Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 68, 14 September 1894, Page 2

Correspondence.

— ♦ PROTECTION. TO THE liDITOII OF THE STAR. Sir,— ln a recent issue of the Siar I read that the Government (through the Colonial Treasurer) proposed to impose a duty on Australian wheat and flour, if this had been carried out it would have turned the present question of Federation into ridicule, and the postponement indefinitely. Al though the production of grain in this colony seems to have reached almost the limit of a payable point, yet I believe it would be found in the long run that nothing would be gained t>y the attempt to prohibit Australian products, as Australians would no doubt take the first opportunity to retaliate upon imports from New Zealand, either in regard to grain, hams and bacon, butter, &c. I have mentioned grain in the list because it must be born in mind that Australia has had a succession of unusually moist seasons over a very wide aroa, favouring grain production, but a return of prevailing dry seasons will no doubt eventuate, when she would depend upou this country to supply a deficiency in various products. My opinion is that caution is required, and the interests of the farmers studied in regard to anything approaching to freetrade with the United States. I look upon the introduction of free wool in that country as partly a sop to divert a large portion of the trade which in duty bound should continue to flow from this colony to England, aB no doubt that in the return trip of the wool vessels they would be loaded with American cheap products to the injury of tb.fi above trade, also injuring local products and industry in this colony. The American, by the. curse of race : admixture as the chief cause, added • too and aggravated by a profuse use of machinery, has puzzled the world in regard to the beneficent policy of | freetrade, and while the curse of pro- [ tection has rendered a number of articles dear to the masses (especially those least able to bear burdens), , America is in a position to overwhelm , other countries with cheap surplus products raised by cheap labour through the above causes. I would look upon absolute free trade, unless for revenue purposes, with any country under the sun (excepting the United States) as a trade in which this country would gain much more than she would lose. The United States, it may be said, rules the world at present in regard to surplus wheat supply, keeping prices at a minimum and will do so for an indefinite period, and with a free return cargo. I consider that the States could keep the price of wheat in this colony at between 1 two and three shillings per bushel and i perhaps even below those prices with i prices of flour in proportion. The fori going is a price of grain that would never , pay our farmers year by year to compete with, unless a reduction took place in allround wages of farm hands ; wages > which are already paid necessarily at a very low rate, in fact it would prove to i be a step that would tend to lower the ; .standard of life of a British community down to the low standard of the Asiatic and African races. In conclusion I would like to see some criticism on the subject from farmers, working men, or others ' through the columns of the Stab, i I am., etc, A Colonist. Feilding, September 12th, 1894.