BRITISH TRADE AND PAUPERISM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 338, 30 January 1889, Page 4

BRITISH TRADE AND PAUPERISM.

It id a long call from New Zealand to Great; Britain, geographically ) but through the various practical inventions that have been evolved and elaborated in the busy minds of the world's scientists, each parb of the globe is being brought into closer connection with the rest. Indeed, the forces of electricity and steam are effecting a more practical and more universal federation than could ever be accomplished by mere written agreements. The cable has recently informed us that the trade of Great Britain has taken a very decided turn for the better. What this means may be more fully realised when it is stated that tho imports of Great Britain last year reached the value of £386,500,000, and the exports a value of £233,700,000. Such a volume of trade is involved in these figures as to affect every part of the globe, so that any appreciable improvement in that trade cannot but be felt by the outermost limits of the Empire. The Board of Trade returns, which may be assumed to be accurate, state distinctly that a revival of trade has taken place during the year ; while Lord Stanhope, speaking the other day at Seven Oaks, Kent, said the agricultural outlook had vastly improved, and ten per cent, more land was now under wheat than formerly. This intelligence is in the highest degree satisfactory, and will tend to lighten the weight of anxiety that many of Britain's sons and daughters feel regarding the great problem of poverty. The agricultural industry forma the backbone of every community, and w hen it is prosperous every other department of trade shares the bene fib. (By way of parenthesis we reiterate the statement we have made on former occasions, that bheGovernmenc of this colony will do well to foster our rural interests, by encouraging agriculturists and pastoralistsin every way possible, so that there may be a healthy balance between town and. country.) But notwithstanding the increased area said by Lord Stanhope to be under wheat, the " Standard " states that the imports of cereals in 1889 will be larger this year than usual, and there will be a good opening for Australian grain of superior qualities. Now, what benefits Australia, indirectly benefits New Zealand ; but if Australia should continue to suffer from drought and flood as it has been doing of late, New Zealand would be able to play with a still freer hand, by exporting grain and other produce to assist Australia herself. In fact, this is what New Zealand is doing at the present time. Another recent cablegram confirming these statements regarding improved trade in Britain stated: — "The press comments upon the great rise in the price of farming stock in Ireland. Railway receipts are also increasing." If this rise prove to be general and lasting it will do much to lessen the burdens of the Irish peasantry, as well as the stock-raisers, and perhaps lessen England's difficulty in dealing with that country. To these pleasing items have to be added the reports as to the great revival in the ship-building trade, it being stated that many of the shipyards have sufficient orders to keep them going for some yeai % s. Add to these gratifying announcements the fact that a similar impi-ovement in trade is taking place in many other parts of the world — the improvement of trade between Hamburg and Australia, and also between < New Zealand and Australia, being not the least noticeable — and we think industrial prospects are certainly taking on a more roseate hue. Against all this pleasant news, however, t one'discordant note comes along the wires : we are told that the London Chamber of Commerce journal "advocates the granting of a constitution to Western Australia, on condition that the colony is tin-own open to immigrants. The journal points out that £150,000,000 has "been spent in Great Britain on pauper relief in 15 years, and urges that the Government should provide for the emigration of 100,000 people every year." When spread over a large population, such as that of Great Britain, this vast sum is nob so appalling ; still, assuming it to be borne by 40,000,000 at the outside limit, the amount per head is £2 13s 4d — a very respectable sum to be spent upon pauper relief alone. It is not exactly clear, however, whafc this term "pauper relief" includes, and a clearer definition might place the matter in a somewhat better light. At any rate, the expenditure is felt to bear so heavily that it has been suggested to grant Western Australia a constitution on condition that the territory be thrown open to itn migrants ; and that the authorities should provide for the emigration from Britain of 100,000 people every year. The meaning of this is pretty evident. | We interpret it to signify that Britain ought to get rid of her non-productive ' class, her paupers, and that for the privilege of having an additional spot to which she can shunt them, Western AusI tralia should be granted a constitution. Perhaps Western Australia will have something to say if it be attempted to carry the suggestion into effect ; at all events, if the people of Britain imagine that they can with impunity make rubbish heaps, so to speak, of these colonies, they are reckoning without their host. The colonies are doubtless willing to make reasonable^ approaches in the matter of emigration, but they want some of the desirable class, some with money, as well as those without that desirable appurtenance. Possibly the improved state of trade at Home will help the trouble over for a time ; bub the people of, these colonies will do well to be on their guard against being made mere conveniences at the unlimited disposal of Great Britain. These colonies have quite enough to do to provide for their own poor, without having Britain' thrown into the bargain.

Mr Licht, sugar expert, estimates the production of beet sugar for the first four months of the year at 84,000 tons in excess of fche same period last year. The London Liberal Club gave a banquet to Mr Dadabhai Naorogi, the Parsee who contested Holborn at the last .election. Lord Ripon presided. '^^&'tiV£!S3