WELLINGTON NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 159, 20 July 1897, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[feoji our OWN Conr.FBPONDENI]. Wellington, 'July 6. TRADE RETURNS. Mr J. Carroll has, as usual, succeeded in compiling au interesting table of figures iu his monthly trade review. On this occasion he deals chielly with the intercolonial commerce between ourselves and the Australian colonies, and the total results show that we are sending more produce over the water year by year and importing less from our neighbours, and the balance of trade is now considerably in our favour. The following are the totals for the past three years for Australia and Tasmania i?nt iso-'. istw Exports .. .. 809,131 1.273,jeS Imports .. .. 045,510 990,a1a 950,989 These figures are apart from gold and specie. The increase of our exports is shared chiefly by I'iec J rade New South Wales which took £ ISO, Mo more value in products from us in 1896 than in 1595 while Victoria was a better customer to the extent of £57,324. Western Australia increased from £19,049 in 1895 to £84,857 in 1896, while Queensland, to which we have sent Mr Laruach as Commissioner, with a secretary to help him, only took £30,828 of our produce altogether. The most interesting part of the return is that showing the articles which arc appreciated most by our cousins over the water. If dry figures can he said to pay compliments then those certainly dc to the agricultural and pastoral interests. Exports to Australia ant> Tasmania.

Thus it will be seen that there have been increases, in many cases enormous, in every item except hops. This is extremely gratifying and shows firstly what a magnificent and expansive market we have at our doors, and next w hat a fillip free trade has given to New South Wales. There is nothing of a boom iu all this ; it is the direct outcome of the industry and enterprise of those people the Government of the day are so anxious to expropriate, and some remarks made by Mr Scobie McKenzie a few days ago at the turning of the first sod of a new tramway line nenr Dunedin are appropriate. After pointing out that the great era of prosperity in 1871 and IS7'2 was due to the tremendous rise in wool and wheat, combined with the millions spent in carrying out the public works policy, and that this was followed by a depression which has lasted ever since until by the discovery of new kiuds of exportable produce, such as frozen meat, butter, etc., we had made up for the shrinkage of the old by the increase of the new, then Scobie went on in that happy way he has of shunting his enemies in a pleasant way. “In spite of all the nostrums for producing prosperity in ridiculous hills and schemes of every kind there was no sign of returning prosperity until these discoveries. What I want to lead up to is that prosperity can never be looked for from Governments or Parliaments, but depends entirely on the people themselves. Depression can only be removed by 7 the stedy progress of industry, by increasing the productive wealtli of lire colony and practising economy all the time. It doesn’t sound very fine, but it is true. There has been a lot of public borrowing going on of late years, but the fortunate fall in the price of money all over the world, has saved us from the consequences of it. But, if you'll take my advice, you’ll keep a sharp eye on Governments and Parliaments.” HOMEWARD FREIGHTS.

Several cables have been inspired in London to the effect that Dr. Seddon is negotiating with the shipping companies for reductions in freight on Mew Zealand produce. Now, without in the least wishing to detract from the efforts of the Right Honourable gentleman, the facts go to show that he has just about as much to do with the matter as his colleague, the Minister of Lands, has with the ebb and flow of the tides. What happened is recent histoiy. In May last a conference was held between the representatives of certain large exporting institutions, and those of the two chief lines of steamers. The shippers suggested a reduction of one-eighth of a penny on wool, and this was conceded and announced in June. The shippers were satisfied as they realised that freights could not be reduced to the level of those ruling in Australia, because there vessels load at one port as against from four to eight in this colony, and coal is more than double the cost ajid harbour dues very much higher, and loss of time is involved. All this happened prior to Mr Seddon's arrival at Home.

This reduction, however, has not altogether contented some growers, who arc agitating for rates ruling in Australia, notwithstanding the conditions inseparable from our extensive coast line. They, to make good their case, quote 5-lCths of a penny to 7 16ths of a penny as the rates ruling in Australia for greasy wool. This is unfair, because they are the rates at the fag end of the season when the bulk of the wool has left. The following are the correct rates taken from a Melbourne paper :—November, 7-10tlis of a penny to -Jd ; December, id to §d ; January, id ; February, Id ; dropping to 7-16ths of a penny, and ultimately to Jd, by which time the quantity of wool remaining would be insignificant. The extra cost to steamers in coasting and picking up cargoes, as against loading ai a single port, is estimated at one-eighth of a penny. In the case of frozen meat freights the initiative was taken by the shipping companies themselves of lowering the fateS. The leading meat companies entered into a two years' contract, as from November Ist, 189 G, to carry frozen mutton at Id per lb. in summer and £d in winter, with an allowance of five per cent, to the companies. In March last the shipowners' recognised that in the depressed state of the meat market in London tie meat companies could not afford to pay those rates, and spontaneously offered to reduce them to £d aud id respectively, with 10 per cent, primage. Some of the meat companies asked for a reduction of theprimage to five per cent., and this was accepted, and six companies are now working on that basis The carriage of tallow has also been reduced from 40s to 35s per ton, and flax from COs to 503. With these negotiations and reductions Mr Scddon had nothiug whatever to do and the cablegrams as to his exertions in London are mere bunkum. A STRANGE CHOICE.

