Published Daily. SATURDAY, DEC. 30, 1893. A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 203, 30 December 1893, Page 2

Published Daily. SATURDAY, DEC. 30, 1893. A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

The year which will be closed tomorrow has been one of great moment to the colony. Parliament at its last session granted the franchise to women, thus placing New Zealand another step forward in the van of progress. The general electiona resulted in the return of a large ma. jority of Liberal members to tho House of Representatives, thus disappointing the hopes of those who relied upon the women's votes to return a majority of members of the Opposition. Notwithstanding the protestations to the contrary of Ministers, the colony has been suffering from great commercial depression, trade of all kinds having to nil appearance lost its wonted elasticity. Money has been scarce, and consequently dear when obtainable. Mortgagees in England have lost faith in the value of land in New Zealand as a reliable security, and notwithstanding the high rates of interest obtainable in the market have given instructions to their local agents to withdraw their loans at maturity and remit the money Home. This is only a natural outcome of the policy |of burdening the land with heavy taxation, and threatening to put on it still heavier imposts. Fortunately for all of us, the industry of sheep and dairy farmers has done much to mitigate the evils of over-taxation, by the establishment of frozen meat and dairy factories in every district where |it has been possible to place them. These have put much money in circulation which has proved of vast utility in keeping the wolf from the door. With these two notable exceptions enterprise has been almost dead. From the peculiarly fortunate surroundings of this settlement we have escaped many of the evils that have fallen on too many other places not so happily circumstanced, and therefore we ought to be proportionally grateful. The prospects for the new year are comparatively bright. Much new country is being cleared and prepared for stock, while all classes of the community confidently hope for a change for the better iv matters relating to commerce, because the " bed rock " of stagnation in trade must have been struck already. As an instance of the rate of progression in this district, we may state that the increase of wool export from the Feilding railway station alone will be upwards of a thousand bales over that of last season. That means money ! For ourselves, we have to thank our numerous advertisers and subscribers for the very liberal support and cordial assistance they have given us during the last twelve months, and we beg to assure them that we will continue to deserve the confidence they have bestowed on us during the past twelve years. In conclusion, we wish all and sundry the compliments of the season, and sincerely hope that when the coming year has run its course each and all of us will be able to look back upon it and say it was indeed A Happy New Ybab.