SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2700, 31 October 1889, Page 3

SYDNEY LETTER.

(I'UOM OUK OWN COIIHESrONDEN' r.'l Tiif, prorogation of Parliament has turned out to be a very lingering affair. " Linked ■sweetness lung drawn out," would be a pootical way of phrasing it. J'm not quite sure about the sweetness, however, though of the elongation there is no manner of doubt. Perhaps it would he more accurate i o compare tho proceedings to the " petering out" of a, boy's bonfire. It seems to be all but out, when there is another fla*h and tiare. another shout, and another war-dance and war-whoop. And when that has done there is another one, and as it is out of the 'juestion to think of leaving whilst a spark remains, the painful parting is indefinitely postponed. Last week the Premier notified that it whs intended to prorogue on Friday. There were only the Payment ofJMembers' Bill, the Council's amendments to the Land Bill, the public works programme, the additional estimates, the loan estimates, the supplementary estimates, a few private bills, and such other impromptu matters as might occur to any peculiarly zealous member. Under ordinary circumstances, each of these might havu been reckoned as good for a week at tho very least. But it was considered that the hope of getting into recess would provide such a stimulus that they could all be disposed of in a couple of days. But the House, which continually and perversely disappoints the Premier's charitable estimate* of its zeal, application and docility, disappointed it in this instanco also, After (jnjoving the unquestioned privilege of speaking for about half a day at a time about nothing, the members who do the talking could not all at once realise that they were to debar themselves from the privilege of speaking, say for half-an-hour on business of real interest and importance. So it is easy to see why it has proved more difficult to end the session than was anticipated. Considerable improvement in trade is expected from the passing of the Land Bill. It is hoped that now the question of tenure and compensation for improvements is set at rest, there will be a general move to increase the carrying capacity of the pastoral lands by water storage, subdivision, and other needed improvements which must add to the wealth of the country, besides employing labour and causing an increased demand for merchandise. It is to be hoped these expectations will be realised. So far as ligures alford any indication, the colony seems to have been retrogressing of late. Tho revenue returns for tho September quarter shows a very trifling increase. But the revenue for tho year ending September oO is a more significant index than that of the quarter. It shows a decrease, as compared with the previous twelvemonths of £00,100, whereas, even from the natural increase of population, there should be a considerable increase. Of course no one can wonder at this. The Government has been centent to look idly on, without making any attempt to bring together the unemployed capital, tho undeveloped resources and the unemployed labour of the country. They have allowed the community to drift, and it has naturally drifted downwards instead of upwards. Still, as I said before, the passing of the Land Bill is a step in tho right direction, and in tho nature of things, with a fair lambing, a good price for wool, and the prospect of an excellent harvest, there should shortly be some littl.) changu for tho better. One step forward was taken by the Municipal Conference, which sat in Sydney last week. They passed a resolution affirming that all taxation for municipal purposes should be raised from laud valuus only. At present nearly the whole of it is levied upon improvements. and it therefore forms a crushing tax upon those who build, and whoso outlay and enterprise raise the values of the lands which are left unimproved. The Conference represents tho municipalities of tho colony, and if this principle is enforced the ultimate benefit •hould bo great, though probably there Mould be cases of individual hardship. A deputation from the'conference waited on Sir Henry I'arkes to request liini to embody taxation on land values only in his Local Government Bill. But the I'rcmierdid not convey the impression that ho was very /.ealous in lhe cause. The alliance which was entered into al the I'Yeo Trade Confe rnuco between the Single Traders and tin Im-co Trader- doe- not. apparently extend to the point of making any serious concessions 1,0 the former.

A .Protectionist. Conference commenced its sittings in Sydney yesterday. Delegates from all the districts of the colony were present, and Mr Kdmmirl l>irti>n, tlie exSpeaker of the Legislative Assembly presided. Considerable confidence was expressed by the various speakers, who, ono and all. gave the impression that they believed themselves on the winning side, and deemed that the ultimate victory was only ;■ matter of Lime. Of course they are no more free than their opponents from f he vice of using partisan spirit which always manifests itself in tho same way whether it dominates J'Veo Traders or Protectionist, Liberal or Conservative, or Imperialist. Its onu trump card N the shutting of ils eyes to the facts and arguments adduced by its opponents, and loudly vociferating its own shibboleth tho while. A picture of a scene which occurred neatly two thousand years ago is as accurate to-day as a picture of a state of mind as it was then as a nnirat've of facts. ■\Ve read of the citizens of Ephesus that when they were alarmed at the teaching of Paul and its probable consequences to the worship of their chosen goddess, " they all with one voice foe about the space of two hours cried out 'Great is Diana of the b'phesians !' " They were not troubled with many misgivings about the soundness of their doctrine, for that two hours at any rate. Substitute "Protection," ".Free Trade," or any other party cry for "Diana," and you have the logical attitude of the blind partisan, who can't see anything (ill one eye has been put out, and who can't say anything till tho other side has been silenced. But a man who knows only his own side knows very little of that. It seems to me, for instance, that tho truth about Protection and Freo Trade will include both. It will not obliterate either of them, but will show each in its proper relation to the other. It will show, for instance, when the shield appears to be golden and why it so appears ; whan it appears to be silver, and whether the silver supports the gold or the gold the silver. Take, for instance, the question of peace or war. One section of extremists declare for peace at any price, and decline to tolerate (lie thought of war under any circumstances. Opposed to them is the military section, which has its interests in fame and booty, in pay and promotion, in army contracts and financial jobbery. But both these are ruled out of court by the patriotic citizen of average common-sense. He sees at ti glance that thero must be some preparation for war, and determination to fight if necessary. But to ensure tho maximum of independence and prosperity there must be only so much warlike preparation and demonstration as shall suffice to secure peace. The truth in this case tolerates both, and shows each in its right relation to the other. Why cannot those speakers and writers who discuss Protection and Free Trade regard them in a similar manner? If they did, my own opinion is that they would see that there should be just so much Protection as will suffice to secure l''ree Trade. Trade, it must be borne in miud, includes the production as well as the exchange of commodities. It includes all brandies of industry which make up the health and -wealth, the vigour and strength oi the State. Freedom of trado therefore includes the freedom of industry, its liberty to be conceived and bom, to increase and grow until it comes to full maturity and vigour. For these purposes, it appears to me, some measure of Protection may sometime; bo needed, and the extremists 011 both aides are evidently out of Court."