CORRESPONDENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 31 July 1888, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible ior the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

FREETRADER AND LOOAL PRO

TECTIONISTS.

IO THE EDITOB,

Fir,— Mr D. Thomas complains that I have made use of his name m a most unwarrantable manner when I drag him Into a controversy whioh Le has not songht, I will give you an extract from the letter of Mr D. Thomaß* to whiob I referred: — "loan only attend t,o J.D., although at the same time I effirm tbat Freetrader's bold assertions ero as f ally inaccurate aa hia," Ia the face of that can Mr D. Thomas Bay that I have made an unwarrantable use of his name No, Mr D. Thomas. I have bean waling quietly for the last two months until you could "find tlmo " At the end of thai letter you tried to wriggle out of it b 7 saying you would not notice any ononymoua correspondence, and now m your present letter you try the same, and appear to be much nurpriaed at my presumption m drawing gou into a correapon dance at all. But I will give you another two months, and ohallengg you In that time to disprove any of my bold assertions contained In tbe letter to whioh you referred. In the meantime I will joßt give you one proof In favour of the truth of my concluding assertion : That by the advance of mechanical science m Freetrade countries (the only places where it doas advai»ce) Victoria's Protection In the woollen goods is again swamped, and they find that they will have to raise the duty for the third time, and In tha very line that, srlth their large and Bplendld. flocks, the Australasian Colonies ought to be able to compete m any market of the world.

There Is just another Item m Mr D. Thomas' letter tbat I will notice I never gave him oredit for knowing very much abont the subjeot, bnt I did not think he was bo entirely ignorant of it aa rot to know that under the old Tariff all farmers' implements — the line that I ana employed in— oame m duty free, and yet Mr David Tbomaß will rush into print to tell me to study up the Bubjeot, — Yours, etc.,

Peter Walker.