Freetrde in New Zealand.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 110, 10 May 1889, Page 3

Freetrde in New Zealand.

Mr. R. H. Gibson, of New Plymouth, has reooivod the following letter from the Hon. Secretary of tho Cobden Club, and publishes it in tho local press ; — 3, Belgravo Crescent, Ecolos, near Man cheater, March, 1889. Dear Mr. Gibson— l am not very sanguine about Frcetrado in Now Zealand. Excossivo expenditure involves heavy taxation, which is tho Protectionist's opportunity. People employed on the land in new countries appoar to be as donso as our agricultural labourers used to be. I spent six months in the United States in 1880, and I saw then that it was hopeless trying to teach tho westorn farmer what his interests were. The United States will give up Protection as soon as their national debt is extinguished, and no earlier, t.e., when thoro is no possible oxcuso left for duties. The financial future of New Zealand is not so bright, and tho utmost the Cobdon Club can hope for is that tho duties will not be made higher. Hln 1880 my father had 50,000 copies of the Wostern Farmer pamphlet, by Mongredren, circulated in America. The only jroßult was that the Yankees wero furious at the intervention of Englishmen in their »ffaira, Wo hardly know, therefore, what to think of your suggestion as to a epeoial pamphlet for the colonios. The club is much interested by your letter, and perhaps something may ' come of it ; meanwhile yon will receive another paroel of publications. The description you have given of the New Zealand politician or statesman corresponds exaotly with my experience of thorn in Canada and the United States. The leaders are representatives of the rank and file, and will never toad thorn to a higher level. lam not sure that things are much different hero ; the old fashioned Radical of the John Bright typo, whose demands were justified by common sense, and whose opinions were formed from a study of political economy, has given place to silly Socialists, who are not satisfied with removing abusos, but want to teach the people to look to the Governmont for aid in overything, another form of protection. Wo aro having some trouble over tho (Sugar Bounties and Bi-mctalism. I think thafc every country will havo to fight the question out for itself. All the Cobden Club can do is to supply Freetraders jn foreign parts with information as to general principles and the details of the struggle here. Nations, like individuals, only learn by exporienco. Wo learnt the lesson through oar btomaohs, so the process was quioker and the r.eault more lasting.— Yours sincerely, Arthur A. Potter.