South Canterbury Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1879.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2061, 1 November 1879, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1879.

It is to be feared that with all our go-ahead instincts we are gradually drifting into the bad habit of copying from our neighbours. One by one of late, the notions in political economy that have obtained an ascendency in some of the Australian Colonies are being introduced, and rigorously advocated amongst us. We have no great antipathy to Australian, or for that matter Yankee notions, so long as they are not perverted, but we do think New Zealanders ought to have a soul above being mere copyists. One of the latest ideas introduced under the designation of a reform is protection to native industries. Now we wish to see native industries and big manufactures thrive, and we trust the time is approaching with the rapidity of an express engine when the smoke of factories will effectually place it beyond the power of the Cockney Colonist to tell his Cockney relatives of the Seven Dials that he can see a hundred miles through a New Zealand atmosphere. But before we accept protection we should like to know what its advocates are driving at. The aim of the protectionists, we are told, is to establish protective duties. Is it contended that we have not quite enough of these luxuries at present? Are not 10 per cent I <A valorem duties on nearly every article of human consumption quite sufficient protection? Is it intended mcifcase the customs tariff and to elevate the people of this favored colony from their present position at the top of the tax-gather’s pole, to one still more dignified place above the taxation of

mankind generally ? D this is the intention we are afraid we cannot acquiesce in it, friendly as are our feelings towards young and rising enterprises. In Victoria we find that protection has been carried just a little too far. The farmers have risen m revolt against some of the imposes, and at their urgent request the Government has been induced to forego the prohibitive duties that were fixed on agricultural implements. There is no great reason, we admit why the customs tariff should not be amended, and the duties on articles which wo cannot produce, shifted over to these which we are capable of manufacturing. This would imply no additional Customs taxation, and the revenue would not suffer, while at the same time something equal to a bonus would be offered to the colonial manufacturer. The question to be considered is, how we may assist the artizan without injuring the producer. Machinery, whether it takes the form of agricultural implements, or steam engines of various kinds, can only be severely taxed at the expense of industries affecting the material wealth and development of the colony, and however important the iron may be, it would manifestly be impolitic tip shut out wholesome foreign competition in articles of this description. Whatever alterations) are made —'and the Colonial Treasurer has hinted that when the new estimates are disclosed there will be alterations in the tariff—we trust nothing will bo done hastily or inconsiderately, and that everv interest will be fairly and impartially weighed, so that there shall be no cause for regret hereafter.