South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1889.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4983, 16 April 1889, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1889.

Mb Geokgb Fisheb Las not found many people willing to consider Lim a martyr to fairplay, in resigning Lis portfolio and salary as a Minister. The majority of the opinions expressed about his action appear to be of a nature that may be summed up in the rude and ungrammatical but expressive phrase “ more fool you !” Mr Fisher was not content with being one of the governors of the country ; he must be the governor of the governors, in some respects at all events. A full and final explanation of the quarrel is promised in a few days, and when it is given it will, ten to one, be found extremely uninteresting to everyone but professional politicians.

Victoria is about to send a collection of the vegetable products of that country to the Hamburg Exhibition,and another collection to the Royal Agricultural Show in England. New Zealand might take ahaf out of Victoria’s book, as to sending an exhibit to the R. A, Show. Atrophy of agricultural produce of wool on the skin, of grain in the sack and in the ‘straw, of grass seeds and cut grasses, photographs of stock and certified weights, photographs of farms and farm operations in summer and in winter, —by all means in winter if in only one season —; some butter and cheese, honey and fruit, a few frozen sheep,—in shoi fc a moderate sized stand representing New Zealand from an agricultural point of view, with farm implements and appliances made here. Such an exhibit at the Royal Agricultural Show would be far more likely to meet the eye of the very sort of people it is desired to attract here, than a Court at a Colinderies, or a museum collection at an Imperial Institute, If we had a smart Minister of Agriculture, determined to push the claims of New Zealand just where they need pushing, the Victorian idea would surely attract him strongly.

"We have heard a great deal about the progress made by the Germans in the matter of commerce ; how they are pushing their trade rapidly into many fields previously cultivated only by the English ; and how Englishmen demand not only observation but imitation of many of their methods, if England is to hold her own. Canadian merchants are moving practically in the matter, though not so self-helpfully as they might do. They are asking the Dominion Government to found information bureaus on the model of the German bureaus of which they find branches established among them. These, the merchants inform the Government, are for the purpose,amongst other things, of “making inquiries as to what Germany produces that may profitably be disposed of in Canada, and what articles may be imported in return ; studying the fluctuations of trade with the Canadian and other markets and their causes ; examining the various trade routes ; considering the tariffs, customs, and local taxation as bear.'ng upon the cost of the manufactured article, post regulations, and the various means of transporting goods at a minimum cost.” It must be obvious, they point out, that merchants possessing this knowledge must be in a better position than their competitors who do not.

Early last month we received advices by cable of serious riots in Rome, in which the rioters did a good deal of damage and the military had to be called out to quell the disturbances. From papers to hand we learn that the rioters were for the most part artizans in the building trade, and their labourers, who, to the number of several thousands, have been thrown out of work by the cessation of building operations. It is explained that Rome has been vastly overbuilt of late, and a stop had to be put to the adding of house to house and the pulling down of old buildings and replacing them with new. This in-’ formation is interesting, as it shows a close resemblance between the cause of the cry of the unemployed being raised in Rome and in this little town of ours. In both cases it is builders who have to complain of the want of employment. In Rome, however, complaining was not enough for them. They paraded the streets armed with shovels and sticks, and broke into and pillaged shops, doing a good deal of damage and putting the people generally in a panic. The Socialists of course made a great deal of capital out of the condition of the men, and a Socialist deputy compelled the Parliament to discuss the mattei - , with what result we are not yet informed.