South Canterbury Times, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2404, 30 November 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1880.

Somk ot‘ the items of Austriiliiin news, just to Imncl, are of more tlnm passing interest. The much talked of Inter.colonial Conference, wliicli the Melbourne Exhibition lias tended to facilitate, is now sitting, and it promises to be productive of something more than idle talk. Questions of policy, mutually affecting the various colonies,are receiving attention, and the result is likely to be highly beneficial. Between Victoria and Xew South Wales the Border Duties difficulty is the burning question of the day, but it is not improbable that the fiscal discussion will remain where it is. If we may venture to read the signs of the times, we should say that the day is not far distant when a general tariff for the whole of the Australasian colonies —Tasmania smd New Zealand included —will be brought into operation. After all that has been said about free trade tariffs and protective tariffs, there is in reality but little to choose between the Customs duties of the different colonies. We are prepared to back our own darling “ free trade tariff” against the imposts of any British colony under the sun. The only difference between the different tariffs seems to be that in one case the duties are differential or discriminative, while in the other they are inflicted without rhyme or reason, and with a a total disregard of all other interests beyond that of revenue raising. If a tariff calculated to foster and dcvelope the industries for which the

various colonics arc peculiarly adapted could be agreed upon, and a system ol! intercolonial free trade with protection from foreign competition could be introduced, the arrangement would undoubtedly prove beneficial.

Other matters of .a most important nature are engaging tbe attention of the Conference. The sufferings of California and other portions* of the United States of America clearly point to the necessity of dealing with the Chinese immigration difficulty in time. Advocates of cheap labor, here as in America, realise a direct advantage from the admission of Eastern aliens, but the price paid for the infliction of this labor scourge is one that may well induce political economists to pause. The question, to onr view, seems to be whether European labor .should be discouraged in order that a few individuals may be enriched at the cost of tbe impoverishment of the colonics ? There should be no great difficulty in arriving at a fair solution of tbe problem, but it is desirable that whatever steps are taken they should he taken uuitedlv.

Among (he happiest outcomes of the Conference is the adoption of resolutions in favor of (he establishment of a Federal Court of Appeal. The remission of important legal points to a British tribunal, which always appeared to ns to be a most unnecessarily roundabout, tedious, expensive and altogether preposterous mode of obtaining justice will (bus Ik. obviated. The manner in which the colonies have been utilised by unprincipled Benedicts and Jeremy Didders has long been a grave scandal, and we perceive with satisfaction tha* it is proposed to pass a treaty of extradition for the benefit of absconding debtors and wife deserters. .Such a treaty will he the means of largely reducing the cost of charitable institutions such as Industrial Schools and Benevolent Homes,though it may slightly augment the labor staff at our gaols, ft will certainly prevent the colonies being converted into convenient Callaos and this alone will be a blessing that the advocates of free trade in social and commercial misdemeanours will not fail to appreciate. The establishment of a Federal Council is fraught with the most important consequences to the colonies, and should the present, negociations only lead to a preliminary consideration of such a .scheme, the splendour of the Melbourne Exhibition will be eclipsed by the dawning of a new era in tbe national history of onr young Australasian Empire.