THE COLONIST. Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Wednesday, December 16, 1896. FACTS OVERRIDING ASSERTIONS.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8742, 16 December 1896, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Wednesday, December 16, 1896. FACTS OVERRIDING ASSERTIONS.

During the recent election campaign, it was asserted by many speakers who advocated the Opposition cause, that the Government had put a stop to enterprise, and frightened timid capital from our Bhores. In reply to such assertion it was pointed out that more money has been attracted to this Colony for mining investments during the regime of the present Administration than was ever attracted previouly. Then again, the fact that the half million three and a half per cent loan was fully subscribed within the Colony at slightly over par, conclusively proved that there was more money in New -Zealand than could be profitably invested. Mr Duthie when he . spoke in Nelson gave certain figures with regard to trade, which he asserted showed that there was want of confidence in the Government, and he urged that the interest of the people was to maintain a Goverment under whose rule the volume of trade wou T d be increased, and he added, "that is not the present Government." The assertion was a surprising one, because figures have conclusively shown that our exports of staple products have materially increased in volume, but Opposition speakers are so frequently rash in their statements at times when prevailing excitement lessens the chance of such statements being proved inaccurate, that the surprise wag less than it would otherwise have been. Mr Dutbie was very completely an.

'swered at the time, but by way of further proof of his want of accuracy, we propose to refer to the recent meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and quote from the speech of the President as reported in the Christchurch '.' Press, 1 which is a Conservative journal. The political leanings of the President, Mr Waymouth, are certainly not those of a rabid supporter of the Government, for he spoke with gratification of parties being now more evenly divided than in the past. Mr Waymouth referred to local industries in tbe course of his speech, and said " The returns, collected with the last census, ot factories and local industries are now being gazetted. These are made up for 1895, and so far display a general increase, in some cases to a very marked degree, over those of 1890, thus showing conclusively that our local industries and their productions are gaining in public favor, and increasing the opportunities for employment of our population." That is a very different story to that which Mr Duthie would have had us believe, and its truth is unassailable. Then Mr Waymouth had something to say about the agricultural and pastoral industries. He Baid "The outlook for our farmers for the coming season is most promising in Canterbury. There is a larger area than usual in grain, and generally it is looking well. In some places, however, grain is slightly checked owing to the dry and cold weather, though on the whole there are signs of an abundant harvest Wheat is in larger proport f on than has been usual of late, and as there is now every prospect that the recent rise in price will be maintained till after our harvest we have cause for congratulation that such is the case." The wocl displayed at the first local sale, he taid, proved to be in such good condition, that as compared with last year's clip it was computed by competent judges to be from five to seven and a half per cent better value, yet the result of the sales proved that the buyer got the whole of the benefit^ of the improves condition of the clip, when comparing prices with last yean. The low prices he attributed to the disorganisation of American trade. Regarding the export of frozen meat, Mr Waymouth eaid there were 2,441,057 carcases shipped in 1895 — an increase over the quantity exported in 1893 of 23£ per cent. As to business generally, he said it was showing signs of steady improvement, although at no very rapid rate, and the September quarter showed an increase in value of imports to the extent of £231 ,837. He concluded by saying that "money is plentiful, and for legitimate business purposes can be readily obtained at cheap rates, and I have no doubt whatever but that given an average harvest, the increase in trade will continue to be manifest, and that the year 1897 will be a prosperous one for Canterbury." According to the contentions of those who spoke like Mr Duthie, the present Government must be deemed responsible for the disorganistion of trade in America that was consequent or the Presidential election, and therefore has to answer for the very Constitution of the United States, and for the battle cries on which that election was fought ; it has to be credited with having secured tHe sowing of a larger area ot Canterbury with grain, and with the rise in values of cereals ; it has also deserved praise for tbe increased exportation of frozen meat, although that credit may be discounted by some blame attaching to them because Argentina has proved a formidable rival in the trade, and prices have depreciated ; and the Government will also have to be held responsible if the harvest does not prove to be an average one, and the increase of trade does not inconsequence continue to be manifest. The contentions are patently absurd. But the fact nevertheless remains that we have it on the assurance of so capable and experienced a man of commerce as tbe President of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, that advancements have been made, and the facts stated in Christchurch reduce to nothing the assertions of those, who, in furthering their objects, have ignored the truth, and have sought to cast undeserved blama on those who have striven for the general welfare and have done well.