FREE TRADE!

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 635, 24 January 1872, Page 2

FREE TRADE!

To the Editor of the Evening Stae. Sir, —Under the above heading on tho 19th instant in the Evening Stab appears a letter from Mr. W. E. Sadler. Hi 3 letter treats the subject in a rather peculiar manner. I quite agree with him when he states "hecannot conceive how any one can stand to a nominal advocacy of so-called free trade whilst defending the Custom-house institution." H e also expresses surprise at some of my recently reported utterances, apparently insinuating such utterances are at variance with formerly expressed opinions. I advocate tha sj mß principles now which for years I have been advocating, namely, "Equalisation of taxation," " Opening up the country districts by roads," and every possible "fostering of agriculture," aa the " basis of a great country is its soil." I must leave it to Mr. W. E. Sadler to determine whether theso principles a<*rea best, according to his definition, with " Free Trade" or "Protection." I do not stop to enquire whether I am undor the banner of one or the other; all I know is the country interest of this province has undergone and is undergoing great suffering from the effects of political injustice. Hoiv can " free trade " be in existence in thi3 country, whan its main revenue i 3 obtained from fiscal taxation ? Free trade in my opinion mean 3 open ports for all icQDort3, being prepared either to compete with all the world in agriculture and manufactures, or take the world's produce and give them in return the natural proiuct3 of the country, which here are comprised in scoria stones, flax, gum, and timber. (Q-old cannot be reckoned, as it co3ts, up to the present, much more par ounce to get it than it realises.) "Free Trade" in the old country, as practically carried out, rnean3, after a few hundred years of incessant toil, thought, aad invention, England obtained a foremost position in art, science, manufactures, and agriculture. By degrees she felt competent to enter into competition with other nation?, so naturally opaned her port 3 to increase her own wealth- What i 3 our position ? A revenue must ba had for the Government of the country. It has been decided "customs duties " is the easiest and best way of obtaining it. The question now is, not whether this is the best mode of raising revenue, because it is a fact and practice,— eventually some other approved system may be adopted,—but at the present moment thero is no earthly hope of the system of " custom 3 ; duties" being abolished, for the simple reas son, nothing can be put in its place but a tax upon incomes and property, which is not likely to be done yet; consequently, I advocate that the burdens of our fiscal taxation should be borne equally by the different in» terests of the country, which is very unequally levied now. For instance, tradesmen such ag shoemakers, saddlers, tinmen, and others do not fear foreign competition, because a duty is levied on all articles imparted; and the farmers who have to buy the boots, the bar* ne3s, the bucket, the spade, &c , are the people who pay the duties. Upon farrnars 1 produce no duty is levied (that is, until lately enacted, a small duty on cereals). He has, in fact to compete with tho whole world ; is ife fair that he should be placed in so unequal a position? Also take into consideration that tradesmens' plant and tools do not absorb a very large capital, and he can at once produce and sell his handiwork; while the farmer mii3t fell trees, clear land, make his own roads, plough, sow, reap, and depend upon produce for sunshine and rain, he may expect in a few years to be able to produce something for the market. His capital and labor required is much more thin tradesmen require, and the return much longer to be waited for. Upon these grounds I asfc why should the farmer ba placed in this disadvantageous position, merely because his trade is a producer of food for th* people, this much upon the general question, Now, how are farmers situated in this province. For the period, say of the last 15 ' years, much land has been brought into oulfct* vation by the incessant toil and application af tho farmer and his family. This against almost insuperable difficulties. Broken country, want of roads, &c, had first to do the., wcrk of a navie, and road maker before hecould farm at all, and patiently box tho crush-' ing effects of the war ; they assisted manfully to develop the Thames gold-fields, in hopes of ' raising another market for their produoe, which has ha-i the effect of bringing up th 6 speculator to import from other proyinces,precluding the farmer from reaping any benefit ironi his outlay. Prioes obtained for agricultural produce is notoriously " ruin to farmers." This is no real benefit to the mining population, in fact I know well they would rather pay a fair price for their food which would insure tamers the means to get an honest living from their labors. The present provincial land and other regulations cau3e this. Auckland land requires oapital and labor to pro< duce grass. Other provinces abound in natural grasses, and is always ready for the plough without labour. Some provinces will not allow Auckland to send down cattle to them— prohibit their lauding; other provinces make charges upon every head of sheep received, while Auckland receives from any other provinces cattle and sheep freo of charge, or a nominal charge only on sheep. I contend, sir, colonial farmers are unjustly dealt with under the tariff law. Open all the port 3 of the different provinces to each other, so they can produce whatever they are best adapted for, or handicap each province fairly 5 if Auckland province is fairly weighted and honestly dealt with, tho country interest will fear no legitimate competition Mr. W. E. Sadler is not very complimentary to me in calling my wished for agricultural journal a white elephant; if he will pause aVd refer to the press for the last few yearfy and ask himself whether they tried agriculturally to bind the ' public, and whether I from tho general tone of the correspondence on country matters he doos nofc find soon miaconwption or ignorance, which would ' vb-0 better for the diffusion of sound infort Jiou a9 to the real position of country settlement; and which could be depended upon, from an organ devoted to the general country and ngricultural interest, and then candidly say am I very impertinent or very wrong; and, being desirous that correct information should be disseminated, be it from the text either of "Freo Trade," "Protection, or "Expediency." I am, &c, H. S, ANDBEW3.