The Press. WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1871.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2551, 5 July 1871, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1871.

The disasterons results of the high protective tariff in force in the United Siates ia year by year making themselves more and: more apparent, not only tc the outside world, but to those very men whose interests are supposed to be protected. We have before us a report, lately transmitted to the House of BepresenratiVes by the Secretary of the Treasury, in: which some.startling results regarding the decline, of the Shipping trade' are told, in very plain_ language. ~ During the year ending January -30th, 1870, of all the shipping . which entered the ports of the Tjhited States only 30 per cent, belonged to the Americans, while; per cent, was British, and 17 per cent, belonged to foreign nations.;: -Jt isr-alsoistated'that at the present, time,, pi the 133 steamers which tr;a4e : between .Gr.reat Britai^M and not one out of the-entire number carries the American 1 flag. The same ■authority'says;that' trier chief cause of tin's'said decline ia the great cqsjt of ship-building in America, as;compared with 43reat Britain; and which, by the way," has all arisen since- a-preteetiye tariff: was introduced. Before; that time America ; was famous for her ship-building. The "facts above stated are not new. They have: been .brought forward time* after: time by the advo--cates of free trade, only to be shirked by its opponents as too ufaimportant to be taken notice of But it is not only the ship-buildrog-trade-which has suffered from the pampering ofthe protectionists ; nearly'all other industries have suffered in a like manner. Ifiot very long ago it was stated that " thousands of skilled afrraans'wefe brought to j know almost -the want' of bread;" that in almost all .the towns and citaesj.. of :Jfew r Engkind, the decay in: trade wasi becoming alarming-: arid that to -; save themselves . from absolute ruin, the . iron masterß were contemplating the introduction of cheap Chinese labor; in order that they might have a chance against, "the free-traders of Britain. And ."yet.we' are ..told that it is the working man who is chiefly to benefit by protection; that athe;Starting-df protected local industries will give remunerative aM continuous employment to a large aiid prosperousjbody.of .settlers. :Xa the coming,.session of the Assembly this question will, no doubt, receive some at,.tention,and perhaps before wehave done with it, New Zealand will have to go through the same experience as that of the United States, Victoria, and other places. But this need not be--the cause of much wonder, for to use the words of our versatile contemporary, the Lyttelton Times, in speaking of the corn duties now - in force in Victoria, " the existence of such duties is a clear proof that popular institutions may take a backward step in the face both of wellestablished principles and ofthe proofs which experience alone can afford. But this retrogressiou is not, after, all, to be wondered at when we recollect that no laws are- likely to be much in advance of the intelligent sentiments of the law-makers, and that a good acquaintance with the principles of| political economy is by no meaua a' Fery general Acquisition-on <he part of those who, enjoy the. colonial franchise, nor always even of those who represent them. And there is, indeed, some rauon to belie?© that the Com Laws:

of Victoria were passed in deference to a strong expression of the popular will by Jggrislatorj&who knew their action who hoped that it n^gwb^barfi^lesa," U%\ • f.>,j » wilHie In the recollection of many of in the now celebrated prosecatiofa of Mr. Barton, of Otajol Dailg Times, Mr. Muston, examined, at "first gim evidence, on the ground answers which he might give would render him also liable to prosecution. Thereupon the prosecuting counsel proijduced— j .netted him to ■'-/Sot [-extraordinary a use tff the prerogative ; .jaf _mercy._Jiiduced Mr.- -Barton—to address a letter ,to - -Lord Kirn-, berler, the Secretary of State) for tne- representing tbe facts Connected with this unprece j dented act. 3Dhe time for the receipt of a reply to Mr Barton's letter has not yet expired, but the subject is of such j importance, and the conduct of -the Ministry in this transaction so singular, that it is to be hoped that Lord Kiraberley's Teply will reach the colony before the ensuing session, of parliament comes to au: end. In any case we have, no doubt, some member will bring the matter before house, and obtain a full and searching inquiry into the whole affair. . :. ' i c

As will be seen by a copy of a circular in another column which-Hia Honor has addressed to the.members of the Provincial Council, in consequence of the late date to which the meeting of the Assembly has been Anally prorogued, the meeting of the Provincial Council will not be further postponed from the 14th July, to which time it now stands prorogued ; and that it will meet for the dispatch of business on that day.