The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3224, 20 June 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1873.

The English journals are discussing the advantages derivable by the Australasian colonies from a Customs’ federation ; the power to form which is now conceded to them by the Imperial Legislature. We have so frequently had this question brought into notice, that most persons have formed some vague notion of undefinable benefits likely to accrue, when such an union is formed. With some the idea is connected with the abolition of all Customs* duties on goods the produce of the Colonies; others only look to the doing away with protective tariffs, and thus placing each Colony on terms of reciprocity in regard to every other, reserving the right to levy protective duties on goods the produce of countries outside the privileged boundary. This scheme assumed the shape of an uniform tariff of import duties on all goods imported into the federation, and a transmission of the amount of duty to the Colony in which they were finally consumed. At present ,we see no likelihood of any arrangement being arrived at. Victoria and New South Wales have exhibited jealousy towards each other,

that precludes all possibility of immediate agreement ; and years must elapse before the requirements of commerce press so heavily as to lead to the sinking of all minor considerations in an effort to secure a common good. The Australian Colonies have just now arrived at the combative stage, in which each endeavors to secure a benefit that will bo ultimately lightly esteemed in comparison with the larger interests requiring attention. There are other impediments in the way of a federation. South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales have not such wide climatic differences as to lead to an interchange of productions for mutual benefit. Their raw products are too much alike. To a certain extent, therefore, their intercolonial trade is circumscribed. Each of the three endeavors to do without the other in corn, wine, and agricultural produce. New South Wales has the advantage in its fields of excellent coal ; so that eventually, should the efforts of Victoria to discover a payable field prove abortive, when, in the natural evolution of industry, manufactures have taken root in New South Wales to such an extent as to render exportation profitable, the traffic between the two Colonies will become greater. Through some unaccountable reason, Victoria has taken the lead even in this respect, and the protective policy of the last few years seems to have taken so deep root in the popular creed, that it may prove an impediment in the way of federation not very easily got over. Queensland and New Zealand, in all probability, would benefit the most widely from a Zollverein. The Northern Colony with its tropical climate seems likely in a short time to compete with Mauritius in supplying the Southern Colonies with sugar, and it is by no means certain that other articles of large consumption will not be grown extensively there; while New Zealand, with its temperate climate and productive soil, has seldom a failing crop of cereals or potatoes, and is able to supply in abundance the deficiencies consequent upon the failing crops resulting from the arid droughts of the Australian Continent. Our exports of agricultural produce to those Colonies sufficiently proves the increasing importance of New

Zealand to them. There are other prospective advantages that iSew Zealand possesses. Besides the extensive seabord which facilitates intercommunication, there are numerous fine ports to which produce will be cheaply conveyed when railways connect the interior with them. In addition, therefore, to abundant crops, they can be cheaply conveyed to a market, and when a little enterprise has opened up our coalmines, they too will be the means of adding almost inimitably to our intercourse with Victoria. In this estimate of probabilities, it must not be overlooked that the temporate climate of this Colony is highly favorable to sustained labor. Even in Victoria, neither mentally nor physically, can men do the same amount of work that can be got through with ease here; and therefore it may be fairly expected that at no distant period, with coal, iron, and minerals in abundance, New Zealand will take the lead in manufacturing industry. We believe that we are not overstating what may reasonably be anticipated if the Colony does itself justice, and opens the way for a healthy development of its resources. Under these circumstances, there can be no doubt, in the long run, Queensland and New Zealand would be tfie greatest gainers by a Customs Union, although, like all other arrangements tending to freedom of interchange, all the countries in the federation would benefit. We believe that so great would the advantages prove, that eventually the idea of exclusion would be abandoned as one of those delusions by which men seek to achieve victories over natural laws. For a nation to seek to acquire riches by shutting out trade, is like trying to become wealthy by discovering the philosopher’s stone. Many unsuspected important results may be developed, tending to show the folly of the system;

but the ultimatum will be the proof of the fact that the surest way to individual and national wealth is to let trade with all the world be free.