COLONIAL TARIFFS. THE REID GOVERNMENT'S FREETRADE SCHEME.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 99, 27 April 1895, Page 4

COLONIAL TARIFFS. THE REID GOVERNMENT'S FREETRADE SCHEME.

I UNITID PBBBB ASSOCIATION. J Stdnbt, 26th April. A deputation of merchants and importers waited on the Premier to-day and asked him to adopt a sliding soale for wiping out the Customs duties, otherwise the holders of large stocks would be great losers. They were fully in aocord with the Freetrade principles of the Government, but depreoated extreme action. Mr. Reid, in reply, said that plenty of warning had been given of the intentions of the Government, and he distinctly refused to agree to the request. There would be no sliding soale, and nothing of the tariff of the Dibba Government would be left. He would bring in an unmistakable Freetrade tariff on lßt July, and as the colony had always been for Freetrade he would give it a, ohanoe of knowing what true Freetrade really was. Milboukne, 26th April. At a meeting of the Viotorian Chamber of Commerce, the retiring President, in his address, expressed the opinion that the greatest obstacle to the progress of the colonies was the high rate of freights, high interest, and fratricidal tariffs. Mr. R Reid strongly condemned the Stock Tax, bnt believed that the colony was now on the up-grade. Sir J B. Patterson, ex- Premier, was satisfied that Victoria's depression was due to trade being cramped by her borders. It was no use to talk of Victoria being at liberty to make treaties with South Africa, Canada, India, or other portions of the British Empire, when she could not even get across the Murray River.