THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1882. OUR WOOL TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2418, 5 January 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1882. OUR WOOL TRADE WITH AMERICA.

We cannot agree with our morning contemporary, the “ Press,” that the Government have done well in appointing Sir H. Parkes to represent New Zealand in Washington for the purpose of urging upon the Government of the United States the repealing of the duties levied on our wools. The argument used by our contemporary appears to be that the New South Wales Premier represents a colony where the principles of free trade are practised, and that “ in some respects hie advocacy on onr behalf is likely to be as effective as the exertions of almost any other possible delegate.” But, after all, the “ Press ” thinks, “ Congress will consider the question with a single eye to the interests of the United States, and are not likely to give themselves much concern about. New Zealand interests.” But surely this is a somewhat pessimist view of the case. If it is worth whileacting in the matter, it is better to do so with a will, and with a full intention of, if possible, carrying through the matter to a successful issue. If the Government have gone on the idea that Sir Henry Parkes will do as well as any man because, after all said, there is not much chance of our views gaining a hearing, perhaps the best thing they could have done would have been not to have moved at all in the matter. If, on the other hand, they had come to the conclusion that Sir Henry Parkes in his proper person would carry as much weight as Sir Henry Parkes conjoined with a special delegate, we beg to differ from the Government. Not to mention the fact that two heads are better than one, it must be remembered that onr interests and circumstances are not altogether the same as those of New South Wales, and that onr delegates might be able to show to the United States Government some additional inducements derived from our special position which might succeed in turning the scale for both colonies. Of course self-interest may be expected to be the principal metor in the action of Congress. Governments are generally carried on on purely Bsnthamic principles, although on occasions, a statesman acting on | the high level of a Gladstone succeeds in persuading kis country to sacrificing self to more lofty aims:. The real question in the present instance is as to how we are to induce Congress that it is for the good of their country that the duties at present levied on our wools should he repealed. The special delegate chosen for New Zealand would naturally have been a man of special information and abilities, and his assistance could not have been but of value. Moreover, Sir H. Parkes can hardly be expected to be well posted in onr fiscal policy, which differs somewhat from that of his Government, and in any reciprocal ad-

vantages that might be asked by the United States as an cSset for concession* given, he would naturally be somewhat puzzled as to what answer he should make for us. And then there is the difference in the qualities of New Zealand and Australian wools. Sir H. Parkes may know all about his own wools, but his practical acquaintance with the uses to which New Zealand wools can be put is naturally not so great. The latter as being more easily worked up with American wools stand on a different footing from Australian wools, which have, so to speak, a platform of their own. From every point of view indeed it would appear that the action of the Government has not been a happy one. Sir H. Parkes is a man of undoubted probity, ability and a'ldieas, bnt a special delegate from New Zealand could not but have added weight to a mission the possible consequences of which might be of great importance to this country.

DISTRAINT FOR RENT. The present state of the law with regard to distraint for rent is constantly forcing itself before the public in an unpleasant manner, and particularly as in some parts of the world the anomalous state of affairs at present obtaining here has been done away with. In Ireland, as is well known, by Mr. Glsndstone’a Irish Land Bill the landlord is so restricted in his powers that he is placed on the same fooling as other creditors against the estate. In America, too, the tenant is so far protected that, by the Homestead Act, his property is insured against distraint as far as seed, '•attle, and implements are required for tho cultivation of the soil.

He cannot, therefore, he thrown a penniless man on the world to he maintained by the State. A case of sharp practice by a landlord happened a short time back in Taranaki showing to what lengths an unscrupulous landlord can go under the perfect shelter of the law. A, who had just filed his schedule, went a few days after to B, whose cattle ha had been in the habit of grazing, and offered to take some of his cows as usual. B replied that until A had obtained his solicitor’s opinion as to the liability of the cattle being seized, he could not send any. The solicitor said they were secure from all creditors, but not from the landlord. A then goes to the landlord, C, who told him that if B’a cattle were placed on the land it would bo “ all right.” On this understanding B puts five valuable cows on the land rented by A, and in a few hoars the veracious and voracious C inarches off with them. B, of course, immediately went off to C and remonstrated. He pointed oat that other cattle had been on the farm for weeks, and that these ought to have been distrained on previously to his, which had only been there such a short time. But C coolly declared that the others would not have realised enough, and so he had waited for B’s. Finally B had to pay all that was due from A to C, namely, £l3 for rent and £1 for expenses, in order to get his cows back again. Now that such a transaction should be able to be done under perfect cover of law is not satisfactory, and it is to be trusted that next session the Government will carry through what they intended to do last session, viz., to place all landlords on the same footing as other creditors in a bankrupt estate, and to do away with the present anomalies in connection with distraint for rent.