MR BERRY ON VICTORIA'S PROGRESS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5885, 22 April 1886, Page 2

MR BERRY ON VICTORIA'S PROGRESS.

m During his short stay in Adelaide, en route for England, Mr Graham Berry gave his opinions upon Victorian progress and other topics. He remarked that the present prosperity of Victoria was placed on a substantial foundation. With regard to the progress being made, he said that, although there had been speculation in land, this had been followed by building speculation. The progress waa in a great measure due to the past policy of the Government, whioh had fought out political differences and arrived at a period when it worked unitedly for the best interests of the colony. He considered that Victoria's land and fiscal laws were at the bottom of its prosperity. In addition to its agricultural interests it bad manufacturing industries, whioh made Melbourne a sort of entrepdt for Australia;. He had not modified his views on Protection in any way, nor did he consider the treaty with Tasmania Freetrade between the colonies and Proteotion against the rest of the world, as in Amerioa. The present Victorian Government, he believed, were in- favour of- intercolonial Freetrade, but that did not mean muchs The opposition against the Taamanian treaty came from' the farmers, and he believed that ignorance was at the bottom of it. Things could be made in Melbourne that could not be made elsewhere in Australia, and that city was becoming the manu> factoring centre of Australasia. New South Wales objeoted to federation except on the basis of Freetrade. He believed its people would give their earnest consent if the question were put them by a few earnest men. A Federal Council was the first step that should be taken towards federation. It had enabled them to take aotion with regard to many important questions. United aotion should be taken with regard to the payment towards the New Guinea protectorate. Victoria was the smallest of the colonies, and did not expect to be always at the head ; but he believed the political views of Victoria were in advance of those of the other colonies; As the protection of one colony against ' others would be attended with undesirable results, he advocated intercolonial Freetradet As soon as any other colony offered Viotoria equal terms she would be willing to alter her laws to meet suoh a movement. The border treaties which had existed between Viotoria and New South Wales and South Australia had been abrogated by New South Wales and South Australia, and not by Viotoria, who was willing to reciprocated to the extent the other colonies reciprocated, and as pioof of this he oited the Tasmanian Treaty.