The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 429, 8 July 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than theswoßD

TitEannual financial statementhrongh t up by the Colonial Treasurer, the hon. Julius Vogel, in the House ot Representatives, on the 28th nit., is pretty sufficient evidence that our Member

for Goldfields is at the head of financiers in New Zealand, and what is more, he really understands what he is about. “ Taking the budget as a whole, it must be considered as satisfactory. Many of the schemes laid down and alterations proposed in the Tariff are certainly great innovations of established customs, and at first sight may appear difficult of realisation, but after due consideration of the subject we see no very great obstacles that will prevent the hon. the Colonial Treasurer giving effect to the tonst material portions of his budget. The Tariff, as a matter of course, most immediately affects us, and taking increased, reduced, and abolished duties collectively, both protectionists and freetraders need not be dissatisfied. To foster Native industry in a newly-settled country protective duties are essentially necessary upon such at tides as can be locally produced. It may appear bad policy in the eyes of political ‘economists to impose duties in any shape, especially upon imports, upon the grounds that freight and charges connected with shipment is sufficient protection in itself to place the colonial producer or manufacturer upon an equal footing with the foreign exporter, but such is not the case. Old established countries, by their perfect machinery and division of labor, can undersell iiew ones even in the face of high protective duties. Free-trade loving Victoria has been compelled to acknowledge this, and to give encouragement to her manufacturers and save her agriculturists from ruin, has found it necessary to impose protective duties. The increase of duty’upon such articles as bacon and hams, butter, cheese, jams, and preserved meats comes therefore opportune, and will largely assist the agricultural interests. An import duty of Is. per hundred pounds upon wheat and flour will still further protect our farmers against foreign competition, and if agriculture does not pay with this protection it had better be discontinued. The increase of 6d. per hundredweight on rice is uncalled for, and as this article is so largely consumed by the Chinese, whose presence amongusissodesirable, it would have been far better to have removed it altogether. The increase upon soap, timber, cordage, and leather ought to consideiably assist manufacturers of these articles, and without necessitating any increase ot prices to the public. 2s. per cubic foot extra upon rugs and blankets will fall heavy upcn the laboring population, more particularly miners, and we really think this measure unnecessary. Our woollen manufactories are not sufficiently advanced to supply us with thoses article for some years to come. It may be a crochet of the Treasurer’s to encourage woollen manufactories ; but it is bad policy to do this at such a considerable expense to the country. A reduction of Is. per hundredweight upon sugar will be acceptable to large consumers : the general public will not be benefited, as the reduction will be pocketed by the storekeepers. The total abolition of duty upon fencing wire, nails, grates, hollow-ware, axles, and other ironwork used by agriculturists and manufacturers is a wise step, and will considerably assist the productive powers of the colony. The duty upon wine in bottle it is proposed to increase by Is. per gallon, making it 4s. In the case of Australian wines this will be compensated for by a bonus of 2s. per gallon ; but we should like to have seen this duty totally repealed. With respect to Australian wines, the consumption of which it is most desirable to foster, not so much as a matter of public health, but from the mere tact of assisting the operations of the Australian wine-grower. We are at the same time opening up new markets for such articles of our produce as Australia cannot grow for itself, and ■which might be exchanged for wine. It will also be considerably to our advantage to improve our commercial relations with Australia, and the more goods we are able to take from those colonies the more will they be able to take from us. Australia should be to us what the South of France, Spain, and Portugal are to Great Britain, and

vice versa. The Honorable Treasurer’s proposal to expend 400,000/. upon roads in the North Island, and a similar amount upo i railways in the South Island 200,000/. for water supply to the goldfields, 60,000/. for extension of telegraphic communication, together With 500,000/. upon immigration, are

magnificent schemes, and, if we are only able to borrow sufficient money to carry them out, the colony will most assmedly have no cause to regret that the hon. Julius Vogel filled the office of Treasurer, That immigration should be a Colonial movement instead of a Provincial one is highly desirable. Agents in this case Will not be required to magnify the advantages of one part of the colony to the disadvantages of the other, as would be the case were immigration a Provincial institution. We shall be able to obtain a better class of immigrants, and the Colonial Agent will be able to despatch hi« selections to those parts of the colony best suited to their several capabilities.