The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3390, 2 January 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 1874

Another year has passed— a year of activity and prosperity—a year fairly calculated to test the value of those measures which four years ago were substituted for the previous mode of government of this Colony. In the working out of every political plan, there is much essential to its success over which men have no control. All that they can do is to devise what is right, and to labor to secure it. But human interests seem to jar. Societies separated by a sea, a river, or a mountain, often act as if that natural barrier had severed them from each other as completely as if they were another race of beings, with different pursuits and desires, and subject to different organic laws. Countries have not learnt that, in spite of themselves, they are more or less included in the common prosperity or adversity of our race, and that their highest advantages are derived from rendering mutual help. The peace that has, with little exception, prevailed throughout the world, illustrates this truth. Commerce has been profitable; labor well paid. There has been a good demand for all the results of human industry, in most parts of the world. Ifet there have been changes of importance. In the early part of the year, the Intercolonial Conference was held, when endeavors were put forth by the representatives of Mew Zealand to.make such postal and commercial arrangements as were likely to be mutually beneficial to the Australasian Colonies. That success did not attend those efforts was mainly owing to the jealousy between Victoria and New South. Wales. The geographical position of New Zealand renders combined postal services with either of the Colonies beneficial, provided only one of them will join in a contract ; and, after some delay, arrangements for a new San Francisco Service were completed with New South Wales, which it is sincerely to be Wished may be worked successfully ; as it will widen the market for our produce, and prove, in a variety of ways, an especial benefit to this Province. Politically there has not been much to note. The Session of the General Assembly resulted in passing a large number of Bills, some of which are of doubtful advantage. But it was chiefly remarkable for what was not done—not for what was done. Some very important Bills were rejected, mainly through the incapacity or factiousness of the members of the Legislative Council. This vice or failing has become intolerable, and points to the necessity for a thorough reform in the constitution of that branch of the Legislature. The 5 ear did not pass without a reconstruction of the Ministry ; but that was not attributable to any failure iu the Governmental policy. It was mainly owing, apparently, to some constitutional mental weakness in the gentleman who was nominally at the head of the administration. Unfitness for his position exhibited itself in one or two extraordinary freaks and ultimate untimely resignation.

Beyond this no serious inconvenience resulted, excejfting so far as his opposition in the Legislative Council is concerned. We need not say that Sir Geokge Bowen’s governorship has been succeeded by that of His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, now sojourning awhile among us. In Provincial politics, a happy change has taken place : the faction that during the past few years, threw every impediment in the way of progress, brought matters to a dead-lock, and rendered the resignation of His Honor the Superintendent a necessity, A new election excluded from the Council a large proportion of the most ignorant and obstructive of the clique, and His Honor was re elected without a personal canvass, by a very large majority. Mainly through being inexperienced tacticians, a change in the Executive was found necessary, but there seems every prospect of the present Provincial Government retaining office for some time to come, if they make up their minds to do so. . The chief difficulty the Province has at present to contend with is scarcity of labor. This is owing partly to the great demand for hands on the large public works in course of construction, but mainly to the activity in every department of industry through the stream of immigration beginning to pour into the Colony. This has caused great briskness in every trade. In Dunedin, houses are in course of construction in every direction, and we hear that like results have followed increase of population everywhere. But not only are skilled workmen needed; agriculturists find labor scarce, and the demand for their produce pood at remunerative prices. This is a natural consequence of immigration on an extended scale. There are still a few croakers amongst us who profess to tremble at our rapid progress, and sagely predict that a chock must come. In this prediction, we apprehend, they are very safe, provided they do not fix a time. We may even go farther than they, and say that continued prosperity tends to induce speculative investments that contain within themselves the germs of difficulty. Bub whatever may have taken place in other communities, thus far there is so much room for industrial development on a sound basis, that the Province has been singularly free from risky speculation. The development of our railway system will afford employment for an increasing population f«r many years to come ; for improved means of communication cannot be limited to main trunk lines. The improvement in the value of property consequent upon their construction points to the means by which those advantages may be secured without burdening the people with additional taxation. A small percentage added to the first cost of land already purchased may double or treble its value. Already in the neighborhoood of railways constructed, annual rents are paid equal to more than fifty per cent, on the first cost of the property, and consequently the economic question of the future is the terms on wh'ch our Provincial estate shall be occupied. This is foreshadowed by raising the price of land in Southland to three prounds an acre: a change rendered necessary to prevent its passing intothe;hands of speculative purchasers, who, in a very short time, would have doled it out to dona fide cultivators at enormous profit to themselves, but without contributing one fraction towards the cost of tho works that gave additional value to the properly. The year 1573 closed with every prospect of a fair field for successful enterprise during that on which we have entered. The passing cloud, which brought ruin end disaster to thousands in Europe and .America, has touched New Zealand lightly, and before this season’s clip reaches Great Britain, confidence in monetary matters •will be fully restored. If nothing in European politics beyond the Spanish troubles tends to disturb the peace of the world, a fair return may he calculated ■.upon for capital judiciously invested and industrial employments skilfully conducted. Each year, as population is added to, we improve the demand for our produce by creating the best, cheapest, and most enduring of all markets, a home market; but while supplying this may render New Zealand independent of foreign aid, it cannot add to our wealth. This can only increase by produc.ng mor« than we can consume. But as soon as we leave the Colony we enter into competition with the industrial world outside. That our natural resources, if skilfully handled, provide means for meeting fair competition, none who are acquainted with them can doubt. To this end our energies should be mainly directed, and it can be best secured by not troubling ourselves about the adverse tariffs of other countries beyond such fair negotiations as may induce them to open their markets. Our chief aim in legislation and labor should be to render production cheap and profitable, that all the people may have abundance of necessaries and to spare. New Zealand will then attain that name that will prove attractive to people of all nations of the earth. With the hope that in that cosmopolitan spirit we enter upon this year’s labors, we congratulate our readers on the success of 1873, and trust that our united efforts will secure to each of them a very happy* and prosperous result for 1874.