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Star (Christchurch), Issue 4788, 4 September 1883, Page 2

The addresses made by the Chairmen of the Ohristohuroh and Dunedin Chambers of Commerce are both oharaoterised by an ability whioh may be reasonably expeoted from men oooupying such positions. Although they take somewhat different views of the causes of the present depression, both addresses contain valuable' ideas, and both are frank, outspoken, and comprehensive in their viewi of the present state of things. Publio and private exlravaganoe, the rush into trades of persons whose labour would be muoh better employed, both for themselvesand the community at large, as producers, instead of distributors } the introduction into the Colony, at the* publio expense, of thousands of persons who have never added one farthing to its exports, and the enormous sums of money whioh have been snprofitably spent in land speculation!, these are stated as the ohief oauses of the present distress. All Colonies pass through these periods of depression, and suffer from them more aoutely perhaps than old oountries do. There is no doubt that the Colony will right itself, if it ii only allowed Urn* and reasonable rest| if politioal quaoks are not allowed to try their nostrums on the body politic, and if would-be statesmen are not allowed to meddle and muddle and inter. fere with the laws of politioal economy. The resources of the Colony, and particularly of the North Island, are capable of immeme development i and it is ridiculous to suppose that the inhabitants of this Colony, when they have out-grown their British prejudioes in favour of sheep, oxen, cereals and potatoes will continue to waste on suoh products a climate in whioh oan be grown, out of doors, almost every vegetable that is consumed or used by man. Borne day or other, and that before very many years are over our heads, we shall find raisins and currants, ooffee and ooooa, oranges and lemonß, wine, and possibly tea and silk among our exports.