THE STATE OF THE COLONY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 3

THE STATE OF THE COLONY.

THE VIEWS OF A LEADING OPPOSITIONIST. (Fhom Oue Own Cobbespondent.) Wellington, February 15. Daring a conversation with Dr Newman, the member for Wellington Suburbs, who may to properly designated a leading Oppositionist in the new Parliament, I obtained some expression of opinion on the existing political position and commercial outlook that I am permitted to repeat. The doctor frankly admits the defeat of the party to which he belongs, but points out that in the North Island public opinion endorsed the Government policy by the narrowest possible majority, and that the Opposition really held its own. Thus, while in the late Parliament the numbers were 15 and 14 for Government and Opposition respectively, the new House (with one additional member) will show the numbers to be 16 and 15 relatively. It was in the South Island that the Government achieved their real victory, for, according to Dr Newman, 35 of the southern men may be counted as certain to file into the Seddonian lobby and but four in the opposite direction. This condition of things he is sanguine will be changed as soon as the south country constituencies become possessed of a knowledge of the real methods by which Mr Seddon has sustained himself in power. Then will follow a similar revolt to that which, he contends, has taken place in the cities of Wellington and Auckland from the simple fact that these constituencies were politically better educated. Aeked as to the politics and the future of the Opposition, he said that they would doubtless materially differ from the past. The old chiefs who had so worthily held the allegiance and respect of their following had dropped out, and it was but natural that the present representatives of the party should hold and be prepared to help to give effect to more progressive views. This was but a general expression of opinion, for nothing definite of the intentions of the party can be known until a caucus has been held, and that is not likely until immediately before the meeting of Parliament in June next. Speaking generally upon the land question, and the question of the probable attitude of the party upon the Land for Settlements Bill, the doctor said that the feeling was growing stronger among his friends that an equitable resumption of the big estates as required for a farming population was desirable and inevitable. Personally, he had long held that view ; but ha would advocate a sinking fund upon such transactions to save the State from the possibility of a losing investment. Dr Newman, I am sorry to say, takes a somewhat sombre view of the prospects of trade in the near future. He has just returned from an extended tour through the North Island, and was surprised and disappointed at the want of spring and elasticity of trade on all sides. Aa to the condition of the workers, he declares that there are more men out of work now than ever before at the same season, and this notwithstanding the fact that the Government have at present employed over 1500 people on co-operative works. The oauses of the depression he attributes to shrinkage in exports, which, he contends, have been ateadily diminishing in value and quantity since the present Government took office. His inquiries) and observation during his journey also satisfy him that there was a lack of enterprise on the part of many settlers, owing to a/ sense of insecurity aa to th« intentions of the Government with regard to vested interests. Settlers upon new land had to rely largely upon advances to complete the necessary clearing and improvements, and inventing companies were slow to make the required advances under existing political conditions. The depression, he believes, will intensify and deepen, and probably last far into the coming year, and he oharges the Government with lack of political wisdom in failing to recognise that it was ooming, and want of capacity to formulate a policy to avoid it. The doctor was very condemnatory of the constant iteration by Ministerially-inspired journals of the statement that the banks are draining New Zealand gold to Australia, which he characterised as a childish effort to attribute to the banks the outcome of Ministerial maladministration,' and pointed to' the gazetted sworn returns of the institutions affected as a complete refutation of the charge.