The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 172, 28 July 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDA Y, JULY 28, 1870.

For various reasons it is well that Protection.lias beeivlefb an open question iv the fiscal policy of the Ministry". ~^ny attempt to force its consideration or adoption- on the Hotiae might.have led to'injurious results. The proposals for immigration and public works were sufficiently grand to claim undivided attention, and tlie introduction of a subject that must lead to divided opinions, and earnest discussion, might have indefinitely postponed the initiation of a movement fraught with incalculable advantages to the colony. But the great colonization scheme being fairly launched, the question of protection to native industries, and its absolute necessity in young and rising communities, will require but a little agitation to arrest the attention of tbe public. Moreover, for the sake of the question itself we rejoice that it is remitted to the constituencies, as we cordially believe the anticipations of the Treasurer will be realised when he says that " the country at the new elections will signify its approval." Perhaps there is no subject on which more unreasoning cant is indulged than on that of Free Trade. Because 'England, made great by protective tariffs, in. due time cast aside the swaddling bands of her childhood, all her infant children forsooth must eschew baby linen. And when we speak of the beneficial uses of longclothes, we are supposed to be incapable of appreciating the convenience and comeliness of frockcoats and pantaloons. And because the United States of America, having developed all their resources by a stringent, almost prohibitory protection tariff, now feel its restraints galling ; and being at length" able to compete successfully against fee- ;; are""struggling to ' throw off the restraints of their early years, and to invite the commerce of the world to their ports made free. Young New Zealand, forsooth, without one of her resources properly developed, or a single manufacture or iudustry fairly established, must also ape the full-grown empire, and give free ports to the commerce of the world. It is astonishing to see the hold which traditionary ideas have on the mind, and the difficulty which people brought up in a free-trading country, amid the associations connected with the Corn Law struggles, and the triumph of unrestricted commerce, find in looking fairly at the altered circumstances around them in a new country. It matters not that common sense tells us our yoting industries are no match for the perfect machinery and the developed resources of older communities ; it matters not that we have neither the means for experimenting, nor the knowledge of the conditions of success, in our new untried circumstances ; it matters not that tho giant intellects of political economy tell us that temporary protection is advisable in our case, free traders they were born and free traders they will die. It is nothing that all the money brought into circulation, the very lifebloodofthe country, is habitually drained away to nourish distant communities, in the purchase of articles which, with a little fostering, we could soon produce from our own midst; it is nothing that our young people are growing up in idleness without any trade to which we can apprentice them ; ib is nothing that our wool is sent away round the world and returned in manufactured clothing, while the hands of hundreds of our fellow colonists, with skill to do the work, are hanging listless by their sides. All this is not deserving of a thought, and should be nobly offered in sacrifice at the shrine of Free Trade. England has free trade, and England is great ; New Zealand should have free trade, and New Zealand will be great. "Who would take example from a little colony like Victoria ? It is true she developed her manufactures and] her other resources by protective tariffs, and is now preparing to open her ports and defy. the world; but why, it is said, should we begin, like her, with the A B C's of commercial losses ? England is not learning A B C: —we should be like England. Milk becometh babes ; but we don't like milk, its too sloppy; we must have strong meat like men.

Thank Providence general elections are approaching, when political ideas are quickened into life. Agitation will open the eyes of the community to this vital question of young.communities. The result connot be doubted; and with the noble scheme of colonization, and a thoroughly stringent protective policy, New Zealand will make giant strides towards her predestined position as the Q-reat Britain of the Southern Seas.

TELEGRAPH TO THE THAMES. The opening of telegraph communication triih the Thames yesterday evening will be li-.iled with general satisfaction. • As raanj will'lk: availing themselves of this new i xtcn-ion who have not been much in the hibifr. of telegraphing, it may not 1 c amiss to give a few items of inforniation on the subject. The charge for a message totae TharueSj as to all o'her parts of Few" Zealand when communication is completed, is for ten words a shvllirtg, with sixpence additional for each additional five words or fraction of five words. The address is included in the words counted, but not the signature of the sender. The office hours are from b to 5 daily, and from 10 to 10.30, and from 5 to 5.30 on. Sundays. There are no repealing stations or Lreaks on the line, so that the message will be at the Thames instantaneously. The charges must be prepaid, as a rule ; well-known firms and persons may be permitted to send a telegram, with the word " collect," to be paid on receipt. There is no charge for delivery within a mile of the Thames station ; messages for a greater distance will be charged for horse hire additional. There can be no doubt that great public convenience will arise from the new line ; pity is that it was not in existence during the scrip mania; but the full benefit of telegraphy will not be known till we are connected by wire with the Southern portions of the colony. All the other provinces can now speak with the station on the shore of Lake Taupo, in this province. The line between that and Tauranga is in course of being erected, and, being already working from that port to Maketu, is expected to be completed in the course of two or three months. For the intervening gap separating the Southern lines from Auckland, it is undecided whether to connect the Lake with Cambridge, or Tauranga with the Thames. No steps have yet been taken regarding either route, the dark cloud of native difficulty hanging over each ; so that, in reality, nothing definite can be said as to the time when telegraphic communication with the Southern provinces may bo expected.