OF NEW ZEALAND MOMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18322, 12 August 1921, Page 8

OF NEW ZEALAND MOMENT

SELF-INTEREST AND SELF-DEFENCE,

WEAK STRESS MOTIVES.

(From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 21

In tho Manchester Guardian there appears an article on “ Depression in New Zealand,” sent by “ A New Zealand Correspondent,” who says it is quite certain Mr Massey would never have left the dominion at the present juncture but for the Imperial Conference. “ The country,” he writes, “ has to face a situation unparalleled for a full generation, a depression in its main industries greater than anything of the kind since the bad times of the late eighties and early nineties of the last century Unemployment is already here, and deputations are visiting the Ministers whom Mr Massey has left to guard the fort, asking them what they arc going to do about it. Retrenchment is taking place in the public-:service. and the Government is cutting down expenditure all round. Public works are being stopped wholesale, with 'the exception of tho more urgent schemes of hydro-electric generating stations. The answer that Ministers give to deputations is quite frank. There is no money. Next year’s revenue is not likely to come near equalling last, year’s. Wool is temporarily outed; frozen meat is ’a drug, on the market; butter and cheese will bo the next to go. Economy must be the cry. “THE FARMER FIRST.’* 1 This is not the time the leader of a political party in power likes to be absent, particularly when it is a one-man concern iike the Reformer Party, which since 1912 has controlled the affairs of New Zealand. Mr Massey has built up his party from comparative. obscurity in 1905. though increas,ng numbers, until now he has an ample majority. The rock on which he has built ■s the farmer of New Zealand, and the interests of the farmer have been paramount with his Government from first to lost. Che slump in farm produce has hit the farmer hard, and the assistance he demands from the Government, if it is given, will he given at the expense of the population. This was done in the subsidising of butter to the extent of £600,090 a year, but this subsidy ended with the British Government’s, purchase of the New Zealand output. The Government has, however, helped the producer to keep his price up to the public, and butter is dearer to-day than it has ever been in New Zealand. The upshot of this policy of ‘ farmer first every time ’ and the candid admission that Mr Massey's party is a producers’ party has created considerable discontent in the towns, where the cost of living is very high. , “ The Massey party is popular only with the farmers, who have something to get out of it; Mr Massey himself has no touch of the magnetic personality of the late Richard Seddon, who carried with him a band of devoted followers and believers to his death, and loft a reputation which sustained Sir Joseph Ward in power for another six years. Self-interest and selfdefence seem to be the cement which holds the Reform Party together—weak motives in time of ttresa. it is impossible to pro diet what will happen between now and the general election at. the end of 1922. If tho depression continues and the Labour Party have the political sense to exploit it for party purposes, refraining' in the interim from the use of the strike and the ‘go-slow plan of work (which have irritated the public unconscionably), then they have the chance of profiting by the desire for a change of Government. But they must first change their leaders. The old Liberal Party has no real leaders of weight in the community, and there seems to be little hope of its revival. The new moderate Progressive Party is entirely an unknown quantity in itself, while its leader, Mr Statham, is just an estimable young man who has not made much of an impression yet in his years in politics. Probably the political skill of the Prime Minister will tell in the long run and carry his party back to office again. The saying ‘There’s nothing like an old dog for the hard run is quite applicable.”

