The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 306, 3 November 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1879.

In Austbalia, farmers Unions are increasing. and multiplying, and the farming interests are consequently exercising a decided political influence. It would bo well for New Zealand if a similar network of unions existed throughout the land, as this colony is very dependant upon its farming interests, and it might even be said that its prosperity is secure so far as farming flourishes, The development of agricultural interests is of more consequence to us than either liberalism or conservatism. So long as we have productive farms and good markets we care little what political party reigns over us and our objection to the Grey Ministry was not so much to its principles and its platform as it was to the injury it was doing to the country by reckless administration. Formerly New Zealand depended mainly upon one product, "avooI," but experience has taught us that the wool market fluctuates to such an extent that it is unwise to make that staple the backbone of the Colony. We were struck the other day with a roturn showing the immense area of land throughout the Colony which had been set apart for the support of universities and colleges, as if thoy were the backbone of the Colony. Lands which are equivalent to grants of several hundred thousand pounds have been set apart to foster higher education, in its way this is all very well, but we think it would have been more profitable to the Colony to have fostered farming a little more and education a little less, It is

not too much to say that a large slice of the best lands in the Colony have been alienated in perpeluam as reserves for education, religion, and other purposes which have more or less the character of inutility. "We would sooner see the settlers of the Colony have the free use of the lands of the Colony and pay direct for the maintenance of high-class educational and religious institutions thar that the permanent wealth of such institutions should have been guaranteed by large endowments before the pros perity of the settlers themselves wai assured. For want of union the farm ing interests of New Zealand havi never been adequately representee while other interests have, as it were always had easy access to head-quarter and helped th -elves freefr

m[ einselves freely to all nanner of good things, We Lave referred to the splendid endowments riiich higher education rejoices in, but ligher education, like Oliver Twist, is still '-asking for more." A Koyal Commission has recently recommended another grant of £25,000 for higher education, and more endowments of the public land, say £IOO,OOO worth of Crown lands. We have no doubt tha igher education will get all it asks fo oJ~" : - lyb

..rays does, simply because it ■lways at head-quarters, It seems to is that a young colony does quite nough when it gives free primary edu■ation throughout the land, and that mr rulers and pastors and masters have obbed the working-men of the Colony f a considerable portion of the public state in order to provide for the eduction and training of the sons of the ipper classes. At any rate if farmers' mions were established in New Zeaand it might be worth while for them o clmcuss how many more hundreds of housands of acres of Crown lands night to be alienated for such purposes ,nd whether their interests do not also Jeserve some consideration at the hands of the Government of New Zealand.