Wairarapa StandardDF Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1886. Free Trade and Protection.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1826, 30 April 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa StandardDF Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1886. Free Trade and Protection.

Afikh carefully reading the report of Sir Julius Vogel's s,.cedi, wo confess to experiencing a feeling of annoyance and disappointment at having wasted time over a useless task. There is really very little in the speech which people did not know of before it was delivered, dhe speech did not contain any declaration of a policy on the part of the Government, while it affords no indications of their intentions as to the future. What then was the speech all about? Well, it was fur the most part a recapitulation of events in the past, and a tunning criticism of speeches made by Major Atkinson, Sir George Grey and Mr Ormond, which was not of any particular importance or interest. Then there was a neat little dissertation on the question of Free Trade and Protection, iu which bir Julius gave the stock arguments on both sides. The speaker dealt with this question iu a very gingeily fashion. He declared “ that he was neither a Free Trader or a Protectionist,” hut all the time when saying this, he let it be seen plainly that the Government meant to impose largely increased Customs Duties, which it is certain would he in the direction of Protection. His argument was, that if it wore desired to obtain and keep a large population iu the colony, it would be necessary to encourage local industries by means of a system of Protection. This kind of reasoning is founded on a misrepresentation of the real state of the case. There is already a sufficient amount of Protection to many local industries in the existing high Customs Tariff on imports. Many local industries have been established in the colony and are iu a flourishing condition. Anyone who oarefully inspected the ludustiial Exhibition held in Wellington and saw the splendid and varied display of colonial-made productions shown there, must have been convinced that local industries iu this colony were doing well and needed no further aid in the shape of Protective Customs Duties. But the truth is that Sir Julius Vogel wauta an increased revet uc fur the Government, and therefore he c afemplates imposing additional Customs D„ t ,.s to enable him to attain his [object, while putting forward the false pretence of desiring to encourage and protect local industries. That the Government mean to impose heavy additional taxation was made plain enough when Bir Julius said : —"The revenue -eiiuirements necessitated a high tariff', which therefore became of a protective character, whether or nut it was intended to be so. The reduced consumption of spirits made it necessary to look for other articles on which to charge Custom duty, and therefore as to actual duties, apart from theory, ho thought there need he very little difference of opinion between the advocates of the two systems.’' Itis plain, therefore, th it the Government .luting the coming s. ssion mean to propose heavy additional taxation in the shape of iiici. a,-ed Customs Duties. Should this pro.

no.-i I increase of taxation he of flu; same kind as that made dining the latt tess'ou of Parliament, then it behoves iho e-lonists and their i( pi inl i. ii l i i I'arli iment to k no)>aro lui mail mg ano >t >1!. 11 mllls and id lei mined te-is'ame la till- bill'll! tliii it- The niUliliolial t ,-.a11'.11 I aoposed hist session, and i. ], ■! d in tin 1 most i mj■ >llliit! manner fiy

i.’ai . ■.uu-i'l, w.,.-. "I i-.ueh a e-nai actor that it Vi 'll 1 d have largely iiieie.it’ed till) cost of ,ivii g to tin- nif.it majority of the people, and m ike ihe v.eges of llie wanking classes tar t; ss iu puicm-im.' power tlian tliey have Her keen since the e.-h-ny was founded. The tradesman, artisan, siaaii i armor and working man, would, under the proposed taxation, have been made to pay far more than they ever did before. Clothes, boots, drapery, millinery, and numerous articles of domestic use would all have beeu largely increased iu price. This great danger was averted because Parliament during last session rejected the proposals of the Government and tors to tatters their scheme of iu creased Customs 1 miles, Uut, if we ate to believe dir Juhne Vogel, the danger is by no means over yet. The rejected Protective Customs Tariff of last session i» to be brought forward once more, and the Government intend trying on again their former nefarious scheme of largely increasing the already heavy taxation borne by th>' people. In cue respect, there- : ap, the speech of Sir Julius Vogel oonlitlru the iudioatioujof some part of a policy, which is an increase of the burden borne by the people in the shape of heavy additions]

taxation. •• Fort w .rued is t- re-ioin I.” n ■ it tl>e lime has now o jllj-< for the re ; fin !■ te of tli- ■ ool.my to take sto ps to secure Ore defeat and rejection of the scheme of Ye;:- 1 ai- - i or c- !'i ipues. We oannot recognise tiie Might-.-' n. -essitv for any auditions being made to the existing heavy burden of taxation under which the colonists are now borne down almos‘ bey ml their power of endurance, By prudent and careful administration of the affairs of the c-d.-ny, judicious retrenchment, the expenditure of loans on such works as will piove r< productive in a reasonable space of time, the gradual development of the laient resources of the colony, it would he quite possible to work things round into a healthy condition without imposing any addition tl taxation. But Sir Julius Vogel does not in the least perceive this. He scouts the very idea of retrenchment, declares that the cost of the Civil Service cannot by any possibility be cut down, and adds that the adoption of “ thrift ” either on the part of the Govern-nn-ut or the colonists would be of no avail whatsoever in remedying the existing depression ; but on the contrary would rather intensify it. It is pretty clear from all this that, if' the colonists desire to avoid being saddled with additional heavy taxation, and at the same time wish to get out of their difficulties, they will utterly reject the schemes of Sir Julius Vogel and get finally rid ol their author as speedily as may be possible.