The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1885. THE CONDITION OF THE COLONY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2085, 3 September 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1885. THE CONDITION OF THE COLONY.

o- ' Mr Stead' recently delivered an address to the Ohni?tchurch Chamber of Commerce vhiuh is full of interesting information and argument upon the present state of trade in the colony, and various other matters which nearly concern us. Referring to the depression which has been so Ions; complained of, and for the removal of which various nostrums have been suggested, lie points out tli it it does not exist only in New Zealand, but in eyery part ol the world, and is felt asieverely, if not more severely, in those countries which have adopted protection. For this lie sees no cure that could lie effected in the colony. Mr St HAD is particularly outspoken about the constant tinkering with outlaws affecting the rights of capital and the tenure of land. These changes are nothing more nor less than experiments, the result of which, even supposing that sufficient time were given to allow any system to develope itself, could not be foretold. He reiterates the excellent but so frequently disregarded maxim that" insecurity and instability respecting both capital and land-are formidable obstacles to the creation of wealth, He thinks that we would do a great deal better, if, instead of bothering our heads about the future distribution of wealth, we were to create it. This is undoubtedly a very correct view to take of the subject. Those Idabant orators who are continually propounding theories for the welfare of mankind by taking from one and giving to the other, are always found to be men who are too lazy to put their hands to mi) thing to assist in the creation of wealth, They expect others to create it for them. '1 he exports of the colony for the last ten years were analysed by Mr Stead for the purpose of showing what progress the colony had made during thai period, and the result appears to be very satisfactory. Among the items worthy of special notice are butter and cheese, of which we sent away in 1875 only £5314 worth, while last year the value was £104,100. During the same period, frozen meat was added to the exports, the value last year being £345,090, The amount of money deposited in the various bunks, including saving banks, on the 30th June last, he quotes at £10,831,957. In other words, there is an average sum of £IOO available for immediate use to every male adult in the colony, This certainly does not look like poverty. The address deals with numerous other subjects, all of which are highly interesting and instructive, but which can scarcely be policed in one article.