The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 24 1874,

Evening Star, Issue 3459, 24 March 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 24 1874,

We do not think anyone need be surprised at the freaks of such a Provincial Council as that of Taranaki. Composed of men, some of whom who have on previous occasions shewn that they are capable of doing very queer things in the way of making public arrangements subservient to private interest, it- would be. as . surprising as gratifying to the rest of the Colony should anything like enlightened, policy, have marked their proceedings. The suicidal Act which has passed, imposing a tax of ten pounds upon every person commencing business in the Province, is • a proof of the utter incompetence of the men to manage public affairs; although really it only differs in degree and in mode, of application from the protective system, through being a direct instead of ah indirect restriction upon trade. Were it necessary to trace the analogy, it could be easily shown to any, but to those who wilfully blind tbeni* s,elyes to the soundest deductions that protection, as it is called, is,as indefensible as a : tax upon commencing business, and far more detrimental in its effects. While, therefore, by the adoption of: a system,; long since exploded, but which, once prevailed in every borough at Horae, the Council, of : Taranaki has made the protective system ridiculous through the absurdity of their Ordinance, those only have' the right to . condemn it, who < are themselves free frojn the taint.,, Our morning contemporary, tlies ‘ Daily 1 Times,’ 'is mistaken in Characterising tlie Ordinance as one of the Y most arbitrary measures ever passed. ” It is not so arbitrary as any measure for raising the price of goods for the benefit of a particular class of tradesmen under; the pretence of levying revenue duties; and, moreover, the money has the advantage of going direct to the treasury and being done with, instead of forming a permanent and ever oppressive tax, not theless unjustbecause it is paid unconsciously in driblets. Yet there are thousands who advocate the one who will condemn,the other. Kpr is it without precedent in history— riot very remote neither—but of this we need not expect our contemporary to be aware. The borough system of England, altered since the passing cif the first Reform Bill, .sanctioned precisely similar restrictions upon trade. In some of the trading ports the privilege of comiriericing business could only be obtained ,by payment ..of sums graduated generally according to the nature of the undertaking. Madox, in his Firma, Burgi , says : —“They were deemed townsmen who had a settled dwelling in the town, who merchandised there; who were of the bans or guild, who were in lot and scot with the townsmen, and who used and enjoyed the liberties and free customs of the town.” “ The municipal body, in short,” says another writer, “ consisted of the resident and trading inhabitants, sharing in the payment of the local taxes and the performance of the local duties.” . . . “ The title by purchase was a necessary condition for the admission of an . individual pi’eviously unconnected with that particular community; in those days when such; admission conferred peculiar advantages of trading.” Prior to the passing of the Corporation* .Reform Act many of the boroughs, convinced of the advantage of giving every facility to trade, had allowed some of their privileges to fall into disuse; and no restriction was placed, either by payment or otherwise, upon persons beginning business. It is plain, therefore, that the Ordinance of Taranaki, although it has precedent to point to, is retrogressive in its character; and, moreover, has not the, excuse that could be put forward in defence of the borough system, that proved so effective a barrier to the encroachments upon, English freedom by the feudal lords and sovereigns. Iri fact, it is diametrically opposed to the interests of the Colony,' as it :tends directly to interfere with the Government scheme of immigration. "\Vlule other Provinces are vying which shall give the most liberal encouragement to population by contriving how to' render settlement comfortable, Taranaki puts forward an absurd barrier—not very heavy iri amount, it is true—but still sufficient to repel small tradesmen beginning business in a district where they have only a very remote chance of making a fortune. The silly Councillors fancy by that means they are keeping away competition,,.while really they are excluding customers. As the Ordinance is contrary to common sense, their own and the Colony’s interest, most probably it will be disallowed.