Received 11-5-92
Answered 16-5-92
Lancing
25 March 1892
My dear Chris
I have pretty well recovered from my illness which has lasted a long time – the effects give trouble for months in many cases.
Mater is also in good health again. She was very poorly for a week or two. The other members of our circle are all well – the boys doing well at their school and the work agrees with them. They grow and are strong.
I have been in London twice lately having to attend meetings of the local Marine Board (London) of which the Board of Trade nominated me a member three months ago.
I said the Balchins told me what they were doing for you and ???? the order being executed for valuation by the ???? on the 29th.
I have not said that ???? take up the draft for the shipment it will be next week. It does not seem material to you whether I do or not. The cost of drawing is something less than the interest you would pay me with the advantage of six months credit.
I do not wish to disturb the cash I have at command. I get something more than 4% for it and my current account is running low. Our expenses here have been heavy since we left Anerley. Now they are less, but I have no prospect of making any addition to my income.
The service at the Marine Board brings but small fees. It may lead to something more to the purpose by and by. I don’t see it ahead just yet. As the business draws on I will have to visit town frequently, which will entail a good deal of railway traveling. But I will not go nearer to London even if I get employment for a year or more.
The children are so much better here and education cheap and good.
I have Mr Inglis staying here a self invited guest, a great invalid and somewhat of a tie to me – so I cant give you a long letter as he occupies my writing room and I have to write where the girls practice their music, which goes on for hours.
You will hear by wire of the doings of the miscreant Dressing(?) and of the great strike of Colliers at the ports. They are gradually returning to the work but it caused a panic for some days. Nothing else of importance has occurred lately. I saw a telegram in the dailies a week ago that hundred of starving women and children rushed the government offices at Brisbane, but have not seen any colonial papers since.
If you can find a man in your community who has the courage to do as Major A Rawson(?) did in New Zealand when they got rid of the Jew Vogel who let the country onto the ocean of debt, it then was he was selected as leader and began by reducing the number of the cabinet one third and the salaries of himself and others retained more than one third.
He did the same all through the civil service department and sacked all that could be done without. Since ???? New Zealand has not borrowed and paid the interest on its great debt and is self supporting although suffering from the general depression at present. I imagine it is in a far better position than the other colonies. McIlwraith and others of your politicians who have filled their pockets out of the taxes should be got rid of and new men with a clean name found to manage the country. You will all go bung as you call it before long.
The other colonies are not in a better position. The Victorian deficit this year ending in April will be one million under the estimate, The cost of working the railway is half a million for the year and the men at the helm have not the courage to carry out the measures suggested by the commissioners – afraid of offending the people, and sacked the commission instead.
Have a care – don’t lend money at any price and do a ready money business, if a small one it is safe.
Love from all to you and Alec.
Jas. A. Elmslie