OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 327, 20 July 1889, Page 4

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(MOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.') Sydney, July 3. The publication of the revenue return* affords an opportunity of con•idering the position of the Colony from the point of view of the public prosperity. The result is not altogether encouraging on the surface, though when looked into a little more closely, it presents some redeeming features. As compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, the quarter’s revenue shows a slight deficiency. But when the receipts for the twelve months are taken and compared with those of the previous twelve months, there is a considerable increase, amounting, in fact, to a quarter of a million. This increase is very nearly proportionate to the increase of population, and it is mainly due to sources which denote increased industrial activity, chief among these being the railways, which of themselves account for nearly the whole of the surplus. A considerable proportion of the quarter’s deficiency is due to a falling off in the customs revenue on spirits and luxuries, and also to a diminution in the receipts from what is euphemistically called “ mining occupation.” In 19 cases out of 20 this last term simply means the holding of a title to a piece of mineral land as a means of mining in the pockets of the credulous. The reduction in the two together means that we have swindled less, gambled less, and spent less unon useless luxuries. On the other hand the increase in railway receipts seems to show that we have worked more and earned more. Now it may be that the decrease in gambling and swindling does not imply any very great advance in morality. It may simply mean that the crop of dupes is almost exhausted. I know for a fact that the army of bubble-mongers have now very little faith in the general public. They address their plausibly-worded prospectuses privately to Ministers of religion and other persons who are supposed not to be too richly endowed with worldly wisdom. And in the same way there is only too much reason to fear that the decrease in spending is due less to the power of principles of sound economy, than a deficiency of the needful. But r,till, whatever be the motive, if socie.ty is less reckless and extravagant, society must get richer and more prosperous, just as a prisoner often gains flesh and strength under the healthy regimen of diet and exercise in a gaol, although it is sorely against his will that he has to submit to it. Viewed from a point which gives a wider induction the position almost explains itself. Two or three years ago there was great apparent prosperity. But it was not sound or solid. It resulted from a lavish expenditure of borrowed money, and it implied that a retry large proportion of the enterprise and energy of the community had been diverted from productive pursuits, in order to secure these easily earned gains. But, as always happens in similar cases, there came a time when it was absolutely necessary retrench, to stop borrowlog, *.ad to make such attempts a* we might to set our house in order. The pursuits of ordinary industry- had, however, bv this time lost thei.r attraction, and large numbers of those who had been accustomed to share in the generous streams imparted by the State milch cow turned their attention to speculation as considerably easier than the “ hard graft ” which is the only source of real prosperity. Then we had as a consequence the land “ boom ” and the mining “ boom.” Fortunately most of these gamesters have now lost all their money, and are convinced by practical experience that there is after all no resource for them but to get back to useful work. So to work they have had to go, many of them as subordinates where they had formerly been masters. 1 hey are now, perhaps sadder, but certainly wiser and more useful men. Their efforts now tend to increase the national wealth, whereas before, when many of them were shamelessly preying on the public, they tended to diminish it. And the result of a steady course in this new departure will be an increase of national prosperity, which probably will again be checked as soon as the elements of lawlessness in the community are again stimulated by undue lavishness and prodigality. The vacancy caused in the representation of Bedfern by the death of the Hon. John Sutherland, better known, perhaps, under his sobriquet of “Honest John,” is giving rise to a sharp and severe struggle. The issue is clearly defined : —“ Protection versus Freetrede.” The Freetrado champion is Mr G. Anderson and the Protectionist Mr Schey. Mr Sutherland himself was a Freetrader—not an abject devotee of the sordid gospel of “ Cheapness,” but a Freetrader who believed fervently in the policy of giving freedom and strength to native industry by means of judicious and discriminating encouragement. It was this feature of his political creed which more than any other secured his return for Bedfern. I don’t know if Mr Anderson’s politics aro of the same tint. But if they are not the seat will infallibly go to the Protectionists. Mr Schey is not a very strong candidate, having been rather ignominiously rejected at the last general election. He is the secretary, however, of the Bailway Employees’ Union, and as the railway interest is pretty strong in Bedfern, and the protectionist interest is still stronger, he is likely to be returned. One of the bodies of the unfortunate men who were entombed by the fall of the unsupported roof in the the Glebe colliery has been recovered. The management deserve praise for energy and perseverance with which they are prosecuting the search for the remainder, The enterprise envolves great expense and considerable risk on account of the wrecked condition of the mine and the danger of further falls and subsidences. But we cannot forget that a very little care would have prevented the calamity altogether, and creditable as the present effort may be it would have been more creditable still if matters had been so managed that there should have been no occasion for it.