FAIR TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1446, 8 October 1881, Page 4

FAIR TRADE.

♦ A National Fair Trade League, as it cal's itself, (says an English contemporary), has lately been established in London, with head ofhees in Cockspurstrcet, for the purpose of piomotmg "fair trade " with other countiie.s. The mam purpose of its foundeis is to endeavoiu to promote commerce between England and hei Colonies by giuiig to the latter special advantages winch aie withheld from foreign countiies tli.it lefuse to adir.it English goods to their markets e\cupt under heavy duties There can be little doubt that the idea is rapidly extending and taking film hold upon all classes of Englishmen that, however, the case may stand with uniwisal Free Trade, it ought to bo an object •among patriotic Englishmen to try to secure Free Trade throughout the limits and extent of Biitain's vast empiic. Our Colonies and dependencies aie of all temperatuies and climate^, and pioduce goods and the raw materials of manufactures ol every sort and description. Already, they are our laigest and best customers, but tlicy might become yet more closely bound to us by the ties of mutual material interest'). One secret of the prosperity of the United States is the fact that — whatever tarifts it imposes on foreign manufacturers' goods — Free Trade prevails throughout the vast expanse of the Union. It should be the same wit the British Emprre ; and the result is worth paying for, even apait from the material benefits it would confer upon both the Mother Country and her offspring- If foreign States put heavy duties on British goods sicking entrance their niarkets,itmightbeqmte worth while for England to retaliato by laying duties on foieign goods entering our markets, but exempting from the rule all our Colonicp and dependencies These latter would thereby have an advantage in trading with us. which would couduco to the giowth and extension of business between the Mother Country and all her branches and dependent's, bo far ;is the Kair Trade Lcagruo stiives to biing this .state of things about ils efforts mo worthy of all praise, and deerves to be crowned with all success. May it prove to bo so.

Josh Billinus on Cats —I have stud(lycil cats clussly for ycai-s, and h.iv found them adiktod tew a wild state. They liaiut got afTccbhiui nor vaituu ot einiy kind ; tha will skratch their best fiiiuidf-, and won't kotsh mice unless tha aie huugiy. It ha/, bin sed tliat th.i aic good to make up iuto sausages , but this is a grate mistake. I h.iv been (old by a &aas<ige maker tha don't compjio with clogs. There is one thiug 1 Bmtin, tha aie very anxious tew live. You may turn one inside out, and hang up by the tail, and a/ boon az you aic ought ov Mght he will manage to turn a back son.eiset and cum round awl lite in afu days- It is vciy hard work to 100/e a eat. If one gets carried oph in a bag bi mistake a grate ways into the kuntry, tha won't t>ta lost onla a short time, but soon appear tew make the family happy with their presence. Old maids are very fond of cats, for the reason, I suppose, that cats never marry if tha have ever &o good a chance. There iz one thing about cats I don't like ; if you step on their tails by aeksident that git mad rite oph, and make a great fuss about it. Theie is anuther thing about them which makes them a good investment for poor folks. A pair of cats will yield each year, without any outlay, something like eight hundred per cent. It is a very singular fact that cats don't like a mill-pond ; I never knu one tew git drowned bi acksident. Tba luv cream, but it seems to be again their relid gin few tetch soap. Cats and dogs have never been able tew agree on the main question : that both seem to want the affirmotifr" side tew ous. I think if I could have my way, there wouldn't bo enny more cats born, unless tha could show a certificate ov good moral karakter. There iz one thing more about cats which seems tew be all affeektashun, and that its making such a devilish noi°e under a feller's window o' nights, and tha call it musik. If I was tn bay mi choice between a cat and a striped snake, I would take the snake, bekauae I could get rid of the snake by letting him go. There ain't no sartin way to kill a cat ; if you get one worked up into sassago, an' you think you are all right, jist as likeli as no that will cum to and take off a whole lot; of good sassagea with them, These are mi views about cats, rather hastily hove together, and if I am' sed enuf agin them, it is only because Hack theinformashun.