The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1897.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 159, 20 July 1897, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1897.

Tiik English papers giving details of the earliest doings and sayings of the Premiers in the Old Country are to hand, and as is almost always the ca&?, put a somewhat different complexion upon matters than the brief digests cabled. We have before us a report of the proceedings at a luncheon given by the Empire Trade League on the 11th June to the Premiers who had then arrived in London. Mr Seddon was one of the guests, and spoke in a manner that will meet the approval of all who value the privileges of belonging to a groat Empire. We wil', however, deal with his speech in the order in which it was delivered. The chairman of the league presided. The Lord Chancellor in proposing the toast of " The United Empire and its Trade," said he hail observed oome talk of a combination between certain European L'owers and he hoped it was untrue against England. All he could say was that they might have their domestic differences, but if anybody else attempted to interfere witli those domestic differences they would not get off very well. Although their motto had more than once been " Defence and not defiance," his impression was that if any combination of European Powers was established against us that there would be no want of unity between the various portions of the Empire to resist any unlawful aggression. Sir Ceorge Turner, Premier of Victoria, in the course of his reply, said as to the question of trade he was in a somewhat difficult position, speaking as representing one of the most highly protected colonies in the Empire, and speaking in that free trade centre of the world. Put when he saw the objects of the Association he felt that he was altogether in touch with their ideas. They in the colonies had lands that wanted tilling, while tin; Mother Country had people waiting to be fed. Why, then, should they not by some process of combination secure that the food which is brought here to feed the people came from their own possessions, lie defended the protectionist policy of Victoria, and stated that protection was essential to foster young industries, The adoption of freetrade wholly and solely would ruin their industries. Put the proposal of the league that there should be some mutual recognition of each other was a different matter, and was receiving the earnest and favourable consideration of Victoria. Mr Seddon thought if was for the Imperial Covernment to make the first advance. One difficulty they had to overcome was the apathy of the British Press in respect to colonial affairs. Amongst other difficulties to be removed were the treaties which were made at a certain period and under certain conditions; these barred the trade of tin; Mother Country with the colonics ; those conditions have now been removed, why not therefore do witli the colonies in respect of the treaties what had been done in respect of treaties of a more recent dale, take the colonics into confidence, consult them, and leave it to them and they would solve the problem. At the present moment there were three nations who were subsidising their trade with tho British colonics to the extent of £533,000 per annum, and yet this was in keeping, as it was said with international law and existing treaties. It might be so, but when they found Canada passing a law

which they believed to be in the interest of the Dominion and the Mother Country, immediately there were protests from these foreign nations, which he maintained in spirit were to some extent going beyond what was expected at the time the Berlin treaty was made. He would advise in the interests of all concerned that the several treaties be renounced. The Premiers of South Australia and Western Australia followed, and both expressed their willingness to make concessions to Britain, but thought the proposal as to the mode should come from the Imperial Government. It will be noted that Mr Sedclon did not use the expression the cablegram imputed to him at the time "He therefore demanded the abrogation of the treaties." To have used such a strong term would have been absurd and we are glad to find that Mr Seddon spoke with the modesty fitting the representative of_ a very small division of the Empire, We believe that we express public openion when we state that Mr Seddon has, so far as the cables admit of a judgment being formed, represented New Zealand in a fitting manner. He lias risen to the occasion and shown that he is far and away too good a man to be hampered by a narrow-minded following, to whom he is obliged to hold the candle from political necessity.

All who take a genuine interest in the dairy industry, which has done so much for Waikato in the past, and the prospects of which are, certainly, the bright spot in the future of the district, must have been gratified to obsorvo during Mr Wesley Spragg's late tour through Waikato the vory good understanding and even cordial relations which existed between the Dairy Association and their Waikato milk suppliers ; and as the representative of the enteqKrising company that has extended its business to this district, Mr Spragg must have returned to town well satisfied with his trip. Complaints, except upon such trifling matters as the exchange on cheques, which more remind us of an exercise of the Britou's privilege to growl than anything more serious, were conspicuous by their absence, and at all the meetings an earnest and hopeful spirit was exhibited that augurs well for the future of tho industry. To one point, however, Mr Spragg drew the serious attention of milk suppliers as affecting their mutual interests, and it is one that will have to bo dealt with if the Waikato is to maintain its good name as a producer of high class butter. This is the marked deterioration shown in the butter made at Ngaruawahia during the past season as comjmred with that made at Pukekohe, the difference amounting in Mr Spragg's estimation to as much as a penny pier pound in market value; and this, lie considered, was entirely due to the wholo of the cream collected at the different Waikato creameries not reaching Ngaruawahia on the same day as separated. Even to those not fully conversant with the maniputioii of cream and butter, it is easy to understand the advantage of having tho cream within a few hours of separating, run into properly constructed vats for cooling ana ripening, preparatoiy to being churned, and, on tho other hand, the grave disadvantage of having a lot of it left standing over for 21 hours in cans at creameries, whence it cannot be sent on until the next day is very apparent. This serious defect in the arrangements for delivering the cream has now been brought by Mr Spragg under the notice of Waikato milk suppliers, and when he adds that the butter made under such conditions has in a very brief period deteriorated fully Id per lb in value, it is evidently one which demands their serious consideration. The cause of tho trouble is not far to seek, being entirely duo to the early hsui's (i.do a.m.) at which the train for Auckland leaves Te Awamutu, by which time the cream cannot be separated and delivered at the station, but if the train started say half or three-quarters of an hour later the whole of the cream could be sent do.vn from the To Awamuru, Kihikihi, and Paterangi creameries. This is a question affecting tho interests of an important industry, and of a large section of the community, and if it could be put to a public issue as to whether the train for Auckland should start three-quarters of an hour later, or that considerable quantities of tho cream from Waikato creameries should be left behind until the following day to the desterioratiou of the whole season's make of butter, there would, we believe, be very little doubt as to the answer. At one time, no doubt, Ibe necessity for Waikato passengers reaching Auckland half an hour or so before the banks closed, was a matter of some moment, but with the establishment of bank agencies in the chief Waikato centres, (he necessity for sueli an early arrival in town is not so clear. Tho strongest argument likely to bo urged against such an alteration in the railway time table, as that suggested, is that it would necessitate a revision of the whole time-table, to which the Department would probably demur. However, we understand that efforts are about to be made to obtain such changes as will enable the Dairy Association to collect all the Waikato cream at Ngaruawahia within a few hours of its being separated, and that by petition and otherwise, the Railway Department will be approached on (he subject.