Freetrade.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 6 November 1890, Page 2

Freetrade.

■+■ A point is being made, daring' this election contest, as to how the Freetraders of the House are able to reconcile their actions and -with their principles. Their action has been explained time after time, and is to this effect, that when Sir Harry Atkinson introduced his obnoxious tariff in 1888 the Freetraders protested, and for the session seceded from him, but owing to the Opposition being even more confirmed protectionists than the Government, sliey wcire unable to support them. We believe, that acting on this supposition, they have had to keep the Opposition out daring the other following sessions. The position was peculiar, but what else could they do ? A good deal of talk has taken place as to how a member can style himself a Freetrader when he has been a consenting party to the imposition of certain Customs Duties. This was very clearly explained by Mr 11. D. Macarthur, who said: — " Now, I hold — and I speak for myself at any rate — that 1 am perfectly consistent in calling myselt a Freetrader, and in upholding as far as I can the principles of Freetrade ; because, though I admit that there are many duties which act protectively, those duties were put on for revenue purposes in the past, and, as a matter of practical politics, it is impossible to reduce them in the present state of the country. But, though we put up with them, we do not believe in them. We cannot at present get rid of them, but we say that they are an evil, and one of the evils we have to bear, notwithstanding the principles we profess. But we take our stand on this : that we will not consent, if we can help it, to go one step further in the direction of Protection. Now, this tariff deliberately lays it down that these new taxes are to be imposed for the purpose of encouraging our local interests. What will be the effect of that ? We know what it will be. As soon as a duty is put on to encourage a local industry vested interests are created ; and, however much it may seem desirable to the "'tate to take that duty off at some further time, it cannot be taken off." This then is what a Freetrader can and should do — That he will not consent to go one step further in the direction of Protection.