Wairarapa Daily Times. Established 1874. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1895. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRODUCERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4964, 1 March 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. Established 1874. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1895. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRODUCERS.

Tim Colony of Victoria is not exactly Hie model colony for the others to imitate in nil things. For instance no one bnt the hungriest sharks would liko to see New Zealand pass through such a. boom experience as was witnessed in Melbourne, nor would anyone care to see this Colony in the commercial collapse which flattened out the Victorians. In such matters Victoria is the " awful example" for the rest of the Colonics. But in other matters there is much to be learned from the sister colony, and the lessons she supplies arc to be found in the noble attempts made by the people aided by the Government to recover their lost position. Despite low prices and drooping markets, the Victorians are battling manfully, and the watchword of the country is" make production pay " and to ensure this they have set to work in a businesslike and energetic manner, and what have they done ? First of all they sent Commissioners to the East to exploit the markets of India, China, and Japan, and the results have been to increase the export trade if Victorian produce to these countries. The wheat growers combined and sent an expert to the United States and Canada to investigate the systems pursued by these countries in the matter of growing and exporting wheat. His roports which are being received at intervals are most encouraging, and there is every probability of Victoria adopting new methods and largely increasing her export trade in cereals. The hope is entertained of even sending wheat to the United States at a profit. Tho method of the New Zealand Government is to put a duty on imported wheat, fence in New Zealand and give us the inillenium. The Victorians have shown us that it is possible to send wheat to a wheat-grow-ing country that is moth eaten with labour legislation, factory acte and royal eoninijssions. New Zealand is importing wheat from Victoria and we may take it for granted that thjs is being done to the mutunlbenefitof shipper and consignee. Within its borders the Victorian Government helpmgthe producers in every possible way. The dairy industry has boen fostered, ice trucks nave been provided to bring fa butter wtf.&eslw to tto «>«*

in perfect condition; cold storage is provided at the shipping ports, the i produce is graded by experts and branded with the Government '. brand and brings the top price in the London market. The fruitgrowers have experts ready to teach : thorn how to dry apples, pack fruit, prepare'raisins for the market, while everything is inspected by the experts before leaving the Colony. Experiments are being tried intending fruit and vegetables home in the cool chambers, and while some have failed there are others that give promise of profit. Trial shipments of eggs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, game, bacon, pork, timber, etc., aro all being made, and always under Government supervision. "Why cannot Mr Seddon and his colleagues take similar action? Wo shall, of course, be told the Government hasdone something and we admit it. There is a produce train that .runs once or twice a week from New Plymouth to Wellington, generally arriving at its destination late, and carrying the produce at a temperature similar to that to be obtained in the hold of a ship, graders have been appointed, and cool 'stores are provided. A concession on the carriage of fruit has been made, fruit experts visit the orchards of the Colony, and tracts from the agricultural department iivo periodically sent to farmers. Wo are furnished with a couple of State farms, and sheep diseases are being investigated at one, and communism and "Beevism" is being tried at the other. We venture to say that notwithstanding all this. New Zealand will not materially increase the volume of her produce exports, nor will she add to their variety. It would be too much to expect the Government to turn its attention to the real needs of the country. Ministers are at war with one another and are fast losing ground with the people. At the moment the thought uppermost in their minds is " What inrst we do to keep in ollice," and they have much need tocogilafo on the .subject. In the meantime the interests of the country settlers are being sacrificed. The main-stay of New Zealand is the producer, and while nothing is done to help and encourage him the outlook forothers is gloomy. We think the approaching winter will satisfy the Labom Party that a country cannot thrive on restrictive and destructive Labour Legislation. If IP9I- was bad the winter of 1893 will be still worse for the labourer, who will have no one to thank but himself and the Government he has keptin power. Doss houses and soup kitchens will be a feature of the country this year unless something unforseen happens to . encourage settlers to extend opera--5 tions and so provide work,