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New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1190, 6 September 1867, Page 3

In almost every young colony, at tho outset, a contest lias to bo waged between tho trading and producing classes in the community, before tho apparently opposing interests of llio parties become reconciled, and their relative positions to each other accurately

cfined. Auckland is no exception to this general rule, and therefore wo are not sur-

prised that dissatisfaction and discontent on this head are still rifo amongst the people of this province. On the 0110 hand wo havo constant murmurings on tho part of the general public, at tho unfavourable contrast which our imports and exports present, quarter after quarter, particularly in tho matter of food of all kinds, and on the other, we are compelled to listen to tho reiterated cry of our farmers and agriculturists that stock-rearing and wheat-grow-ing will not pay. Our settlers aro ofton reproached with want of energy and enterprise, while they in turn, retort the charge of monopoly against tho traders, ancl demand protection.

It cannot bo denied that tho situation is tantalizing; that from whatever point of view we regard it there arc difficulties to be encountered, and tliat, though eventually the " balance of power" between the parties will bo no doubt accurately struck and neutral ground amicably occupied, still tho immediate effect of such a state of things is most discouraging, and so long as it lasts must seriously prejudice the general prosperity. The question arises, what can be done to mitigate or remove the evil ? We ire not ourselves pledged to any specific in tho case. We should regret, indeed, to sec any attempt at legislation on the subject so far as the imposition of duties on grain or cattle, for the simple reason that ivc believe the remedy would prove worso than the disease. Wo think it would bo fatal to tho character of as fine a country as ever the sun shone upon, if it were once admitted that the system of protection was necessary to enable our agriculturists to produce grain and beef enough for themselves and tho rest of the community. Wo think tho idea a most extravagant one, and though wo sympathize with the producers on some points oil which they complain of want of sufficient encouragement, we cannot see why they might not, by improved appliances, by increased activity, and by intelligent cooperation among themselves, do a great deal toward placing the question on a more satisfactory footing. Wg are aware tho complaint is prevalent on their' side, not only that they havD to contend against the cheaper labour, and more convenient applianeo of the foreign producer, but that there is a disposition on the part of our own traders to deny them fair play. It is alleged that even the price at which foreign grain can bo laid down hero is not ordinarily obtainable in our markets, when Auckland settlers happen to be the vendors ; that there is a wonderful tendency towards low prices about harvest" time, so that while all the year round at other seasons, the parties are busily engaged in importation to meet tho current consumption, when homo produce is to hand the demand suddenly ceases, the supply is found to be in excess, and tho article is at a discount. - In this -way, it is said, our settlers, who arc mainly dependent upon Auckland lor a market, are disappointed in obtaining a satisfactory one, inasmuch as the prices they had reasonably calculated on for their produce, taking the avcrago current rate for the previous nino months, is not allowed them.

It in due to nil classes of the community tliat an open market shall be maintained, where the question of supply aud demand, in tho matter of homo raised food, shall be fairly tested on legitimate ground. "Wo havo already said Ave arc no advocate's for protection, in the ordinary acceptation of the phrase, but wo stand up for fair play on all uides, and if this cannot be had in our own markets for own producers, to whom we all look as the bone and sinews of the country, then we say, in their own defence, our settlers are bound to take the matter into their own hands without loss of time. They must act upon the co-operative principles adopted under similar circumstances iu

Tasmania and in New South Wales twenty years ago. They must erect their own mills, and grind their own wheat—and .they will find plenty in Auckland to support them in the undertaking. This will appear, we think, a far more rational course than to give up producing altogether; for while it will make sure of ti fair field, aud a certain amount of protection against foreign competition, to the extent, at least, of tllb expense of importation, it will, if it should prove necessary to adopt such a step, secure for the home-raised product on the spot a fair trial and a possible preference. Our settlors, therefore, are not without a resourco in this matter. There arc really no difficulties in their case, in regard to this province, that have not been encountered and overcome years? ago in other young countries. At ono time, the limited extent of suitable land was elucfly pleaded as an excusc for tlie small amount of marketable produce raised in this province, but this apology, we rejoice to know, holds good no longer. ' Land of average quality now be had in abundance comparatively cheap, and though land carriago in some districts is still a serious item in the original cost of productiou, in this direction also much has been eft'eeted of lato years, while every succcssivo improvement yet to take place will all be in favour of the producer. In many localities, water-carriage, however, affords facilities unequalled in any country, to tho agriculturist and stockownor for the export of their produce to market. The geniality of tho climate is too ■ well known to need insisting on here as an additional argument in favour of increased activity and extended operations on tho part of our country friends. Here we have no extremes of temperature to contend with —neither scorching droughts, nor desolating floods are known amongst us ; nor are there natural enemies to encounter in the shape of insect life, but what is common to the most favoured countries. In these respects, at least, wo stand on an equal footing with most countries whero cereal crops are usually abundant. If we cannot compete witli them in a foreign market, yet surely we cau hold them in check in our own.

But wliilo ivc would deprecate anything like an import tax upon grain and breadstutls or on cattle, wo should have 110 objection to see an indirect protection a Horded to other articles of consumption, which can be readily manufactured within the colony. So long as a revenue is raised on imported goods, there is ho principle of free trade to violate, and the country may be benefitted by increasing the duty on such articles as can and ought to bo produced within the colony. _ For instance, we ought to export and not import leather, and leather, whether unmanufactured or manufactured into boots and saddlery, might bo so far taxed by Custom dues as to cause the skins to bo cured here, and manufactured into boots and saddleryhoro also, instead of being sent homo as skins and sent out again as leather and leathern goods. Our mechanics might just as well havo tlio work of manufacturing them as the mechanics at home. The same may be said of many other articles which we can produce in the Colony of quite as good workmanship, and of equal durability as can be made at home. To such extent, tlio protection duties of Victoria have proved most beneficial to her. In the matter of boots and shoes alone, immense quantities aro now made in that colony, and it was stated lately in an Australian journal, that such an impetus had been given to this branch of trade, that not a bootmaker in that colony or in New South Wales could be found wanting employment, while work could be afforded to a thousand additional men if their services could only be procurod.