DEAD AGAINST FREE TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4867, 12 June 1890, Page 4

DEAD AGAINST FREE TRADE.

If proofs were needed of tho continued protectionist tendencies of the Canadian people, it is to bo found m tlio propoaals which the Dominion Houso of Commons hos just ucjeptid at the instance of tho Government. Tlie burden of tho Budget apaech of Mr Foster, the Dominion Minister of Financp, was ''increased protection to infant industries." In the course of his remarks, the hon. gentleman emphatically denied that fiee trade principles were m the ascendancy either iv Canada or m the United Bt»tes. The predictions that the system of protection wbb doomed had not, he oaid, been fulfilled, last year whon tho election m the United States was run on the quostion of a higher or lower amount of protection, tho country favoured greater protection. So, too, nothing had occurred m Europe to show that the nations of that continent were losing faith iv protectioa ; while certainly nothing hai happened m Canada to show that Canadians wiro any lesa strongly m favour of that principle. Under the national policy Canada hud made immense strides. Evolved as it was from a chaos of scattered provinces the Dominion had daily advanced m the view of tbo world, and to-day stood self-contained and confident, wielding oway over tbe largerbalf of the English speaking possessions of the continent. A3 for tha past year it had been for Canada a period m which want had been practically unknown j labour had been well employed, and had found good remuneration, and from this season of prosperity tho five millions of Canadian people looked for the advent of years equally prosperous tmd equally happy. But despite tho roseate hues m which tbe Minister of Finance thus painted the condition of Canada, he admitted that the goal of tho Protectionists' ambition had not yet been reached. The tariffs were not, he said, like confession of faith which, when once settled, must endure for centuries. They must change according to t!ie circumstances of the country and the | needa of the times. If new products were mado new tariff provisions must also be mido, and it was the proud boast of the Conservative party that under the national policy new industries which needed attention did spring up. Hence it was proposed to give increased protection to the Canadian production of flour and meat. The duty on flour is to bo raised to the level of that on wheat — viz., from 50 cents to 75 cents per barrel —j 0 as- to keep tho market for Canadians. Why, too, Bbould not Canada raise all the meat abe needs. To aid this effort the duties on bacon, bam, mess pork, Baited and fresh meats, prepared meats, tried lard, live cattle, hogs and sheep ara to ba raised 50 per cant. -To compensate tbe maritime provinces where large quantities of United States meat are now imported — even the British | army contingent at Halifax being now fed on foreign meat imported free of duty — the duties on corn, meal, and molasses are to be lessened, while seed corn for ensilage purposes is placed on the free list. Clothing, hits, umbrellas, and other kindred imports ore also to bear heavier duties, though on tbe otbor hand mining machinery of all kinds not manufactured m Canada is to be placed on the frae list for three years, and the material used m the construction of iron and steel vessels is to be freed from taxation.