The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1892.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5602, 29 December 1892, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1892.

At the banquet to the Hon. VV. P. Reeves m Christchnrch, on jthe 19 th instant, under the auspices ' of tbe Liberal Association, Sir . Robert Stout made a speech which drew forth a leading article from tbe Press a day or two afterwards, under the beading of " The New Liberalism." A qneer jumble Sir Robert's speech seems to have been, and his references to the views of Job a Stuart Mill were simply astonishing. The Press criticism was fair though severe ; but Sir Robert Stout never could bear any criticism m the smallest, degree antagonistic. He therefore replied m a letter which appeared m the Press yesterday, and as far as we can judge he only made matters worse, and at all events he drew forth another and yet more cogent leader from the Press. We shall not meddle with the portion of the controversy touching the opinions of John Stnart Mill, further than to observe that Sir Robert defends himself chiefly by the unworthy expedient of suppression. He half quotes, and then claims victory on the score of bis quotations. It is an ancient but shabby device, and that is all that need be said about it. There is, however, one part of the letter concerning which we shall make a few brief remarks. Sir Robert says :■—'' Then it is said you [The Press] are m favour of freetrade Strange, is it not, that the present tariff waß put on by tbe party you support ? I give the names m alphabetical order of the Ministry- — The Hon. "Messrs Atkinson, Fergus, Fisher, Hislop, Mitchelson, Richardson, Stevens, and Whitaker. YesTthe tariff they put on was higher than the previous Government had ever proposed. I suppose you know what freetrade means. If tbe Customs duties are abolished, we are not going to have repudiation, and the only alternative, therefore, is an increase of the land and income taxes. , How will the large farmers and the subscribers to the 'Insurance .fund 'like such a proposal ?" Tbera probably never was a more unfair antagonist with the pen than Sir Robert Stout, and he shows his bent m the sentences which we have quoted. Firßt, we would ask, can a man be a freetrader on principle and yet support any Cnstomß duties whatever ? We should answer, certainly he can, if we may take a leaf out of the English freetraders' book. Glad as they would be to dispense with a tariff altogether, they never, theless suport the short Imperial one, but for revenue purposes only. It is regarded as an evil, but a necessary one, and m no instance is the duty levied with the object of giving protection to British manufacturers and enabling them to make a better market with the people. Very different ia the creed of Sir Robert Stout, Mr Ballance, and the other leaders of the party now m power. Their avowed object is protection, and we remember when Mr Ballance spoke of the necessity of prohibitory duties, if experience showed that nothing leas would serve the turn of the New Zea. land manufacturer. So mnch for the general question ; and now as' to the " party " said by Sir Robert Stout to have imposed the New Zealand tariff. His alphabetical list of the Ministry is perfectly correct, but he omitted to mention that the tariff question split up the party; that the New Zealand freetraders were true to their principles ; and that Sir Harry Atkinson succeeded not by the help of those who had hitherto supported him, but by the votes of the Opposition — the very party of which Sir Robert is euch a burning and shining light.