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Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 29, 5 September 1891, Page 2

It would appear that New Zealand and Canada are running on parallel lines in some respects. In the House of Commons at Ottawa, on Thursday last, Sir E. J. Cartwright moved that the census returns showed that Canada ought to revert to Freetrade, as Protection had been a complete failure, and caused an exodus of the population to the United States. The Hon. Mr Foster, Minister of Finance, defended the fiscal policy of the Government, and contended that the exodus was the result of the Liberals continually decrying Canada. Now, if we chaage the names, these statements would apply to New Zealand. Protection has proved a rank failure, and our population has deserted us for the other Australian colonies. While with equal truth it may be said that our Liberals have assisted by their decrying the colony, to do it injury. The only difference in the mat tor, as a whole, is that a Liberal in Canada means a Freetrader, while a Liberal in New Zealand means a rank Protectionist of the most extreme type.

In another column we publish the interim return return of the ab.eep in the colony on 30th April, 1891, w hich was laid on the table of the House of Representatives on Thursday last. The figures speak for themselves, but we would like to draw special attention to th< ) singular fact that while the numbers in the South Island have notably decrease d owing to the demand of the freezing companies, combined with bad seasons, the numbers in this Island have, although subjected also to a heavy drain by the irßezing companies, made a remarkable increase. Openiug up new country in the 0 oianty of Oroua and Manawatu has been, :no> doubt, the direct cause of the increase m the Wellington and West Coast Distriicls, and next year if the farmers are not crushed to the ground by extra taxation, we jcnay expect to see even a greater augmentation.

Although we do not <juestion the hardship of the present X?and Laws which preyent a man acquiriiag a freehold, yet we must admit that thoy are a sweet boon to present freeholders «7ho, in the times gone by, obtained their titles under the more sensible laws, because their property is now enhanced in vahji& to the extent of not less than ten per cen turn.

The Feilding Hunfc Clrab- course, over which the steeplechases will be run on Wednesday, was visited jesterday by a member of the Wellington Hunt Club, who is well qualified to form an opinion. He informs us that the courser is well laid out, the jumps suitable and according to rule, while there is not a " trap " among them, which could not be said of those on the Marton course. In this connection we would like to remark that ifc would be a good thing for busybodies who want to damage the reputation of a rival course, to look to their own course first, and make that good before finding fault with others. And above all things, give the Secretary and committee some notice before " sending a man to inspect." This omission was, in this case, in yery bad form to say the least of it.