The Interviewer

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 August 1893, Page 7

The Interviewer

THE COLONIAL TREASURER’S "VIEWS. DATE OF GENERAL ELECTIONS WOMAN’S FRANCHISE. PROSPECTS OF THE FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY. During his recent visit to Invercargill, the Hon. J. G. Ward favoured a representative of this journal with an interview. In' reply to an enquiry as to the probable length of the session, Mr Ward expressed the opinion that members would likely see the end of their labours about the second week in September. “ It is probable,” he added, “ that the general elections will take place early in December, so that candidates and electors alike will get over all the excitement incidental to an election campaign before Christmas.” What are your views regarding the Cadman - Eees episode P “ It was a very unfortunate business. There is no doubt in my mind that right through the whole affair Mr Cadman’s motives and actions were of the purest character. I am speaking from no party feeling when I say that he is one of the most upright men I have ever met. Mr Rees is a great enthusiast, a man of very pronounced ideas so far as Native legislation, and the administration of Native lands, are concerned, and ever since I Lave been in the House his principal aim has been to effect radical changes in these matters. Mr Cadman and he held diametrically opposite views on some important points in reference to these subjects, and this no doubt caused a good deal of tension between them. This, in my opinion, led Mr Rees, on the impulse of the moment, to make the serious reflections on Mr Cadman that he originally did. A number of the leading members on the opposite side of the House to Mr Cadman believe that his motives were entirely above reproach.” Was there not a great deal of time wasted over the Financial Debate? “ Well, as to that, many of the members, the older ones particularly, believe that at some period of the session every representative should have an opportunity of stating his views on the various questions of the day, and it seems to have grown into a custom to do so when the Financial Statement is under review. This leads to more protracted debates than, looked at from a purely financial view, there is any need for, but the loss of time is more apparent than real. During these discussions a great deal of information is given on a variety of topics that would otherwise be continually cropping up throughout the session and interrupting business right to the end of the session. The late Sir Harry Atkinson was one who believed that the time spent in discussing the Financial Statement thoroughly was not thrown away.” Has there not been a good deal of personality indulged in so far ? “ There have undoubtedly been some personalities on the part of a few members. The practice is one which of course I do not believe in—the avoidance of personalities is from all points of view desirable. At the same time some allowance should be made for men who become excited in debate and are led to use expressions that in their calmer moments they would not dream of using. As a general rule, the conduct of members is most praiseworthy.” What are the prospects of the Women’s Franchise in the House ? “Well, I think the bill giving the ladies the right to vote will go through the Lower House for a certainty, and its passage through the Council is almost equally certain. I see no reason why the women of the colony should not be able to exercise their votes at the coming elections.” And as to the outcome of the campaign ? “ So far as the Government are concerned, they believe that they have merited, and will receive, the confidence of the people. It is admitted that with respect to administrative capacity the Ministry will compare favourably with its predecessors, Their land policy and settlement proposals have given very general satisfaction, and the adjustment of the incidence of taxation is found by the bulk of the people to be fairer than that which preceded it. More attention has been given to the requirements and necessities of the farming community under the present Government than had been the case for many years.” Leaving politics for a moment, Mr Ward, have you read the report of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Frozen Meat Company, and the remarks of Mr Roberts as to the effects of over-competition ? “ Yes, and it seems to me that some people have yet to learn that they don’t control the business of the universe. Because they are unable to make a success they assume that everybody else is troubled with' the same complaint. The assumption that extravagant and extraordinary prices have been got for stock here, and that the thing can’t go on, is intended doubtless to cover the fact that they have not been able to make their concern flourish. As far as the Ocean Beach works are concerned—and they are no doubt included in the southern works referred to —we intend to pursue the even tenor of our way. We have admittedly a very complete plant, and every facility and appliance necessary for carrying on the industry successfully. We

have no intention of conducting the business on unprofitable lines, and I am very happy to be able to say that so far oiir experience has not been like that of some of our Northern friends. The works have paid, and very well, too, and our clients have, I think, every reason to feel that they have been benfitted by the bringing into existence of these works. Ido not say that the existing works will run all the year round—in fact, it would be an impossibility to run them at full time for six months, much less twelve. They will have to stop occasionally to fit in with the inflow of stock. As to the Ocean Beach works, I have given instructions for the immediate construction of a large holding store, capable of receiving up to 10 0,000 frozen carcases. This is being done solely to ensure the reception of the stock of our clients without inconvenience from year’s end to year s end. At present we have to be regulated in this matter by the steamer tonnage available. This, of course, is not a desirable state of things, and the erection of the store will remedy it.” In conclnsion, Mr Ward, what are your views of the future of of the colony? “I believe it will be of the brightest. T other colonies have gone through a severe financial crisis, but I believe it will miss us. They have been suffering from the reaction consequent on land booms and speculation in some cases bogus speculation. The wonder is that they were able so long to avert the disaster that eventually came upon them. I don’t profess to be a prophet, but three years ago I predicted that the collapse of some of their financial institutions must take place before the end of the boom period through which they were passing, I also put on record in a Northern paper the fact that the rentals that were being paid for business premises and dwellings could not possibly last. There is a gentleman in Melbourne who owns several piles of offices and warehouses in Collins Street. I strongly endeavoured to dissuade him from entering into the undertaking, but he was confident that he was right, and that nothing was safer than investments in Collins Street. To-day he knows different.”