The Timarn Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1888.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 4256, 5 June 1888, Page 2

The Timarn Herald. TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1888.

The political situation at the seat of Government Las further developed itself, though the issue is still doubtful, and will remain so at all events till the termination of the debate ou ll r Ortnond's resolutions. It is now stated on apparently good authority that if the Colonial Treasurer will stand by his Tariff he will be supported by a large section of the Opposition, though probably not by the whole body. It is said that the assistance will extend beyond the question which has caused the split, and will enable Sir Harry Atkinson to carry on the business comfortably for the rest of the session. We believe the report is true as far as the Tariff is concerned. The Protectionists see almost within their grasp, not quite a triumph of their principles, but a number of concessions which, from their point of view, are so many stepping stones to something a great deal better m the future. They also see that if the Colonial Treasurer abandons his Tariff there will be very little hope of advancing towards a Protectionist policy this session. They are therefore prepared to sacrifice a good deal to induce the Treasurer to abide by his first determination. He, therefore, has a choice of courses which would almost certainly enable him to secure a majority. Ho can carry his Tariff with the support of the Protectionists ; m which case he will give mortal offence to the large number of his usual followers who, though they will not vote for the new duties, profess still to belong to the Atkinson party; or he can accept Mr Ormond's resolutions, or a modification of them such as will prove agreeable to his party. The adoption of the latter course would enable him to snap his fingers at the Opposition, as he would be again surrounded by his accustomed friends. Opinions differ as to what Sir Harry Atkinson will do under the peculiar circumstances m which his Government is now placed. We should have felt sure of his going back from his Tariff if it were not for the fact that personally he has Protectionist leanings. Two or three years ago he made a speech which threw a good deal of light on his views on the subject. After the Hawera utterance the Protectionists claimed Sir Harry Atkinson as one of themselves. Subsequently he endeavoured to explain away or soften what he had said, but the impression still remains that he is more of a Protectionist than a Freetrader. Just now he claims to be neither the one nor the other, but his Tariff is to a large extent Protectionist, though revenue considerations are not by auy means discarded, and he may be tempted by the opportunity to give some effect to a principle m which he really believes. This much, however, is certain, namely, that if at the present juncture tho Treasurer consents to accept victory at the hands of the Opposition he cannot fail permanently to alienate a considerable number of the very best of the men who have hitherto recognized him as their leader.

The project for establishing a large dairy factory company for Canterbury , does not appear to be very eagerly jumped at by tbe farming commnnity. A meeting of those interested m the subject waß held m Christchurcb on Saturday, and Mr G. G. Stead occupied tbe chair. There were a good many ' farmers present, but the majority of ' them did not think much of the scheme, • although they readily admitted that the I dairying industry might be profitably ] extended, particularly if care were i taken to improve the standard quality of '. the produce. To show what the feeling < was we quote a few sentences from the i Press report of the meeting. Mr Ensor i ; Ba ;a . — " So far as he could learn, the ; ! farmers m his district were opposed to i tho starting of a central factory only, as , thero would be too many strings pulled. , They would be prepared to go m for , local factories, with separators, like m New South Wales. In order to get up their brand, he would suggest that they should have a public tester as m Ireland, ! to mark No. 1, 2, or 3, quality on the ! butter for export. He could not but ■ think that a central factory would bo too cumbersome, and therefore he would like to see local factories started, us ho felt sure they would have a better chance of success." Mr Barnett said that " all whom he had , spoken to were shy of joining compauie3, as they had been hard hit m the past. All turned on the management, but they were all agreed that ! something was wanted to bo done. When , they were satisfied as to the manage- t ment they might be induced to join m the movement." The Hon. Ernest | Grey spoke m favour of district factories m preference to n central factory. ' Another gentleman whose name is not given said that all tho people he had ' spoken to on the subject were agreed | that local factories would be preferable to a central factory. Thoso extracts show pretty woll tho feeling of the farmers, ' though no doubt there were gentle- ] men present at the moeting who held a ; very different opinion. In :i paragraph referring to tho meeting the Press Bays : — " A meeting of the representatives of the various districts interested iv tbe formation of a Dairy Factory Company wan held on Saturday. It was surprising to noticu that although the most.

reliable evidence and facts were adduced to Bhow that from 3d to 4d more pur lb for their butter could be obtained by starting a factory, there was such a want of self-reliance aud enterprise exhibited by those present. It was only by dint of a wonderful amount of persuasion that tbe meeting could be got to take any steps m the direction of serving the farmers' interests. Ultimately it was agreed to form a company, and to take steps to erect a factory or factories m such districts as the support accorded to the company will warrant. The provisional directors were appointed, and the scheme, it is to he hoped, fairly launched." Strenuous efforts will now be made to obtain the active cooperation of the Canterbury farmers, and it is hard to say how far afield the canvassers may go to attain their object. We can only repeat the advice we gave when tbe big company was first mooted. The farmers had better let the Christchnrch concern alone, and endeavour to make more oi the dairying industry ;it centres nearer borne.

The railway working account for the four weeks ending 28th April shows tbe receipts to have boon £SiS,GOO 19s Id, and the expenditure £50,083 Os Gd. The North Island lines contributed £25,532 53 4n\ and absorbed £17,01!---17a 3d. The Middle Island lines contributed £60,GG8 13s 9d, and absorbed £33,069 3s 3d. In the corresponding period last year, which, however, m eluded two days' more running, tb< revenue was £108,906 7s lOd, and the expenditure £58,055 17s Bd. Tin North Island lines contributed £31,97f 0s Kid, and absorbed £20,243 83 lid The Middle Island lines contributed £76,930 7s,and absorbed £38,412 8s 9d Tbo percentage of expenses to revenuf on the several lines for the respectiv< periods, calculated on v. yearly average was as follows : — North Island — Kawa kawa, 70-30, 6486 ; Whangarei, 82-82 94-57 ; Auckland, Go-35, 6889 ; Napier 51-65, 56-61 ; Wellington, 66-80, 58-45 Wanganui, 8027, 64-05 ; total 66-64 6331. Middle Island— Huvnmu-Bluff 54-51, 49-41 ; Greynioutb, 59 83, 4894 Westport, 40-40, 54-04 ; Nelson, 7949 5643; Picton, 97-52, 95-82 ; total 55-05, 49-93. Grand total, 58-51 53-86.