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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 405, 5 March 1879, Page 2

An English tradesman exhibits the following in his shop windows r IN MB MORI AM. Sacred to the Memory of the late BRISK TRADE, Esq., Who shuffled off this mortal coil in the early Autumn of 1878. The deceased gentleman whose health had been gradually declining for four years, was greatly beloved by all who knew him, and his departure was widely and loudly lamented. His obsequies were largely attended by the general public, and by all his sorrowing relatives —the money family. His end was “ Peace and Honour."' Opinions may differ widely as to the cause of this popular gentleman’s decease, but as to tire fact of his death there can only be one opinion. Things are dull in the colonies, bad in America, worse in England, and worst on the Continent. Apart from other causes of depression, it is certain, that both labor and capital are largely responsible for the present distress in England. Babor, by its insane strikes, has driven trade out of the country. Dealers, contractors, &c., have been afraid to give large orders to English manufacturers lest a strike should cause ruinous delay. The lack of orders lias-impoverished employers, reduced wages, and produced fresh strikesstrike begetting strike. Thus new things like those that were from the beginning, bear seed in themselves after their kind. Capital, on the other hand, at the first alarm slinks off behind bolts and bars, s leaving Brisk Trade, Esq., nothing to live upon. “Nothing,” said a Yankee the other day, “ is so cowardly as a million dollars—except two millions." _

Now we all sympathize deeply with the old folks at home, and would no donht be willing 1 10 lend them a little help. Hut if we can help them, and at the same time benefit ourselves, how doubly willing should thccolonial public bo. When Brisk Trade was alive, and only the refuse of the populat ion could be persuaded to emigrate, immigrants were teemed upon us in thousands. Now, when labour is exoep- . tonally dear and the best bone and sinew of England Jacking bread, there is a strange lack of activity in the Immigration Office. No doubt wlien the worst is past in Europe, there will bo a batch of high salaried officials sent home to collect cargoes of barbers, cannon-founders, and corkscrewgrinders, to sene a long apprenticeship to the professions of bullock punching, ploughing, and shearing in New Zealand. Surely, of all times, this is the time for action. There would be no diffien'ty now in engaging thousands'of men, who would make the best of colonists-,, and at the same time do a little by their departure towards reloiving the distress at home.