The Hon. John McKenzie, ActingPremier of the colony, never loses the opportunity when speaking in public of stating that the enemies of the Government arc never tired of accusing Ministers of corruption, but they have never been able to prove any corrupt act by his virtuous colleagues. Of course, he attaches a different meaning to the word than less Liberal people do. The English language is the most oxpausive aud clastic of civilised tongues as a whole, and many words are capable of a variety of meanings. What we understand as corruption in commercial and the ordinary middle classes is known among the McKcnKian following as spoils to the victors. The derivation of the word gives the accepted meaning which differs from that of Mr McKcnzie considerably. The Latin word nrrnplor is translated as an undoer, inislcader, seducer, briber. That is the sense in which it is applied to the Seddon administration. When a

man i-s seduced by the offer of some reward to use all his efforts on behalf of a party possessed of public patronage, the welfare of the public is undone, the peop'e are n:isled, an.! both the offer and the keeping of the promise are acts of bribery, and, consequently, corruption. Nothing can lie plainer than that, and Mr McKenzie should look up his classic dictionary before speaking in public aga'n. With these introductory remarks, I be* to adduce a ease in point. In the Gazette of May '27th it, was notified that Albert Barns, Esq., of Wan&amii, was appointed valuer for the business of the Government Advances to Settlers' Office, the appointment to date from 35th May, 1897. This appointment is understood to carry a salary of £SOO per annum and the usual travelling allowances and ofiice expenses. The gentle reader may ask, Why refer to this particular appoint ment? There arc very good and sufficient reasons why. Mr Albert Barns is a warm supporter of the Government. That goes without saying. But he is something more. He is an uncertificated bankrupt under circumstances winch would not he referred to here had the Se:ldon Government, chosen to leave him to work out his own salvation ; but being appointed to a position which demands that the beneficiary shall be a man of commercial probity, it is necessary in the moral aspect of the appointment to let a liltldaylight into Air Albert Barns' recent past. On September 17th last he came before the Baukruptcy Judge. His filed statement of liabilities showed £G3S9, but the proofs put in amounted to £8074. His assets were stated at £ISOB, which realised £4OO. Ho owed the Bank of New South Wales £.3800, and in his examination admitted that his firm was insolvent as far back as ISSS, but stated the Bank induced him to carry on. On this point Judge Kettle was very severe, saying that at the time the bankrupt alleged this that Mr Downes, the manager's, health was such that he could not be called, but his denial in writing was put in. He has since died and it is therefore impossible to get any further evidence from him. I cannot, on the bankrupts' ex parte statement alone, conclude that Downes was aware deception was being practised. The bankrupt sets up a conspiracy between himself and the Bank manager to decoivo the head ofiice ; but even supposing his s f atement to be true, I cannot see that it can be pleaded in extenuation or mitigation of his (Barnes') conduct. In my opinion it makes it all the more reprehensible. lam not called on to decide whether the bankrupt's statements as to Mr Downes are true, but I certainly would not condemn a dead man on the expvrle and uncorroborated statement of the bankrupt. Barnes had given a bill of sale over his stock, etc., to one McGregor, but iu four different statements he prepared for the Bank to show his financial position he returned his property as unencumbered and then he made the excuse for tills that he had been advised that McGregor's security was not valid. He on nod that his books did not disclose the true position of his affairs and his ledger containing the record of six or eight years transactions was lost. As an auctioneer his clients' moneys should have been paid into, a Trust account, but he paid them to his own credit. He kept no profit, and loss account, and the official assignee reported as follows : —" I'lie debtor has kept books of account, but has not at any time made out balancesheets. The books contain all the transactions of the debtor, but owing to the absence of proper ledger accounts and periodical balancing it is difficult lo ascertain the debtor's position at any time." The Judge in his summing up said: "McGregor's security was always concealed, and the stock represented as unencumbered. The bankrupt's assets were always crossly exaggerated, lie admits that the statements prepared by him were grossly misleading and were intended to mislead the Bank and the head office. I think that term is the mildest that could be used. In this case bankrupt admits deliberate fraud and deceit in his dealings with the head office of the Bank. It is-the duty of the Court to punish commercial dishonesty of this kind. The debtor's discharge is suspended for three years." .Mr Baincs is now empowered by the Seddon Ministry to travel throughout a large part of the North Island to lend State funds. It is to be hoped that readers of tin's journal will take note of the sort of people that Ministers confide such a delicate and responsible task to, He may have a genius for that sort of duty, but there are people yet in the colony who have not been educated up to an appreciation of Seddonian appointments.

1891 1895 189(1 £ £ .. 7.210 7077. 42,221 .. 21135 OBIS 24,805 Chaff s 407. 14,801 .. 70,517 103,320 193,134 431) 14 74,205 .. 1745 5590 1S7S .. 2141 2298 3005 Malt .. 13,081 10,107 28,043 .. 1145 128 58,700 .. 2S09 sc.no 13,823 Oatmeal .. .. 11,970 .. 10,324 8023 97.70 12,855 9441 llains ami Bacon .. 3704 3S3S 10,117