THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1881. A CLEVER PROPOSAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2178, 17 February 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1881. A CLEVER PROPOSAL.

The public will be carious to see how the proposals which Mr. Berry has apparently made to the New Zealand Government with reference to reciprocity in the admission of certain articles on either side, either free or at a lower rate of duty than at present, will be received by the Victorian Legislature. At first sight, it seems as if there was some abandoning by Mr. Berry of the principles he has so strenuously adopted, but a closer riew will speedily undeceive those who hope, for Victoria's sake, that the present suicidal policy is in some way of being modified. Indeed, the proposal of the Victorian Premier is but an insidious attempt to foster the cause of home manufactures at the cost of a neighbour. He has evidently begun to realise the fact, that the pampering of Victorian manufacturers at the expense of the remainder of the country, has resulted as everybody not blinded by the protection mania has all along known that it must. The population of Victoria is but limited, and the unhealthy forcing at present in vogue, has reached a certain very inconvenient stage. By the tariff the Victorian may indeed be forced to buy home made articles, but the price of labour and other causes makes the cost of production high, and any lowering of prices is more or less fatal to the manufacturers. Consequently, extended markets are growing to be a necessity, and Mr. Berry is evidently on the qui vive to open up such. No doubt when the idea first dawned upon' his mind that New Zealand was a country that might be manipulated with advantage, it was matter of anxious thought with Mr. Berry how its statesmen might be induced to swallow the bait. Of course he was acquainted with our fiscal policy and was aware that it was broadly based on free trade principles, but that revenue had to be raised for State purposes, and that consequently such was obtained by the imposition of those duties which were considered to interfere as little as possible with trade. At the same time he was aware that any concession proposed in favour of the agricultural interest would most probably bo favourably entertained, seeing that our main strength lay in the agricultural and pastoral lines, and that the former was at present depressed, by reason of a number of fortuitous circumstances. Hence a quid pro quo might, Mr Berry thought, be easily arranged. But it may fairly be asked, would the scheme prove of equal benefit, to New Zealand and Victoria. Would even our agriculturists benefit to the extent that might at first sight appear probable. One thing is very certain, that if import duties on certain articles are loworod, the revenue will be proportionately lowered, and the money to "keep the pot boiling" will have to be found somewhere. For Victoria is enterprising enough in its own peculiar way, and wo may be very certain that if certain " lines " can be placed profitably, thero will be very littlo chance for tho rest of the world in that direction,

and Victorian articles of these descriptions will flood the market. Not to mention the confusion that would result in the collecting of our customs revenue, it would, as a whole, be seriously diminished and the agriculturist would have to pay in some indirect way for the small advantage he could gain by being able to sell his oats in Tictoria.

But one is pretty certain, namoly, that Mr. Berry, if he carries his plan before Parliament, will have a rather rough time in front of him. He proposes, in point of fact, to make the Victorian farmer and brewer a Jonah who is to be cast overboard to lighten the ship rolling in tha trough of the sea. What these individuals may think of the matter can easily be imagined. Judging by what takes placo in New Zealand, the town mouse is not as friendly to the country mouse as he is represented to bo in tho fable. He does Hot invito his country cousin to share with him the benefits of an improved fiscal fare, but appears, on the one hand, to be rather pleased than otherwise when his friend is left out in the cold. The country mouse heartily reciprocates the feeling, and the Victorian farmer and manufacturer must belie the general run of things if either of them are at all prone to self-sacrifice for the benefit of the other. This Mr. Berry will probably find out in due course of time. The farmers and brewers will combine to defeat the arrangement with the utmost of their power, and unless unusual circumstances arose the Premier would have little chance of seeing his proposals pass into law.

Probably, however, Mr. Berry was never very serious in his offer. A good deal of vague talk has been indulged in in Sydney, and a general looseness of ideas may have crept over the various representatives. It was pleasant, no doubt, to stretch forth a friendly hand to the representative from New Zealand in a philosophical and Pickwickian sense. No harm, Mr. Berry would think, could possibly come of it. They were Arcades avibo —he and Mr. Dick— Ministers out on the spree—and what more natural that a little after dinner conversation should be enlivened by suggestions of a state of things which could only perhaps eventuate in another and better state of this world, when no conflicting interests had to be considered, and when the base need for money to meet national engagements was no longer the one prevailing care of statesmen. Both Mr. Berry and Mr. Dick were too glad to cast aside for a time the cares of office and revel in building cheerful castles in the air. But Mr. Berry tho festivo representative, and Mr. Berry the harrassed leader of a bare majority, are two very different persons. A glance over the serried lines of the Opposition will bring the Victorian Premier back to tho necessities of his position.