The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1889. VICTORIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1933, 22 August 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1889. VICTORIA.

Victoria is playing New Zealand Freetraders a scurvy trick. They have been prophesying that Protection would bring disaster and ruin and misery on that colony, but somehow things have not turned out exactly as they expected. Victoria refuses to go to ruin just to please Freetraders. She still obstinately insists on being prosperous, and on having more money than she knows what to do with. Freetraders gleefully looked to the bursting of the land boom to fulfil their prognostications, hut Victoria shook this off her hack just as a duck

would a drop of rain, and has since continued to bask in the sunshine of prosperity. A few reckless, foolish speculators were ruined by the land boom, but the soberly industrious went on their 'way rejoicing as if nothing had happened. In vain did New Zealand Freetrade prophets fore* tell that Victoria was doomed the moment the Exhibition was closed, but here again they were disappointed. How ill-natured of Victoria that she did not go to ruin just to please our friends; the obstinacy of Bumble’s paupers was nothing compared with the pertinacious way in which that misguided colony insists on being prosperous and happy. It must be most galling to Freetraders no doubt that this is the case, but so it is, and they can’t alter it. And now is it not time these gentlemen came to their senses? Is it not time they profited by the lessons Victoria is teaching i them P Victoria is going to reduce | the tax on tea to one penny per lb—here it is sixpence—-and she is in other respects aiming at Jetting everything she wants come in free, while giving protection to her own industries. She has the foolhardiness to drive pell-mell through all the laws of political economy; shatter them, in fact, as if they were only pie-crust, and yet it agrees with her. She is growing rich and powerful and prosperous, and her unemployed are seldom heard of, although thousands have flocked to her shores from all parts of Australia. In point of resources New Zealand is far ahead of Victoria. Now Zealand can grow two bushels of wheat, or oats, or of any crop to the one Victoria can grow, and yet here we are in a miserable condition, trying to make both ends meet. It was in spite of the large landowners, and money-rings Victoria was, made prosperous, and if New, Zealand is ever to come to anything she must adopt a policy similar to that which raised Victoria. S® long as ten per sent, gentlemen rule New Zealand she cannot go ahead; it is no use expecting it, so the people may as well make up their minds. There is nothing wrong with New Zealand, but there is a great deal wrong with her people. They are ruining a fair and fruitful country, and they will drive her into bankruptcy unless they take very good care.

THE GOVERNMENT,

The position to which the Govern-, meat has been reduced is extremely humiliating. They can do nothing. Every measure they have brought forward has been flung back in their teeth, and so far nothing has been done. Their victory over Mr Moss amounted to a defeat, and it is said they will shelve the Property Tax Bill, and that nothing more will be heard of it this session. This bill, it will be remembered, proposed to exempt machinery from taxation, but the paltriness of the concession has disgusted all, and the bill has not many enthusiastic friends. The smallness of the majority the Government had on the subject has frightened them, and now it is said they are afraid to, face;other amendments of which notice has been given. Amongst these is an amendment by Mr Ballance, which is to the: .effect that agricultural improvements to the value of £2OOO should be exempted from taxation. The Government are afraid this would be carried, and hence the reason they have decided not to go on with the bill. It is really humiliating to see the time of,; the country wasted through the complete helplessness of the Ministry. This will be the most barren session that has ever been held. i ; r •