Hawke's Bay Times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1217, 9 January 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1872.

The Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Ellesmere, in Canterbury, has recently held a show, which was ■wound up by a dinner, in the course of ■which, and in speaking to the. toast, ." The General Assembly of New Zealand," the hon. W. Reeves, the new in ember of the Government, took occasion to refer to the political situation. Jt will be remembered that Mr Reeves was sent to the Assembly bv the agriculturists distinctly upon the ground of his being a protectionist, and now we iind him exultingly declaring that the principle lie was sent to support has triumphed. He is reported in the Press to have said—" I am proud this day to be able to say that the cause I was elected to serve has been successful, and I am able to return to you with the assurance that the end of that election has been gained, and that a duty on grain now exists." We know well enough that it is so, but it must not be forgotten that this triumph was gained by false pretences. He does not tiling proper to inform his friends that the protectionist principle "was repudiated j>y the poyernment, though he must be well aware of the fact. Mr Yogel distinctly denied that the grain and flour duties were for protection purposes. He said, " We want this duty for revenue, and not for protection." He deprecated the introduction of any (til. '.: j : v. -. i.. •■• v >'■■ •'- -■

discussion on the respective merits of protection and free trade, and as a revenue measure he peisuaded the House to agree to its adoption. We showed at the time that it did not matter to the people of the colony—upon whom the tax would fall—upon what ground it was carried : that the result would be the infliction of the protection policy upon the Colony, and now we find one of the foremost advocates of that policy plainly stating the fact and rejoicing over it. Mr Yogel has a wondeiful faculty of throwing dust into the eyes of the Assembly, aud this is not by any means the only case in which the results of measures passed will prove wide of the intentions of those who assented to them. The Colony has been saddled with a duty on corn, and the people must pay higher pi ices for their food; but it is a very doubtful matter whether the duty will add anything to the revenue.