DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 63

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SERVICE

A deputation, consisting of Messrs G. H. MacEwan, A. Moritzson, W. J. Bolt, W. Murray, J. B. Waters, and Dempster, waited on the Premier on Saturday morning to urge the continuance of the steamer service with South Africa.

Mr MacEwan, in setting forth the views of the deputation and reasons why the service should be continued, said a lot of them had gone to heavy expense and had spent a deal of time in trying to build up a business with South Africa, and some lines they had fairly well established, and unless they could have the service continued monthly their connection with South Africa would lapse and would take a lot of building up later on if they ever got back into that market again. A number of their brands of butter had been very well established in South Africa, for poultry he did not think they had another market outside there, and their chee&e was' also gradually getting into the market there. He did not think they could hold their own with less than a monthly service. Mr Bolt mentioned that as far as the dairy industry was concerned his company (Taieri and Peninsula) had a very considerable trade with South Africa. Last year 500 tons of butter, representing £60,000, was sent away, and he had orders now with which he did not know what to do — orders for something like 2600 boxes per month, which they could not take, and the^price was really tip-top. Mr Seddon: I hope you have not declined.

Mr Bolt said he was just hanging on. He emphasised that the service had not been as regular as it should be. Mr Moritzson spoke of the loss the service would be in regard to trade in poultry and frozen rabbits. The production of butter in the colony was increasing year by year, and as time went on the quantity they exported to South Africa would be enormous.

Mr Waters mentioned that there had been considerable inquiry from South Africa in regard to wheat. If the South African market was closed to the poultry industry he failed to see what other market would be open. Mr Murray emphasised the South African market as most suitable for second class stock, and they might possibly shortly find a market there for first class stock.

The Premier, in reply, expressed his pleasure at meeting the deputation, but said he regretted that these most deeply interested had allowed this matter to go so far without expressing an opinion to the Government or to the colony. They were now within a month of the expiry of the contract. It was some weeks since he took the opportunity of expressing an opinion (on behalf of the Government) as to the probabilities of the service being discontinued, and that he did with a view to having an expression of opinion, and as those most interested were silent and as there had been adverse criticism in Parliament respecting the service as costing too much compared with the export, they came to the conclusion that those concerned were reconciled to the inevitable, and the service was almost going by default. However, when Sir Joseph Ward, in the discussion on the matter over the Estimates the other night, gave fully the exports from the colony, he thought many members of the House realised for the first time the importance of the connection with South Africa, and that it was not at alii commercially that failure which they and the public had been led to believe. He had himself felt all along that it would not be like New Zealand to go back in this matter. They had been competing under difficulties, and would get no return for what they had spent. If they went on and the trade increased, it would ultimately recoup them for what they had advanced. There had been a leaction in South Africa, and things there wove now assuming normal conditions, and export in regard to given lines from New Zealand would be found to have improved ; and yet it was just at this time, when an improved market was offer- 1 ing, that they were about to cut the painter. It did not seem to him like business, but if those interested did not trouble about it, why should the Government? The farmers were themselves directly interested. Where was hVo Farmers' Union? Not a word was heard from it. They had been paying £30,000 a year, but ho did not suppose the shipping company had made anything out of it or was very anxious to go on, but when the company heard thei-e was likely to be an improvement in trade, and heard about these increased orders, it probably would take the same view of the matter as the Government did — namely, that to reap the advantage of having sunk so much they must go on. If the company was agreeab'e to going on, and the 'people of the colony wanted the service to 3,0 on. he had no hesitation in saying that "Barkis was willin'." He thought the- colony &hould keep up the connection, and, if backed up by the people and supported by Parliament, he was quite preDared lo have another "go" at it. Sum-

cient hud already been said to warrant th{ Government communicating- with the company to fee on -what terms continuance of the " contract could be arranged. If the company was not prepared to go in for three years it might go in for a shorter period. There had been a suggestion that the service be bi-monthly, but he did not think that would be any good- He could assure them that the Government, sup ported by the public and Parliament, was prepared to submit further proposals if the company could bo inducftd to give them a further trial. They would remember the adverse criticism heaped on the Government owing to the colony's losing the Vancouver service. Well, there was then exactly the same apathy among those interested as in the present case. If they had moved Or indicated in the slightest way that they wanted that service kept going, and had backed up the Government, the possibility was that they would never have lost that service

Mr Moritzson suggested that the time was opportune for the appointment of a commissioner for the East. Australia was neglecting no opportunity of catching the Japanese trade.

