The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886. THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1497, 9 October 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886. THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT.

Thebe is evidently a great struggle going on at present in tho Parliament of New South Wales. The scenes in the House appear to be shockingly disgraceful. All night sittings, the most violent personal attacks, insubordination to the ruling of the Speaker, spiced by occasional free fights, and embellished by the House remaining in session on a Sunday appear to be the ordinary features of the New South Wales legislature at present. Considering the antecedents of many of the New South Welshmen, perhaps this may not be regarded as extraordinary, but let those who won'd feign attribute the disgraceful conduct of the persons referred to, to lack of moral rectitude, remember that only a few years ago similar scenas were witnessed in the Parliament of Victoria. And what caused the commotion in the latter country but the same thing that is causing it in New South Wales at present ? Some of the Victorians resolved on patting on protective duties, and on liberalising the land laws ; they, in fact, came to the conclusion that they had allowed enough of the heart’s blood of the colony to flow, and they determined to heal up the wounds by producing within itself the goods which hitherto had been imported from foreign countries. The opponents of this policy rose up in their might to prevent iis successful execution, and, as is usual with the same class, left no stone unturned to attain their ends. It was not the democracy that was at fault: it was those who favored monopoly that were the most violent in their conduct, and it was to their mulish obstinacy that all the trouble was due. It is exactly the same now as regards New South Wales. Some of her representatives have opened their eyes to the fact that something more than borrowing money and spending it is necessary to build up a nation. During the last three or four years New South Wales has borrowed £22,500,000, and she is spending that money at the rate of about £7,500,000 a year—yet the latest accounts from her show that the depression is felt there keenly, and that the unemployed are more numerous, and as clamorous, there than anywhere else. Only a couple of weeks ago 500 working men paraded the streets of Sydney carrying banners which bore the inscription, “ Starving men wanting bread or work.” Now, the fact that New South Wales is spending borrowed money a*- the rate of about 7\ millions a year, and that notwithstanding this a large number of her wealth-producers are starving for want of work, proves indisputably thatborrowing money will not cure depression. In this colony this doctrine has reached the dignity of being made an article of faith by certain politicians, and no difficnlty is in the way of making the superficial thinkers accept it as gospel truth. If they looked below the surface they could see that it was altogether erroneous. From 1870 to 1878 were prosperous, not because railways and other public works were pushed ahead, but because the lands of the country were being broken up ; fencing and cropping were going on in all directions, and there was plenty of work for all. That is exactly what is wanted now—plenty of work for all—and the way to sefltoreit is to manufacture in the colony goods which are made in European countries. It is because New South Wales has at last opened her eyes to the fact that borrowing money is nonsense, and that prosperity can be secured only by doing her own work, that the disagreement has ■risen, ihe fight has begun, and it is likely to prove as bitter and acrimonious as tho battle fought in Victoria over the same subject. And it is quite unnecessary for us in New Zealand to put on an air of superiority, and point with the finger of scorn to our New South Wales cousins. Similar demonstrations will doubtless be witnessed in our Legislature before long; to save ourselves from national disgrace we must produce more and import less, and to secure such desirable ends we shall have to go through a severe struggle. The sooner we begin the sooner we shall get it over, and the sooner it is over the better.