GOVERNOR ROBINSON ON FREE TRADE.

Evening Star, Issue 3490, 30 April 1874, Page 3

GOVERNOR ROBINSON ON FREE TRADE.

Hia Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New South Wales, at the Hunter River Agricultural meeting on the 2nd inst. said :—I believe there never was a time when the prospects of the Colony were more bright than they are at this moment. After years of depression nearly all the great producing interests are flourishing, and, as far as it is possible to forecast the future, there would now seem to be an era of great prosperity in store fur New South Wales. Without intruding upon the forbidden ground of politics, perhaps I may be permitted to observe that I think thepiesent Government fully realize the responsibility which is entailed on them by the full sea upon which they find themselves afloat, and they feelt© continue the quotation—that they must take the current when it serves, or lose their ventures (Cheers.) Perhaps I may say also that in endeavoring, as they are doing, to loosen every band wnich fetters industry and which' hampers commerce, they are, in my opinion, pursuing a policy which is in unison with the spirit of the age, and which commends itself to the intelligence of the country.—(Cheers.) Its effect will assuredly be to make New South Wales one of the cheapest and most desirable places in the world for the working man to live in. Population will thus be attracted to our shores; and- our Customs’ revenue, being raised upon sound principles, will be elastic and will increase with the growth of the population, so that without additional taxation the hands and the funds will be forthcoming wbi«h are indispensable for the development of the. resources of this magnificent country. Under such a policy, too, bydney with its noble harbor, and Newcastle with its unlimited supplies of cheap coal, must become vast emporiums of commerce from whence a great entrepot trade will be carried on, the ramifications of which will extend north, and south as far as Port Darwin and Tasman’s Head, and eastward throughoat the islands of the South Pacific. Nor do we' selfishly look here to retain, any exclusive monopoly of auch, advantages.* We recognize, L believe, the great, truth that the more any country or Colony is rich and prosperous, the mure it contributes to the wealth and prosperity of others. For our own sakea, therefore, we hope that the sister Colonies will unite with us in a policy of commercial freedom, and advance with us hand in band, and step by step, upon our onward progress. For my part, I mny say that I look forward with the greatest continence to increased facilities of communication between these Colonies as a practical solution for many of the differences and difficulties which at present appear to be insuperable. With an uniform tariff—which must come sooner or later—and railway trains running daily between Sydney and Melbourne on one side, and Newcastle and Brisbane on the other, Border difficulties and all petty parochial jealousies and rivalries will melt away, and the inhabitants of every part of this vast continent will soon •be so closely united by the bonds of mutual Interest and reciprocal good-will, that they will advance by a few natural and easy steps first to a Customs union, and eventually to complete Aufctrdlian confederation.—(Loud cheers.) '