The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1888. Other Places

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 99, 22 March 1888, Page 2

The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1888. Other Places

We hare two classes of persons in this colony who, although holding widely divergent views on one point, are united in a remarkable degree on another. The so-called Freetraders hold up to us New. South Wales as a glorious example of the success of their system, while the equally socalled Protectionists hold up Victoria as the great criterion to >>« followed by all who desire wealth and prosper* ity to wait upon their labors. We have not time here to show that New South Wales cannot really claim to be a Ereetrade colony. She protects her farmers by the imposition of a duty on dairy produce, and that fact alone is sufficient to disprove her claim to the title, tiVhere the people mentioned are united is in their common denunciation of New Zealand and her settlers. They seem to find a peculiar delight in praising other colonies, or making disparaging comparisons between them and New Zealand. As Victoria is their great example we will endeavor to show New Zealand is not so far behind that colony as the detractors of New Zealand would like to make out. It is a mistake to suppose that no local industries exist in this colony. As a matter of fact they are quite as flourishing in New Zealand, in proportion to the population, as they are in Victoria. In the annual volume of statistics recently issued we find that in March 1886 there existed in New Zealand 2268 manufacturies, employing 25,655 hands. The horse power used was 19,315, and the value of lands, build* ings and machinery £5,697, 117. When compared with the figures of the year 1881 they show very striking progress. In that year there were 1643 manufactories, employing 17,938 hands, horpe power 17,938, value of lands, buildings, and machinery £3,605,471. Turning to Victoria, of double our population, with an avowedly protective tariff, we find the number of manufactories was 2770, employing 45, 773 hands, value of lands, buildings, and machinery £11,028,158. Comparing the two colonies we find the rate of progress in New Zealand moat encouraging. In New Zealand we have one hand employed in manufacturing in every 23 of the population, while Victoria has one in 22. We have one factory to each 260 of the population, against 362 of the population of Victoria. These figures Bhow this colony is in no way in a backward condition. We do not believe in the assertiveness of New South Welshmen, or the selfconceit of Victorians, but we hold in utter contempt those miserable individuals who, while earning their bread in New Zealand, can only speak or write of the land that feeds them, in terms of obloquy and dispraise. A finer country, a better climate, or more industrious .class of colonists doea not exist under the sun, and it can only be jaundiced or disappointed men who declare to the contrary.