Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1033, 3 June 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1871.

Refekking to the recent debate in the Provincial Council on Capt. Ruxeell's motion for fostering certain industries by bonuses from the revenue of the Province, there are two or three points to which we would direct our readers attention. And first as to the argu ment relating to meat preserving propounded by the mover of the resolution, that a company conducting this business on a large scale, would have a much better chance of success than a number of private individuals. We think this i>: at least open to discussion, and it is strange that the reason he adduced in support of the atgument, is

itself fatal to it, being none other than an instance in «vhjujh a large proportion of the tinned meats prepaid by such a company in a neighboring province were found to have failed. Again, if we refer in illustration to the analagous industry of boiling dowrrslfeep for tallow, we shall find that the establishments which pay their way and yield a profit are not those carried on by large companies, but those of private individuals. Supposing, however, that there is some truth in the argument and that it would be best for the Province, apart from those concerned in the venture, that the work be taken in hand by a joint stock company, it must be obvious that neither the sum proposed as a bonus, nor any other which the Province could afford to offer, would be inducement sufficient for the establishment of such a company. But although the subject of meat preserving was first spoken of, it by no means appears that it was the primary industry in the estimation of the mover of the resolution. There was another industry which he thought still more worthy ot the attention of the Council with the view of its stimulation .by a grant of public money; this was the production of s'igar, and more especially of spirits, from the beetroot. In this connexion it is noticeable that whereas in the first it was proposed to leave to the discretion of the Superintendent the grant of any sum less than .£SOO ; in this ca*e no such discretion or option was proposed. He brought forward, too, such an array of elaborate calculations as to the probable profit* of such a concern as to make it at the least very questionable why any bonus should be required or offered. It would seem that if any person wished to acquire a rapid fortune —not being over scrupulous as to the result of his calling on the public weal—all he had to do was to start sugar making—not however for its own sake but for the si ill more important and profitable work of spirit manufacture; and his end would be accomplished. By means of this wonderful spiiit, to be obtained from the fer mentation and distilation of the refuse of the sugar making, any Itind of wine or distilled liquor could be produced ! !! and further, (a remark most unaccountably omitted from the full report of the speech published in the columns of a contemporary) by the addition of a portion of Genuine Martell! —which after all seems to be requisite to bring it up to par —a valuable export might be established ! Our Council could sit and listen to all this, and some of the members could be found to award it cheir unqualified approval, considering that the thanks of the Province were due to the propounder of the scheme ! Well urght one member fear that the small farmers would be tempted to drink as well as make the spirit; but the intelligent mover thought otherwise, " being always in the midst of it they would be less likely to do so than others"; "negroes on sugar plantations cared little for sweets " (?) Publicans and spirit dealers never drink their own liquors ! ! of course not (1) The peculiar nature of alcohol, in exciting and increasing the appetite for itself, differing in this respect from sugar and food proper, appears to be altogether unknown to Captain Russell. Jt is to some extent a matter for satisfaction that the Council did not commit itself to the offer of any bonus for either of the purposes indicated—nor indeed pass the resolution until it was distinctly informed that it only amounted to a simple expression of opinion, and that nothing whatever would follow from it unless further

action be taken in the same direction at a future time. We trust that should the subject be again mooted, the Council will show itself of a more advanced character than would be implied in its adopting the exploded doctrines of pi otection, or awarding a premium on the increasing of present facilities for indulgence in the means of intoxication.