The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 343, 22 January 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1881.

A cask was reported a few days ago of a certain speculator in Wellington who deliberately, and as a matter of forethought, made up his mind to feather his nest when fully fledged to fly. We refer of course to George North, the mean sweep who so successfully got up a £4OOO sweep on the Wellington Cup. Report says he has left bag and baggage with other people’s money besides for San Francisco. Now this is such a case that could bo taken as an instance to show the advantages of an International law. Few there are who could have any sympathy with such a cold-blooded swindle as this. If the suggestion made by one of the members of the International Conference now silting in Melbourne, to make warrants fur the apprehension of criminals in any part of the Austral! n or the other colonies hold good, were made law, it would save a great deal of expense and much disappointment to the many sufferers by those dishonest vagabonds, who make a sort of comfort to themsehes at the expense of other people’s suffering. Our own opinion of these cases are the same as in cases of bankruptcy, where men file their schedule to get free of their troubles, and often to let them pocket other people’s money. This class of bankrupts we have no sympathy with whatever. We hold if a man is unfortunate, and : ot able to pay his just debts, he ought at least to give up the last shilling’s worth of goods Unit he possesses, and then face his sufferings like a man. This, however, as we have said, is often nob the case. It is no uncommon thing for a man to go through the Bankruptcy Court with a good nest egg to start with afresh, forgetting—willingly forgettin ; —that he is causing much suffering and sorrow to those whom he has robbed, often leaving some —perhaps many of his creditors to grapple with vyhat lie should grapple with, in order to gave their name and credit. With these swindlers we repeat we have no sympathy whatever. If u man, by sheer misfortune, loses his all, if ho acts honestly, ho again finds friends, and his good name remains to him. A law, making warrants icturnablo for any part of Australasia, would be a good chock to the class of crime alluded to. Our object in diacanling upon this subject, however, is not so much te expose Ithe laventer, as to draw the attention of New Zealanders to a state of matters which will very soon present thems Ives to one and all if sumo change in the General Government programme is not introduced. A good wool harvest is just over, yet the colony does not seem to be any batter off. A very middling grain harvest has now commenced ; when it is finished, we wdl likely have the same tale to tell—the colony is no better off. What will all this lead to ? For a time many were buoyed up with the hope that the troubles of the colony would soon pass away, and that prosperity would once more reign, as was the case some twelve years ago. Now, however, it seems to be settled in most people’s mind that it will be many year’s before the same prosperity again returns. What will this train of thought lead to 1 Simply to this, that many will follow the wake of George North, and bundle off bag tpid baggage with whatever they cun lay hands upon. Some forty years ago a time of great oppression took place in Great Britain. Bankruptcies were numerous, and many were ruined, others took fright qt the prospect of fae fixture, and bolted to America, which was then the resting place far tl\e halt, the maimed, and lire bifad, so to speak. Once on American soil they were safe and relieved of all their troubles. There was no International law, consequently they could not be followed. This did inqch to make America, but it al«q did raqch to destroy the oppressed ooqntfas (torn which they ran away. Britain was strong enough to stand it, so were the other countries ; fait fa New Zealand able to beir sqgh tin exodus. We fear not, yet the prospect stares us in the face. Once more we repeat it is unfortunate that New Zealand is afflicted with an imbecile Government at a time when men with the strongest mind and powerfulest intellect is required to devise measures to prevent such a calamity. It fa already evident that hqnureds of working men will have fa leaye the colony for other clinics, fire prices fa j rospect for agricultural produce is not epcouiaging. Wheat may realise a fair price, hqt other cereals \yill be almost unsaleable. Consequently farmers will have no money to in improvements, no money to buy land, no mouey fa buy anything after paying their debts, while some vyill not be able to do even tha,t adventurers of all sorts caq 9°. dip their hands infa other people’s pockets, a,ud make off with all they can get, thus adding to th,e difficulties that already exist. This fa our prospect, yet the Govern yient seem to bp taking, no steps, tp prevent it, It is not from spirit of ill, will to apy member of the Government whatever that we write it down ; but really when we look around and see the country fast drifting into penury, it is impossible

to shut our eyes to the fact that it is neglecting everything but that which will serve their own selfish tiffis or secure their tenure of office.