The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1891. Inter-Colonial Trade

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 13, 30 July 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1891. Inter-Colonial Trade

A telegram from "Sydney informs us that the depression in the intercolonial shipping trade is causing great anxiety among the owners and in- ■ vestors of capital. Before the last , strike severe depression was felt, which the losses occasioned by these strikes still further accentuated, and there has been no improvement sinoe and the future prospects are not bright Companies are bitterly realising th.it the addition of more steamers to their fleets, with a view to obtaining a larger proportion of trade, has recoiled on themselves, there being no corresponding increase. Ever since each colony has been served with direct steamers, there has been a gradual falling off in the interchange of merchandise between one port and another. It has been suggested to formulate a scheme of an offensive and defensive alliance, in order to protect shareholders and investors against losses caused by individual companies competing in any trade oui.side their own, the idea being that, if any line is subjected to opposition, the alliance will make common cause against the opponent, deeming that such course is warranted by the present sacrifice of capital. Notwithstanding the dullness of trade, it is understood that efforts are being made to form a company to enter the New Zealaud Trade. It will be aeen that although these " owners and investors " are willing to go to any extreme to punish intruders in their waters, . yet, while uttering vengeance against sucn, they are about to form a company to euier the New Zealand trade. The opinion that the direct steamers to Euglaud have caused the stoppage of intercolonial trade is not a sound one. The real fact is that the prohibitive custou'B tariffs which now obtain ou the several products of the colonies, imposed by each one of them, have kiilen or checked this trade. Let those " peculiar people " who are commonly designated politicians, and who seem to make a mess of whatever they touch, be educated up to the knowledge that giving eueouragement to intercolonial Freetrade, or reciprocity, would be far more beneficial to that poition of the human race they are called upon to legislate for, than quarrelling over unnecessary and silly laddie Acts which are of no use to anybody.