MR. WESTGARTH'S ADDRESS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT MELBOURNE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 71, 15 May 1852, Page 7

MR. WESTGARTH'S ADDRESS TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT MELBOURNE.

(Concluded from, our last week's paper.) Colonial Tariffs.—The recent political changes in these colonies, and the extension of their various constitutions, seem to have induced a spirit of reform in the diversified aud obstructive tariffs that have for some time restricted their mutual intercourse. The different Chambers of Commerce have £ lve P_>|sSJs subject their consideration. Your CommitWe 'have discussed the question with reference to this colony, and have drawn up a proposition which it is intended shall be submitted to the Local Government. We have communicated on this subject with the respective Chambers at Hobart Town and Sydney, and I have much satisfaction in intimating a conformity of views between these several bodies and ourselves. The general principles are alike in all. All have adopted, as far as practicable and consistent with revenue purposes, those principles of commercial freedom, in the pursuit of which our Parent State is now setting us so decided and beneficial an example. Duties that might operate "protectively," causing loss of revenue and misdirection

of labour and capital, have therefore been as far as possible avoided.

The piincple adopted has been, that only a small number of imported articles should be subjected to duty, all others being left free. These selected articles are necessarily such as are of large and general consumption among all classes, in order to provide an adequate revenue; and the condition of all classes in this and the adjacent colonies is happily such as to admit of their equal contribution to the general Government. A preference has been given to fixed rates of duty over the ad valorem principle.

The following tabular arrangement exhibits in juxta-position the propositions of the respective Chambers of Commerce for a scale of Customs' Duties for the undermentioned colonies :—

The larger revenue requirements _rtf Van Diemen's Land have occasioned the affixing of higher rates of duty than are deemed necessary in the other Colonies. That Colony has been the first to carry out the new tariff arrangements ; the Legislature having passed an Act to that effect, which embodied the propositions of the Hobart Town Chamber, and came into operation towards the end of February. The Local Governments of Victoria aud New South Wales have respectively intimated their intention of bringing forward improved Tariff measures. On this subject, with regard to this Colony, your Committee have communicated, with mutual satisfaction, with the Customs' Authorities.

Population.—The Census Returns, furnished every five years, are before us for March, 1851. They show that the population of Victoria has considerably more than doubled itself within the last quinquennial interval, namely, from 32,879 to 77,345. These numbers do not include the small and diminishing body of the aborigines, which, although more numerous formerly, probably does not now comprise more than 3,000 individuals within the boundaries of Victoria.

Since the date of this last Census, the repute of our gold fields has caused an extraordinary influx of people from the adjacent colonies, computed to have averaged for the last four months, from 6,000 to 8,000 persons per month. The population, therefore, cannot now fall short of 115,000 persons, nearly 50,000 of whom may be computed to be scattered over the interior, engaged in the toilsome, irregular, and uncomfortable, but often highly lucrative vocation of gold digging.

The population of Melbourne has increased from 10,954 in 1846 to 23,153 in 1851. The increase of Geelong is still more striking, viz., from 2065 in 1846, to 8291 in 1851. The absorption of the labouring population by the attractions of the Gold Diggings has arrested for the last six months the extension of these towns, previously going on at a rapid rate, and also various other useful courses in the march of general progress. But on the other hand, the streets of the capital are thronged with the incessant influx of new Colonists, and with all the evidence, of extensive increasing and profitable commerce.

The following Tables illustrate the circumstances of our population under two important points of view, namely, the proportion of the sexes, the country where born, and the religious persuasion ; and a comparative view is at the same time afforded of the like particulars as regards the population of the adjacent colonies, with the exception of South Australia, whose Returns I have not been able to obtain *. —

Victoria. N. S. "Wales. V. D. Land. Brandy, gall. Other spirits, do. Wine— In wood, do. In bottle, do. Tobacco, lb. s. d. J 5 0 s. d6 0 3 6 s. d. 12 0 9 0 \oo 0 6 0 9 1 d 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 Sugar— Raw, cwt. Refined, do. )24 2 6 3 0 6 0 0 3 0 1. Tea Coffee Beer— In wood, gall. In bottle, do. Dried fruits Hops o 14 ! o 0." lOsp.ct.j \ nil. 0 2 0 2 0 6 0 1 0 2 ... :: ni h ...