Hamilton, Waikato, February 24, 1880.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1200, 6 March 1880, Page 3

Hamilton, Waikato, February 24, 1880.

Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 16th inst., in reply, " relative to the establishment of a depot for samples of various staples of wool," wherein you regret that in " the present financial position of the colony the Government are unable to take any steps in the matter just now." I had hoped that injregard to expense, what I submitted upon the subject would have been considered comparatively small. If it is deemed inexpedient or

imdesirable to make the charge of establishing and maintaining the depot indicated from the funds derived from the assessment on sheep, the general revenue could be justly called upon to bear the small cost of such department, inasmuch as the principal expense under the circumstances would be avoided by the machinery now in existence which was referred to in my letter. In any case the direct advantage to be gained to the colony by the larger production and the fncreased price that would be derived could not fail to out weigh all other considerations. Without wishing to be tedious or to prolong a correspondence upon a subject the Executive Government has passed an opinion, I would venture very briefly to direct your attention to the fact of the pastoral and agricultural interests of this country not being directly represented in the Council of the State ; that the general progress of its wool interests, up to the present time, are mainly due to private enterprise and the force of circumstances; that the value of exports in this respect exercises such an influence upon the general community as to demand from the Government special consideration ; that the ruling low prices of our staple compared with other colonies (as I have demonstrated) weighs heavy against our progress, and the fall of to 2d per lb upon our exports of wool, which has of late been experienced in the English market means the withholding from general circulation of about £125,000 to a half million pounds sterling each clip, and that amount direct loss to producers with its attendant evils. I would, with the most profound deference, submit that the principle of the other colonies, seeing the force of fostering and encouraging agriculture, mines, trades, &c, have delegated those interests to Ministers of their various Executives of those Governments. Sydney has a Minister of Mines ; Victoria, a Commissioner of Trades, a Minister of Mines, a Minister of Agriculture ; South Australia, a Minister of Agriculture ; Queensland, a Secretary for Mines ; and if experience required a further proof of the value of committing the interests of such great national importance to a responsible head, I would i*efer to the House of Commons in the last session of the British Parliament, in opposition to the Government, having voted, by a large majority, in favour of the establishment of a " Department of Agriculture and Commerce under a responsible Minister." I trust these few remarks that I have taken upon myself to make will not be construed, as a desire on my part to force in any way my particular views in respect to my letter of the 19th January upon the Government, but, on the contrary, that so great a national interest may receive, at the hands of the Executive, that consideration and support that will enable this colony to assert its position with regard to the quality and value of wool in the market of the world. — I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, Albert Potter. To the Hon. Colonial Secretary.