VICTORIA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 96, 1 April 1884, Page 2

VICTORIA.

[from our owm correspondent.) Melbourne, March 17. Some people are speculating on the work of the coming session of Parliament, and the guidnuncs are making free with the names of certain of the Ministry in consequence. The more speculative say that Mr. GrahamBerry is casting about for an excuse to break faith with Mr. Service, and that the Tariff will be the guage of battle. There is sure to be fire where there is smoke; but, while I think Mr. Berry chafes at playing second fiddle ; and in view of the certain fact that opposing elements generates electricity, and discharges of that article produce thunder and lightning—or more properly lightning and thunder—it is not unlikely that we may see the same phenomena in revealed politics as we do periodically in natural science. Mr. Berry is a pronounced Protectionist, while Mr. Service is an out-and-out Free-trader, so that if any fundamental alterations of the tariff are insisted on by either side there must be either an abnegation of first principles, or a prostitution of secondary causes. But this is not all. Mr. Berry knows well that although the policy of the Colony is ostensibly that of protection, it is drifting towards free trade as fast as a rapidity of augmentation of numbers will allow it. Federation will be a potent factor in discriminating this question, for it is not likely that the Free Trade Colonies will come over to Protection to please Victoria, but force of voting Ipower will compel Victoria to adopt free trade as between the Confederacy and its extension to other countries beyond sea will be only a question of time. With all these possibilties, if not immediate probabilities before him, Mr. Berry having grasped the nettle, will not mind an additional sting or two, provided he can land himself in a snug sinecure for the remainder of his life. Therefore I think it highly improbable that we shall have any disturbance in the ranks of the Ministry during the coming Session. Another thing in favour of the Government is the revenue, particularly that from land, which, although there was a serious deficit under the Treasurer’s estimate on the 31st December last, is now showing a surplus, and it will be an appreciable amount in excess at the end of the financial year. There is nothing so calculated to make the policy of a Colonial Government acceptable to Parliament and the people as a renleted exchequor. The new land polioy, or/ more properly speaking, land administration by Mr. Tucker, is finding great favor. He is setting to work at reclaiming something like 100,000 acres of swamp lands, which have been stagnant so long, and which are expected to bring in handsome returns. He is also inaugurating a leasing tenure, instead of purchasing or selling, so that the fee simple can be saved to the State, the properties become more and more valuable, and with each renewed te lure a princely revenue be obtained therefrom. I gave you an idea of this in my last, and when I add that the Cabinet are framing a new Land Bill, which will do away with dummy ism, and secure bona fide settlement, there is no fear for the safety of the Ministry on that score. They may stand a nar ow chance on the new Representation Bill Liat is proposed to be brought down before the next elections, though its provisions have not yet been foreshadowed. Local option, too, will of course tell a little against them, but that won’t affect them much until the elections come round.

Writing of elections brings to mind the amount of voting power there is stored up in the several Trades Unions that exist in Melbourne. They number upwards of 12,000 members, aud about 95 per cent, are voters. There is not a trade unrepresented on the Trades Hall Committee, and it was only the other day that the fiftieth trade was enrolled. The hall in which these trades meet is now one of ihe principle buildings in Melbourne. Until a short time since the Unionists met in a wooden shanty, as compared with the magnificent stone structure which now stands at the corner of Victoria and Lygon Streets, South Carlson. A recent addition has just been made to it at a cost of about £12,000, including a magnificent council chamber, the decorations of which are really elegant and costly. The walls are adorned with portraits of men who have made themselves most conspicious in advocating and upholding the cause of the working men. Foremost that of Mr. Justice Higinbotham may be seen, while science and philanthropy are represented by George Stephenson, Mr. Samuel Plimsoll and others.

We are having something now introduced here in the principles of life insurance, but as it comes from America, perhaps you may be sceptical. An insurance society having been established, one of our leading companies—the National Mutual—is trying to take the wind out of its sails by going at once into the Tontine system—a leading feature in the “ Yankee notion.” Of course the Tontine, as a system, is not new, the Continent of Europe being a very hot-bed of it. Generally stated, it may be described as supporting the doctrine of the “ survival of the fittest.” Thus; Sup-

pose a hundredjjersQUfi thli enter into A Tontine compact, each assuring for, ay £lOO, payable either at death or in a given number of years t say 10, and assuming that death takes place before the end of the decade, the heirs or representatives of each will rtceive the sum for which the assured had con* tracted, and at the end of the term the survivors (let us say 50) would divide amongst themselves, in addition to the original £lOO each, the profits that had accrued in the meantime. Another illustration is given thus : Suppose 100 persons—outside the aid of any other association but themselves—put down £lOO each (£10,000), and bound themselves by deed with certain rules for their guidance, that the money should be put out at interest for 5,7, or 10 years, and at death, or at the conclusion of the period, the principal and interest to be allocated, and the “Show bust up.” The only advantage, so far as I can learn st -present, is on the side of the longest livers, for if one of the assured dies ad interim, his friends get only the £lOO, while they thot are left to “see it out ” will get the biggest lump of sugar. This principle, with a difference, exists in the Mutual Societies already, for they participate in the profits that have occurred up to the time of death, while the fact of 100 men subscribing £lOO each, on equal terms but of unequal ages, must make some of them terribly handicapped in a 10 years* race. But I will let you know fuller particulars anon.