THE AUSTRALIAN POLICY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 January 1901, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN POLICY.

A Protective Tariff Foreshadowed

HY ELECTRIC TELEGRAM/ —COPYRIGHT?"

(per press association.)

Sydney, January 17. An enthusiastic reception was accorded to tho Hon Mr Barton at Maitland. A large audience assembled to hear him unfold the Federal policy. He said tbc ministry was not a one-man Ministry, nor were they men with a shibboleth. The Ministry did not include all the men that one would have desired, but there were only seven portfolios. It was not a fact that any pressure had been exercised on any members for inclusion. It was desirable that tho Federal Parliament should be master in its own house. Early steps would be taken to select the capital site for the Commonwealth. An Old Ago Pension Bill would bo introduced as soon as tho financial situation was clear enough to provide the necessary funds.

The wish of the Ministry was cheaper ) postage, telegrams and cables. It was absolutely necessary to leave the field of direct taxation to the States. There must be no direct taxation by tho Commonwealth unless in a great national emergency, and not even then if it could be avoided. He made this declaration in view of the statements by so-called revenue tariffists that they were threatened with £700,000 of Commonwealth direct taxation, as well as customs. This meant that it must be a high tariff, however framed. Free trade was clearly impracticable' The policy of the Ministry was to obtain revenue without the destruction of industries. The tariff must be sueh as to maintain employment, not ruin it —a business tariff which would yield the sums needed without discouraging production. Ho pointed out that tho unrestricted competition in Australia would tax the full strength of tho industries without the unrestricted competition of the world. No one tariff of the six States nowin force could claim to exclude its fellows. Tho highest duties were not to be adopted, because they were the lowest each would have to run tho gauntlet of criticism and justify itself. By this means he hoped that the present business man’s tariff •would be a practical working tariff—a really Federal tariff, and so avoid tho disaster, suffering and bitterness of antagonism. The first tariff ought to bo considerate and preservative of existing production and liberal in attitude towards those engaged in production—an Australian tariff for the Australian nation. Ho would be happy to adopt preferential treatment of British goods were reciprocity possible. Amongst the I measures there would bo one dealing with the settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond any one State. They would accept adult suffrage for the Commonwealth. Dealing with that colored labor question, he said that their efforts would lie in tho direction of a white Australia.