A FREE PORT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1627, 22 October 1873, Page 2

A FREE PORT.

[to the editor.]

Sir— l am very pleased that the Borough Council have at last decided on doing a very wise thing, namely, to ascertains if their late legislation on tonnage and wharfage dues be correct. As it will save importers the annoyance of having jto confront that worthy body in- a courtjof law. ■ I have always had the strongest faith in the honesty of those gentlemen, but am now beginning to feel a ray of hope that I have been somewhat mistaken in their mental calibre, for the last act in determining to obtain the advice of the Attorney-General on what they have so hastily done, shows an amount of foresight that I scarcely expected- And I (perhaps I am too sanguine) would not now be surprised if they reconsidered , the whole question, because I regard this awakening as exceedingly hopeful. Would, l not be . proud of being a citizen of Greymouth if its Borough Council took the initiative in free ports in New Zealand by throwing open their own to all ships and .shipping, free of charge. Would I not then. teach my children to revere the memory of those gentlemen, whose Dames would be emblazoned in the history of our country as the foremost in the ranks of its benefactors. And now is the opportunity, ere the honor be snatched from them by some other body. Let them imagine the halo of glory associated with the freedom of trade, possessing a power of: attraction, although undefinable, is nevertheless patent to the most cursory observer. Who by the most sagacious foresight, or the strictest logical deductions, could have discovered- thas' there would have such general prosperity arid great rise in the price of land in England as the result of the repeal of the corn law and the general freedom of trade. And who caa calculate the increase in the value of property and general prosperity of this district by making ours a free port. That the increase of population and gominerce attracted by our flag of freedom would more than compensate our property-holders for any additional rates is unquestionable. Commerce, connected, is evidently one of those sensitive plants < which can only flourish and put forth its full beauty in Che harbor of freedom. Tax it, and its glory wanes ; and the departure of that, glory is in proportion to che amount of taxes imposed. Shipping is our safety-valve. On the trade of our port the general prosperity >f our people, advancement of the'district, and value of property depends. We lave our;, millions of tons of Coal, our -.housands of acres of auriferous country, md rich veins of the precious metal cunning through hills, with our noble t'orest of valuable timber; And will the Borough Council of Greymouth present my obstacle to the. export of this coal and cimber, and the import of supplies, for our teeming thousands of hard-handed and

honest-hearted laborers. No, Sir, I have sufficient confidence in the honesty and intelligence of the Borough Councillors of Greymonth to feel satisfied that when they fully awake, they will see the advantages of adopting my suggestions, and then without delay will declare Greymouth a free port. I am, &c , Charles Woolcook.