Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-06-28

JUNE %, 1891
which will stand in New Zealand for
ever. Government railways, as oper-
ated by the laws of New Zealand, are
a vast blessing and give benefits in
many directions which could not be
secured otherwise. The system is
under the charge Of board Of three
commissioners, who have power to es,
tabllsh fair rates for different dis
tricts aud thus give the farmer the
advantage Of low rates to the coast
1t is true that private lines are built,
but they are absorbed by the govern
ment at such time MS its finances will
admit, | am now engaged in CON
structipg private line across Middle
Island, connecting the coal fields with
a market more than 100 miles away
The money for the road was raised
with the understanding that the gov
eminent would take the road at a fair
valuation in the early future"
Speaking at length upon the pro.
jected railway, Mr.. Jay said the con-
struction would require forty five
tunnels and 7 per cent grade across
the mountains in the interior of the
island. The heavy grade is to be
overcome by n rack system, employ
ing a third rail, Tue road will cost
$l5,000,000.
LABOR IS WELL PAID
"Do you have tramps in New Zea-
land2" was asked.
"Yes, we have worthless men who
are known as tramps, but there is no
excuse for their existence in such a
country.
"Those fellows make the tour of
the islands about once u year, as it
requires a year to complete the cir
cult. The worklngman is better off
in New Zealand than anywhere else
in the world, ! notice you pay rail-
road construction men Sl.50 day in
the west ] am in the habit of pay
ing " 50 and never less than ~.
Any man who does an honest days
work can be sure Of $3.50, AS the
cost of living is much oheape" ,1oo :,
America, it can DO r" ad,lv soon tha,
3soW f-eeiHp IS u sort Of working
ma 3 paradise, or course labor re-
curing skill draws higher rate Of
pay that involving only the use of the
pick and shovel. L should estimate
that labor is paid SO per cent higher
in New Zealand than in the United
States; not taking the hard times in
to consideration"
Then you have hard times in your
country"
mo; not this year, although We
did have depression affecting diff
ferent lines of business five years ago
when the Australian boom collapsed
Times are good in New Zealand to
day, The world wide panic passed
us by. We attribute it largely to the
fact that the wealth Of the country i,
distributed among the people and tn,
laws are mainly in the interest Of thu
producers. We have no aristocracy
and no class of millionaires such as il
to be seen in America. The govern
ment is really maintained IN the in
terest of the people. Corruption il
office is SO rare that il Il parliamen
tary candidate were to buy keg o
beer in order to influence votes b,
would be summary expelled iron
the body"
A NOVEL LAND SYSTEM,
The land system of New Zealand
according to Mr.. Jay, Is entirely dli
ferent from that of any other country
Previous to the adoption of thn ne'
plan, a number of large tracts Of lau,
had been gobbled up by private ind
viduals and the country was ia fal
way to pass into the hands Of land
lords. The government has adopte
measures which are gradually drlN
ing the large land owners to relea,
their holdings to the government d
price set Ivy tho government aporai,
ers. Absentee landlords are take