THE CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1624, 1 August 1887, Page 2

THE CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.

TO THE BWTOB. Sib,— Our farmerß would do well to ponder over the significant speech wh'ch has just been made by Lord Salisbury at Norwich. The telegram informs us that his T.ordßhip eaid " He did not admit that freetrade was wrong, but the British system was . full of anomalies wbioh reqnirad to be dealt witb. The farmers were asking that duties be charged on •mported produce. He believed it was necessary for the country to retrace its steps and mate fiscal alterations for the benefit of the growers." Now, what do those pregnant words mean so far as they affect New Zealand 1 They mean that the British Government, with the object of raißinj! agriculture m the United Kingdom from its present condition, is contemplating the imposition of protective duties upon our frozen mutton, and probably upon our xvJteat a lso. And should the Imperial Parliament be asked to change its fiscal policy m this direction, the pro poaal would assuredly receive substantial support from the British manfacturera, who naturally feel sore at the protective duties which are levied upon their goods by Canada and Victoria. Is it wise on our part— can we indeed afford — to enter un.m a system of Protective Customs duties whioh is calculated to provoke retaliation by the Mother Oountry ? The more we reflect upon the proposed system of Protection, the more clearly does it appear that the experiment would be made chiefly at the expense of our farmers.— l am, etc., , Ohas. W. Pubnbll.