesman ia the truest friend to his country and to every order of industry who, giving undno encouragement to none, provides facilities for the growth of all.