COLONIAL TARIFFS.

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 17

COLONIAL TARIFFS.

The monthly meeting of the council of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce was held on June 29, at the rooms of the Chamber in New Exchange buildings, in that town ; Mr Jacob Behreus, i the president, occupying the chai". Among the communications read was » letter from the Financial Reform Union, urging that a distinct memorial from eaoh chamber of commerce on the subjeot of colonial tariffs would be more likely to be effectual than one general memorial, and requesting the co-operation of the chamber in a monoriul and deputation to Lord Granville on the question. A copy of a memorial, in which the unjnsfc and arbitrary character of colonial tariffs was illustrated, was read. The president said thero could not be a more important subject before a chamber of commerce than this. Hecould offer abundance of evidence that the colonial tariffs were a most ridiculous and incoherent mass, without &cn«o or reason, that could be conceived. The other day a gentleman asked him what was the duty on Bradford goods in Victoria. He thought he could soon satisfy him on that point ; but, on looking into the Board of Trade report, it was found impossible to discover what the gentleman wanted. This gentleman looked to see what were tho duties levied in Queensland, and told him that he found that wonted goods nnd cotton poods, and iron crates and machinery, and all sorts of nttiff, were put in the s»rao category, and charged the duty of 2j per onbfo foot. Even if th«j state of matter* were not so bod as that, the prinoiple was wrong that a colony should be allowed to proteoe itnolf Against British produce, while o'pooting from this country snob, an outlay on Its behalf. When tho agonies p«uM stand alone, they would havo a rigbt to do what they liked in those matters, hu^ ia the meantime they ought not ho nllowcd to levy such duties. Mr Vf. Wand thoucht it wa« inconsistent on tho part cf tbo Govornment to pro«e upon foreigner* tho expediomy of reducing tnoir tariff* whilo such prohibitory duties w*»ro maintained by tho British Govemuirnt. Tho chatrnun said that Enghiut hnd suffered in rr a niida hy th« union of tho province. 1h»« causo formerly tho duties wow only 10 per c*nt. wid nt prnnoitfc they wcro 115 p*r cent. Mr Wnml thought tho duties in Canada were now Co percent. Tho genernl opinion goornrd to bo that it was wrong, whilo snch nrohibi* fcory duties were maintained, that Eugland should bo required to maintain armies and fleots for tho purpoto of giving protection to tho British colonir s ; and, on tho motion of Mr Alderman Scott, seconded by Mr Wand, a momorial to Lord Gronrillo on Iho subject was Adopted.

Testimony to tho valno ol immigrants to this colony 'from British America, is borne by tho Bay of Islands correspondent of tho Southern Crow, Notwithstanding tho diflft. culfctos which they experience iv gotting their produce to A mwket, owing to tho want of road*, tbo inhabitants of tho new OanMHtn settlement between tho Bay of Islands *nd Hokiontra an likely, ho sayi. to make thai locality the garden ol ihs north.