THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY,JANUARY 27, 1894. NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2613, 27 January 1894, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY,JANUARY 27, 1894. NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT.

The Government of New South Wales still clings to office with a tenacity which one cannot help admiring. Since Sir George Dibbs returned from England about 12 or 18 months ago, motions of " no confidence " have been showered on him in countless numbers, and he only escaped defeat by a bare majority on several occasions. In one week he had to meet three "no-confidence" motions, and the last one was lost only by one vote. Sir George continued to govern New South Wales by a parliamentary majority of one till the bank failures occurred, when he managed to raise himself in popular estimation by making bank notes a legal tender.- Objectionable and mischievous as this is under ordinary circumstances, it served the purpose for the time being. It put an end to the panic, and thus did much good. This strengthened the hands of the meut of Sir George Dibbs greatly, hut an incident occurred which nullified the prestige he had thus gained. The Railway Commissioners and Mr Proudfoot entered into a lawsuit, and two of Sir George's colleagues—Messrs Barton and O'Connor —accepted briefs on behalf of the last-named litigant. Th*»s We rnuSt say wag wr P"g- It was as if Sir Patrick Buckley, our ojsin - JU court against our Railway Commissioners, a thing we would not tolerate for one momeill There WQuld be nothing wrong m the Attorney General appearing for the Commissioners, but to appear against Llietji w uld of course bo very unseemly. Messrs Burton and O'Connor were called to account for their actions in Parliament, and a motion condemning them was carried. Sir George intimated that he regardod such a motiou as one of no confidence, but ho did not resign. He merely adjourned Parliament for u month, waiting, Micawbor like, for something to turn up. Tho other night Parliament met again, and Mr Copeland, the Minister of Lands, it appears was drunk. Mr Hindle asked whether a member ought to bo allowod to address the House while in a Btate of intoxication, aud this U 4 59 I* s°st dißgrace,fu.l (ilteratiou. \

Mr Copeland rushed out into the lobby, and planted himself near the door through which he expected Mr Hindle to pass, with the view of inflicting punishment on him, but that gentleman went out by the back stairs. Mr Copeland remained on guard for hours, watching for his prey, but ultimately had to go home without having shed the blood of his fellowlegislator. A motion of no-confidence was again moved, and it was lost by a majority of one, but Sir George Dibbs still remains unconcerned, and carries on the government as if nothing happened. Sir George Dibbs evidently must be given some stronger hint than he has hitherto received before he gives up office, and doubtless that he will get before long, for an election is to take place shortly, and the result will doubtless settle the matter. So far as we are concerned in this colony, we have no interest in the coming New South Wale 3 election. Sir George Dibbs is the Protectionist leader in New South Wales; it was his Government who increased the Customs duties in a manner that has shut many New Zealand products out of the country. The prevailing opinion is that the Freetraders will win at the next election, and if so we may expect that New South Wales markets will be soon opened to us again. This, of course, will be to our advantage, but it may lead to more than that; it may lead to intercolonial Freetrade. This would undoubtedly be a good thing for us in New Zealand, for we have a better climate, and other advantages, which would enable us to compete successfully with the other colonies in industrial pursuits. This then should be the aim and object of New Zealand statesmen: In season and out of season they should urge the necessity of forming a Custom-house union with the other colonies, and protect their industries against the remainder of the world. Australian Freetrade, with Protection against the world, is the true policy for Australasia, and we hope that before long this plan will be adopted.

AMERICAN WOOL DUTIES. Tub latest cable news indicates that the American Senate is offering strenuous opposition to any reduction in the customs duties. They have built up monopolies by the aid of protection, and now they object to exposing them to the risk of competition with the outside world. This question of a reduction in the American tariff has engrossed public attention for many years, and more especially as it interested the Australian Colonies, as they have been anxiously looking forward to the day when their wool will be admitted free of duty into the American market. The result of the late Presidential Election raised hopes that the " consummation devoutly to be wished " was near at hand. The election was fought and won on the freetrade ticket, but subsequent events have raised the suspicion that there was no reality in the democratic cry for removal of the customs duties. The cry was raised to win the election, but no sooner were the numbers up than President Cleveland discovered that it would be unwise to make violent changes, though he expressed himself f avoi • able to a modification of the tariff. The matter has for some time been under discussion, and it is not likelv to be settled for some time longer, xt is no easy matter to pass through the American legislature a measure which trenches on the rights of the monopolists, and if it passes at all it will be after a protracted debate. However, it appears that some people are hopeful that the duty on Australian wool will be reduced, and of course there is room for reduction. At present the duty on wool is about fivepence per lb, so if 2d or 3d were taken off, there would still be left what we in this colony would consider a very heavy impost duty. There can be no doubt, however, but the uncertainty of the situation is causing great loss to Australians at present, because it can easily be seen that it is the chief cause of the fall in the price of wool. There is such an uncertainty about the result of the deliberations of the Parliament of America, as regards the duty on wool, that buyers are exercising great care in making their purchases, while of course the Americans are not buying at all, because they know not the moment they may be relieved of paying duty. The oonsequence of course is low prices, but the moment sbmething definite is known we may expeot a smart reaction and better demand. Twelve months ago when people were congratulating themselves on the prospeots of our wool being admitted free into the United States, we stated that it would not assist the clip of 1894, and time has proved the accuracy of our statement. We have now, however, hupes that the clip of 1895 will experience benefit from a reduction in the wool duties of America, and that prices will next year be considerably better than they are this year. There is food for reflection in the fact that the American people cannot discuss certain political questions without exercising an influence ott other nations. This shows that nations are in a state of inter-dependence, exactly as individual members of any community are. There is no such thing as national or individual independence, and this proves the individualistic theory to be absolutely wrong. One nation possesses a surplus of commodities which another wants ; so it is with individuals, and thus their necessities render them dependent on each other. This ©pens the door for a very serious discussion, but we shall not pursue it further at the present time.