A DREAM OF THE FUTURE, 1950.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1276, 10 May 1880, Page 2

A DREAM OF THE FUTURE, 1950.

Under the above hiding a contributor to the Trade Journal indulges in a little mild prophecy or " dream" aa to the position which Great Britain and her Colonies will occupy 70 years hence under a Freetrade policy. In 1878 Che total number of articles in the English tariff of import duties was 4ft, as compared with 1046 in and tfoi

revenue derived from Customs and Excise in 1840 was L 35,536,467, and in 1878 ii amounted to L 48,677,222. In 1879 we were elated by the receipt ol orders for Iron and steel rails from the United States, and sent as as a sequence of the splendid harvest of that year, bnl oar foreign trade was on the decline, while oar export trade to the Colonies had increased. The Commissioners of Customs stated that, taking for comparison the years 1872 and 1877, the exports to foreign countries diminished from L 195,700,000 to L 128,969,000, and that the exports to the British possessions increased from L 60,556,000 to L 69,923,000. These figures showed the tendency of our foreign trade, contending on the one hand against protective duties, and encouraged on the other by our own descendants. The year 1950 opens upon the old world hemmed in more than ever by its prejudices and contrivances for dealing with a superabundant population starving in the midst of plenty, but precluded by the abominable laws of Protection from supplying itself in the cheapest market. England only of all the European nations is saved from the curse, thanks to its colonies, bat the" Continental trade is»at an end, and is amply compensated by the exports to the colonies, which have risen to L700 ; 000,000, to supply the wants of 50,000,000 people. The Eastern question has long since been settled by the abolition of the Turkish rule in Europe, the establishment of Constantinople as a free port, and the retirement of the Turkish population to Asia Minor, where, under a mild protectorate, they not only support themselves in comfort, bat export a considerable quantity of com, silk, and other produce, which is brought to the Mediterranean ports by the Euphrates Valley Railway. England has abolished the Custonhouse against the colonies, and the colonies in return have a deferential duty in favor of England which effectually excludes all fo reign trade, so that as the Home population, according to Mr. Toussaint Lona, doubles itself in 72 years, we have, in 1950, 48,000,000 of Englishmen dealing with 50,000,000 in the colonies, and England can afford on such terms to be isolated from the Continent. The gross income of England increased from 1155,000,000 in 1800 to L 571,000,000 in 1875, consequently in 1950 it may reach L 1,000,000,000, and as by an improvement in the meaiis of locomotion Australia can be reached by steamer m 15 days, there are the same facilities for transport as we enjoy with the United States in the present day. England and her united colonies, too powerful to attack, peaceably disposed and secure from war, devote themselves to the highest interests of the civilisation of the twentieth century. Africa, being thoroughly explored and opened up, is the field for the foreign commerce of England ; and the Continent, having no vent for its redundant population, is the scene of perpetual warfare and tionIndia is at length self-supporting, owing to the railways falling into the hands of the Government, and the possibility of reducing the army by the abolition of the semi-independent nations, which in 1880 required more or less supervision. Thus the battle of Freetrade versus . Protection has been fought, and the blessings which the British Empire enjoys may be attributed not to her superiority over other nations, but to the perseverence which her statesmen have shown in continuing the policy laid down by the great Sir Robert Peel when he abolished the duty on the greatest necessary of life.