Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1117, 11 September 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

At a time when several of our neighboring colonies ate striving after a veci procity scheme or treaty, whereby the produce of each may be admitted to the other* free of duty, arid thu* to mutually benefit each other, Victoria has taken the retrograde step of imposing a practically prohibitory duty upon the manufactures and produce of its neighbors. Its late Ministry initiated the policy of protecting their own producers against the competition of their neighbors— particularly of Tasmania—and, by the imposition of heavy duties upon the goods regularly imported fiom Ho. bart Town, completely paralysed the trade. The new Ministry have, however, gone even further in that direction than the old one, and they have imposed duties on almost every article of Tasnmnian produce, which will effectually exclude them from the Victorian market. During the discussion of the Colonial Treasurer's proposals in the Victorian Parliament, it was remarked that nearly all the jam* used in Victoria were imported from Hob art Town and Launceston; yet, a duty of 2d per lb. was imposed upon that commodity. This being equal to about 40 per cent, on their value, will, of course, close the market against them, for it would raise the to a price that consumers would not be willing to pay. Bottled and dried fruits, flour, oatmeal, potatoes, onions, timber, bacon, hams, biscuits, butter, and cheese are amongst the articles which the Victorian (Government Lave thus taxed, and, in effect, closed their ports to, so far as the neighboring colonies are concerned : and the duties are placed so high that nothing shoit of this could be intended, as it is absurd to expect to derive revenue from such excessive lates of duty.

The natural effect of this system is to cause the neighboring colonies, whose interests are prejudiced by so narrowminded a policy, to adopt a similar one by way of retaliation —a foolish course, no doubt, for the fact of a neighbor cutting himself off from their markets, and so inflicting an injury on himself, can be no good reason for their injuring themselves in the same way. Still such is the ease : New South Wales on the one hand, and. Tasmania on the other, iii what they please to consider " selfdefence," will tax Victorian produce, and the day of a free interchange of commodities for mutual benefit is once more postponed for an indefinite period. In the nature of things, this policy must work its own cure. Consumers will not tamely s.qhmit to the deprivation of accustomed article*? of consumption, nor even to pay the rates necessi tated by excessive taxation. Governments, too, will find thai if revenue is their intention—and after all that is prated concerning " protection $a na. tive industry," revenue is*what governments regard as the end of taxation—that their aim is defeated by the very means they adopt to bring it about; and thus events will force the adoption of a free trade policy. But that time appears to be not yet.

There is sonie reason to fear that will enter largely into the financial scheme of our own Government. Revenue is wanted to meet an excessive departmental expenditure, and a section of the public are to be bribed ai the post of the rest of the community. It is a great pity that our legislators cannot learn wisdom from the expe-

rience of their neighbors, but must inflict upon the people of this Colony all the evils that flow from a restrictive policy, just as it would appear that we maybe taught by experience-—forget-ting the old but trite maxim concerning the cost of such education, and the character of those who will profit by it only.