RUMOR'S THOUSAND TONGUES.

Evening Star, Issue 7505, 25 April 1888, Page 1

RUMOR'S THOUSAND TONGUES.

The period immediately antecedent tothe Parliamentary session is almost invariably prolific in rumors—some " baseless as the fabric of a vision," others having their foundation on conjecture, or perhaps close observation of the straws which, floating on the surface, indicate the course of the stream. Just at present it must be admitted, to be reasonable, that anxiety should be felt and curiosity excited as to the intention of Ministers on more than one important point of policy ; and we are not at all surprised that the season is especially good for canards. There are so many possibilities that the field for guesswork is very extensive, and some out of the many who apply themselves to this ingenious game may, perchance, hit the nail on the head. The truth, however, is that outside the Cabinet nothing is really known, nor is even an inkling of the Ministerial policy likely to be divulged until the delivery of the Governor's Speech, which, it is understood, will be very closely followed up by the Financial Statement The Wellington papers always affect to know a great deal, but their knowledge not infrequently is very much on a par with that possessed by the police " from information received," both as to reliability and the character of the sources whence derived. If their recent very confident assertions aretested by the rules of common sense, it will at once be seen that they are the merest presumption. Take, for instance, the statements as to the object of the Premier and certain of his colleagues in coming South, and in relation to the interviews between Sir Harry and Sir Robert Stout. Can it be believed that Ministers confidethe motives of their action to the " man in the street," or that, if the present and the latePremier discussed a sort of fiscal coup d'etat, either of those astute gentlemen immediately blabbed. Sir Robert, it may be recollected, absolutely denied that his conversation with Sir Harry had any political bearing whatever. We can well understand that Minis* ters find themselves in a very embarrassing position, and that in regard to the Tariff they are " between the Devil and the deep sea." The ques* tion must be dealt with, for to this they stand pledged, and are further, we should imagine, constrained thereto by the exigencies of finance. The Premier last session declared that the scheme of revision, which only at that time existed in embryo in his brain, would satisfy both Freetraders and Protectionists; meaning the men who hold to one principle or the other, not those on either side who are rabidly inconsiderate. On what lines the honorable gentleman will move in his attempts to please everybody is a problem which seems to defy solution ) and it is quite natural that keen wits should be exercised in the endeavor to do so. It is the unexpected that ever happens in politics, and the Premier may possibly have something startling to flash on the people. We cannot believe that he will propose a High Protective Tariff) oven did his opinion that way incline; because, as Treasurer, he has to look to the receipts from the Customs as a main source of revenue, which it must rather be his object to render more prolific. Ministers have on their hands the laborious task of thorough retrenchment in every branch of public expenditure; and have during the ensuing session to complete by statute and otherwise the work, now well forward, of economic reform. We take it for granted, therefore, that they will not be prepared to touch the incidence of taxation; although a crucial change will assuredly be of incalculable advantage. They have still to look to the Customs for revenue, and any revision of the Tariff must needs be on this principle ;• otherwise, taxation in some other form would have to be imposed. You cannot have your cake and eat it too! If high duties are imposed to exclude imports, the Customs revenue must proportionately fall, and be made up in other ways. This is one among the many considerations which the Protectionists ignore. The local manufacturer would pocket as additional profit what now goes to the State) being contributed in the form of indirect taxation. The unfortunate consumer would not only have to pay an enhanced price for the articles protected, but be direotly taxed to make up the loss of revenua This is as clear as that two and two make four. The Government are hardly likely to put their heads in to such a hornet's nest.

Notwithstanding the effective re* trenchment which may be expected very materially to reduce the expenditure of the current financial year, there is too much reason to apprehend that the Treasurer will find it no easy matter to make ends meet. The only class of revenue which is at all elastic, and admits of being stretched a little to meet a possible deficit, is that derived through the Customs. The Treasurer is hardly likely to cut this off at its source. It is beyond all tilings manifest that he cannot look to an increase of the property tax to com. pensate for deficiencies in the receipts from Customs. Rates and taxes are pretty well piled to the last straw on the small proportion of the population who are subject to direct taxation. Additional burdens in the present bad times are absolutely out of the question.

We quite recognise as a disturbing element in any rational estimate of political probabilities the fact that a number of members of the House are given over to the delusions of Protection. It isthisfactwhichleatls theclever ones to assume that Ministers, in order to 3ave their official skins, will adopt ft truckling policy, and make sure of a majority by the sacrifice of the real interests of the people. We have confidence in the integrity and patriotism of Sir Harry Atkinson and his colleagues, and hope much better things. They have won golden opinions already, and the ball lies at their feet. Should tho Protectionists be rash enough to force the game, the victory if gained will be dearly bought, and transient indeed in effect. The power of the people lies behind the House, its intrigues, and casual majorities. Notwithstanding their noise and bluster the intelligent opinion of the country is not with the Protectionists, and will support Ministers if they refuse to submit to their dictation.