The Premier sai'cl he was pleased to see the subject renewed. He Had noticed how Australia was profiting "while" New Zealand was practically oat of it, and the matter had been forcibly "brought under his notice by the fact that "Australian buyers were coming to New Zpaian'd and buying, and yet Japan was beinsj supplied from Australia. Whose fault.- 'he "asked, was it that in Japan they did not know whore *hey were getting- their stuff from and where they could get it direct and at reduced prices ? Since 1897 he had never been able to get Parliament or the people of the colony to look seriously at the question of advancing their trade in the East, which he considered was the very best market they could gei. and contained big possibilities. As to the appointment of a commissioner as suggested, he was inclined to ask Parliament to appoint a Royal Commission of really good men who would be sent round the Islands, Java, Japan, etc., to make an investigation, and he undertook that if they got a report of what had gone from Australia to the East it would open their eyes and show them they had been asleep. That there was a bio- and profitable market fordhis colony in the East he was certain.

POWERS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

A deputation representing the School Committees' Association, and consisting of Messrs Wilkinson, Cray, Scott, Pryor, Smith, and Hutchison, waited on the Premier on Saturday morning in reference to the powers of schools committees.

Mr Wilkinson said that the object of the deputation was to call attention to a clause in the bill now before Parliament in reference to the appointment of teachers. There was a growing feeling amongst committeemen that the committGes' powers were far too limited, and that any alteration in the law should be in the direction of increasing those powers. A great responsibility was involved in the appointment of teachers. They had been much' surprised and indignant on readings the provision of the present bill re appointments. This meant that the names of eligible applicants were to be sent down, and the committee's duty would be to choose the first unless they could show special reason why that one should not' be appointed. This meant that in almost' every case the board would decide the whole matter, the committees not being disposed to be involved in disputes with the board

Mr Cray expressed the association's surprise regarding this clause, which was going to curtail school committees' powers and make committees practically useless. He pointed out that in the appointment of assistants the head master was always, and properly, consulted by the committee, and this clause, if adopted, did away with that altogether. He pointed out that if school committees were going to lose all their powers the ratepayers would very soon cease to raise funds locally for school purposes, as they did generously at the present time.

Mr Seddon said that instead of being a curtailment of committees' powers the present proposals were an extension. The deputation had evidently not understood the position. His recommendation practically made compulsory what the board here did at its option. That was what was wanted in different parts of the country. Even here the board might change its practice to-morrow, and the committees would have no power to alter it. Afc present the boards were supreme. His provision would make it compulsory for" them to '''consult" the committees in this way, and was therefore an extension of the law.

Mr Wilkinson : Then the first one has not necessarily to be appointed ? *■*■ The Premier: Certainly not. Continuing, ho said the provision complained o\ gave committees a statutory right. Undei the existing law the power of a committee was a mere cypher. The board was compelled to make a selection under the present bill, but as far as the committee was concerned it had as much power over the six names as over the first, and could even make a recommendation as to »c.jr otbiSV name outside the six if it \toj so &Qiir*4. for all the names were submHtwi 3obool committees were by statute io l<« miuip advisers to the board in rogarc tc appoicp ments. the responsibility and final cppiuisment being- left with thu board Th« pro> posal did not mean that the first aopii-oKViI named was to be appointed. ?or raa committee's guidance the board, under uys clause in question, haying gone throujglt the applications, submitted a list of sue in what it considered relative order of merit. The legal reading of the provisionwas that six names were to be sent, and the committee could make its recommendoCtion from any of these six, but for this committee's guidance the relative order in which the board held the teachers waS indicated. The committee had a free hand in respect to these six names. The powers of committees, he agreed, should not be curtailed, but should be extended, and l they were making compulsory what was-a'fi present optional. As he had pointed out, the present system of submitting names rijfFored in different parts of the colony, and an advance was boineraimod at. Othoa districts differed in system from Otago\and said that what was now recommended' was what they wanted.

It is likely (s.ay 5 ! the Lyttelton Times) that residents on the Port Hills will take active steps to protest against the establishment of a consumptive sanatoiium on the proposed sibe near. tVv lvinlr kilns at Farnler..