Tuapeka Times. AND QOLOFIELOB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1892. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1904, 11 June 1892, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND QOLOFIELOB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1892. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

We are fast travelling up to the 23rd of this month, the date fixed for the opening of Parliament. The session promises to be an interesting one from many points. It needs no very keen observation to notice the strong reactionary movement that has set in all over the country since last session against the Government. Their principal measures have drawn forth protest after protest from all the chief representative bodies in town and country. The chambers of commerce in the cities and the county councils and farmers' organisations in many of the country districts have united in pointing out the danger to the country involved in the Government policy. No amount of prejudice or class fanaticism should blind a man to the significance of such warnings emanating from the commercial and agricultural interests, forming as they certainly do, the two great sources of the colony's wealth and stability. Can it be wondered if this general discontent has had its effect on m»ny of the Government supporters, producing a feeling of restlessness and uneasiness among them, so much so as to awaken fears for their loyalty and cause Mr Ballance to predict a " stormy session." Nobody but perhaps Ministers themselves, who have such heavy personal interests at stake, can realise the change that has come over their position and prospects since last session. The public can see only what appears on the surface, but beneath there is, as close observers can discern, sufficient inflammable material if only the proverbial spark be once communicated to it to shatter a much stronger and more stable Government. Look at the forces that openly threaten the existence of the Government. The Legislative Council still bars the way. What if Lord Glasgow, as seems more than probable, refuses to flood that Chamber with the Ministerial nominees ? Resign and go to the country. Not surely with the Bruce election still fresh in the Ministerial mind. We refuse to believe for a moment that such a course, involving the almost certain loss of power and pay, as well as the seats of many among their followers, would be seriously thought of by Ministers. They will ] fight desperately hard no doubt, and loudly threaten, but they will in the end compromise and submit both to defeat and indignity and cling to the last to the spoils of office. Stormy and troubled no doubt their official tenure will be. I Their tax on improvements has from the first been obnoxious to Sir Geo. Grey, and his patience has been further tried by some impolitic remarks made by Mr Ballance during the recess. He also objects to the methods adopted by the Government of settling the lands, and says that many of the village settlements, of which we have heard so much, are now almost wholly deserted. The Government have also forfeited the support of the member for Egmont, Mr M'Guire, and can expect nothing but bitter opposition from Mr Hutchison, the member for Waitotara; nor from present appearances can they count much on the allegiance of his father, Mr Wm. Hutchison, who represents Dunedin city. But bad as all this looks, their chief danger is from within. The rank and file of their followers are composed of men holding the most diverse and antagonistic views, and however ready Ministers may be to efface themselves in their desire to retain office, it is not easy to see how they can maintain the necessary cohesion and discipline among their own followers to do so. Everything indicates that the session will be one of protracted and stormy debates, but barren as regards useful work for the country. But, perhaps,even this is better than that any further instalments of the Ministerial policy should find their way to the statute book.

There is scarcely a European country that has nob within the past twelve months been forced to recognise the momentous nature of the unemployed question. It hangs like a nightmare over most of the governments of the old world, and is fast assuming menacing proportions, even in the Australian colonies and among ourselves, young and sparsely populated as these possessions are. It is wise, therefore, that the problem should be faced in these colonies before it has reached that stage when,as in other countries, it has become fcoo formidable for treatment. The Government of this colony are now engaged on a scheme intended, not alone for the purpose of providing temporary relief for men out of work, but also to provide the opportunity that will enable them to qualify

for the rough work of country life. Since the labour bureaus have been opened in the large centres of the colony, it has been learned that a very large percentage of those out of employment is composed of clerks and handicraftsmen and others unaccustomed to rural labour. The object of the Government scheme will be to provide those men with an opportunity of getting their hands into such work and so qualify for a country life. Five industrial farms will be established as near as possible to each of the four cities of the colony, and another will be established in the viciniby of lnvercargill. The size of each will vary from 800 to 1,500 acres, and it is intended that they are to be tilled by men who are unable to find employment at their usual vocations. The men will be obliged to erect their own houses, Government finding the material, and the authorities will also 3upply them with rations and pay them a small wage. It is probable those who show an aptitude for the work will be allowed an interest in the proceeds of the farm. This means that th& farms will be worked on the co-operative principle, which, if those who take asylum on them are of the right stamp, should prove a healthy industrial stimulant. The institution will be under the control of a Government officer, and will not, therefore, be in any sense a comfortable or convenient retreat for loafers. The object is a good one undoubtedly ; but it has its mistakes written very legibly on the face of it, and it would be much wiser were a trial made of one farm before undertaking the establishment of five as the Government contemplate doing. It seems a strange provision that clerks and such people should be expecued to build their own houses. A carpenter may do so, but to put an ordinary labourer or clerk t© do it would be but a palpable waste of time and maberial. The object apparently is to prevent the farms being made a temporary retreat by those out of employment. But it is very milikely to have that effect, as a man out of employment, so long as he gets food and shelter, is just as contented building a house as digging a ditch or fencing or clearing the land. It is quite immaterial to him ; and when the busy season comes and wages are high and men scarce he is very unlikely to prolong his stay on the Government farm. Under such conditions, the number of novices is likely to be great and the process of teaching aud instructing interminable. No doubt in wiqter there will be a scramble for the shelter of the farms ; but in the summer ame where will they be ? Very much in the shade, it is to be feared. Under such conditions, farmirg must result in a decided loss, and we fear the dividends under the co-operative system will be very easily carried away.