FISHING IN THE DOMINION. To the Fishing Gazette Mr C. Bamby Smith has contributed an article on “Fishing in the North Island.” His impressions are quite up to date, and he hopes they may be useful to intending tourists—particularly having in view the fact that few anglers have been out to New Zealand Bine© th© wtn'j &n<l conditions being 1 much changed, reliance on books and. reports published a few years ago may lead to hopeless disappointments. He mot people from the South Island who were interested in the pastime, and one and all agreed that so far as trout fishing goes the falling off both in weight and numbers during the last few years is very striking, and this in spite of continued Government efforts at restocking. The same thing applies perhaps even, more to the North Island. T-he causes of this going back seem varied. They certainly are not owing to any lack on the part of the Government in making laws and regulations —these are made in endless number, and occasionally enforced 'with curious severity. It is to be feared that in unfrequented parts of the country large numbers of trout are destroyed by snatching from creeks, dynamiting, and other illegal .methods. ‘ As regards the rainbow trout in the North Isiund, the only good places so far as 1 could make out were .Lakes Rotorua, Hoto-iti (with several lakes adjacent), and 'laupo, with the streams running into or out oi them. The Ariatiatia Kapids, on the Waikato River, running out of Lake Taupo are, of course, most famous, and trout up to 81b may be caught spinning in the rough water at the loot of the rapids. Further down is the well-known •Fly-pool,' which should only be fished for about two hours at sunset, as it is only then that the fish come out of the deeps to feed in the pooh I have made several very good bags there of rainbows of between 21b and 31b. Almost any largo fly may be used if the fish are feeding. Going back home up the cliffs and through the dense scrub in the dark is a weird experience, and requiries some activity, and a guide who knows the spot. Although the fishing season in New Zealand nominally commences in November, yet trout are for the most part in awfully poor condition until January. These thin lisli, which are known as ‘slabs,’ give very indifferent sport and are hardly worth catching. The great catches which arc so proudly recorded from time to time are nearly all made in March or early in April, when the fish are beginning to run up to tpawn, and can bo caught by a novice and with almost any tackle. The best season for sport in my opinion, is in January or February, when it requires skill to make a good lw.g, and the fish are mostly in fair condition. It is a curious fact that the fish in best condition are almost invariably females.” Fishing at Rotorua is by no means cheap, a motor launch costing from £3 to £4 per day. Of sea fishing off the New Zealand coast Mr Smith writes that he imagines it to be unrivalled, and if it were only better known would undoubtedly be immensely popular, and bring over a number of anglers to New Zealand from other countries. In conclusion, he emphasises his opinion that Englishmen going out to New Zealand for fishing should go late in the Now Zealand season to get the best sport, and should make inquiries beforehand as to the fishing in any particular district; otherwise there may be considerable disappointment. NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA. Mr F. C. Brookbanks (Auckland) has been in Canada to judge at first hand whether Canadian markets offered greater opportunities to the New Zealand importer than did European or American. To a representative of the Canadian Gazette ho described New Zealand as having the biggest purchasing power for its population in the world “Our trade is worth cultivating by Canadian manufacturers, since we are simnly a pastoral and agricultural country, with little or no manufactures to speak of. During tho war we did an extensive business with Japan, but the Eastern sources of supply are no longer satisfactory. The grades are too low in quality, and business methods are unsuitable to us in ©very way. Ootub ore far too often not sent to sample,.

and as a result no one wants the merchandise. The United States has fully realised the importance of trading with us, and is already doing a tremendous business, having sent out its own representatives and appointed resident agents in various largo cities. Furthermore, for the last two rears American firms have been allocating a considerable portion of stock for Now Zealand trade. In some cases these goods could" have been disposed of in their own country, but in order to encourage and foster New Zealand commerce they have adopted this course. In theory tho ideas of American manufacturers are excellent, but in practice they are bad, and English goods are therefore much preferred. In Mr Brookbanks's opinion the freight charges from Canada to New Zealand were excessive, and might with advantage to the trade be lowered. He pointed out the advantages which New Zealand had oyer the United States as a field for Canadian exports. There were three reasons for this advantage—(l) the low rate of exchange between the two countries; (2) tho duty was 50, per cent, less than to the States; (3) a strong public feeling among Nevy Zealanders irk favour of keeping trade within the Empire. “As New Zealanders are anxious to deal with the manufactures of the dominion there is no reason why, with a little more care, Canadian products of a highly satisfactory quality should not be placed in the hands of the New Zealand public at fair prices.” BIG ORDERS FOR BRITAIN.

Mr Massey has informed Router’s Agency that, owing to the tact that during the war tho dominion fell considerably behind its requirements with regard to railway rolling stock, the New Zealand Government has placed orders in Great Britain for 46 largo locomotives, 2500 wagons, and 12,C00 tons °f rails, the sum involved being £2,000,000. In addition, the dominion is having executed over hero extensive plant for hydro-electric works. The sum of £7,000,000 has been allocated by the Government for the development of hydro-electricity and for making it available for every locality and l'r ; w> tioally every home in the dominion, ihe Premier states that this work stands in the forefront of all schemes for tho development of tho dominion. According to Men’s Wear, tho Federation of British Industries understands that the revision of the New Zealand tariff has been delayed until October. Manufacturers trading with New Zealand are accordingly advised to communicate with their agents there so that, should there be any likelihood of their products being adversely affected by the changes in tho tariff,- steps may be taken to protect their interests.