OTAGO AND THE NEW TARIFF.

Southland Times, Issue 85, 23 December 1864, Page 3

OTAGO AND THE NEW TARIFF.

(From the Olar/o Mail.) However much we may bliud ourselves to tlie fact, it- is certain that 'Dunedin— and, indeed, Ota'"-o— is by no means in the progressive state that could be desired. As it is possible to shackle a giant till he is reduced to pitiable helplessness, so is it possible to bring a Colony, or part of a Colony, as a Province is, to the brink of destruction by legal means. The process is not a new one ; and the same policy that has ruined^ other places is now being exercised in Otago. Through the cessation of reproductive works, unskilled labor is at a discount, and indeed can scarcely find a market at any price. Contracts, except of the most necessary nature, are stopped ; and yet there is no other channel into which tJie stream of labor can beihrected, except tho goldfields. It is true that the goldfields can and will ultimately absorb n»t only 'what, labor is in the Province at present, but we hope ten times as, much; but this is not the case at present. Provisions of all kinds-a re at famine prices ; rents are enormous ;- and it is only by the, exercise -of the strictest fruga^itv that many a irpriaiig man is able to live afc all. " If the •resources 'of the ..'Province .were such/as liot to justify the population. we have " at ' present ; if "there wa,s no chance for an honest living to 7be earned, "then we should; with pleasure, rather than with pain, ; watch the; slow but steady exodus that is taking place., livery" steamer that leaves takes a -number of passen "-ers, ami the balance sheet of emigration - as; agaiuot immigration is indeed an unsatisfactory; one to the well-wishers of O tago!/ '■ -- TJie evil is, becoming, so serious, the condition , pf: affairs so; critical, that it is high time the authorities' stirred:/ in the matter, with" a" view to seeing how far remedies co id Ibe applied. It is all very Well ■shuttih'giou^eyes to ia 'dtuiger7whichis:pateiit;, but we do not thereby avoid it. "Surely it is better to look'it steadily in the face, and so be more able to withstand -its shock. The tlu-ee evils from which the community is suffering are exorbitant /prices of the necessaries '.. of life, . stoppage 6f pubhc :' works; ' and dearlh'of. employment. Now, with respect, to the -first item, the local Government, or rather— t'CT sperik more correctly _— the Superintendent, has 'done' all in his^ power "to cheapen necessaries. ; -After /closing the ports 'against cheap meat— as we think,; rather unnecessarily,: but let, that pass-^he opened them again when the 'price of meat rose to wu'ch a height. So far he deserves the thanks of the community/and we believe has heartily/gained them. But whilst beef is being tlius' "choapenod; other necessaries are being raised in price, thanks to tho new tariff. Thanks tq7a.war, with ;a. lot of /half or whole savages which tlie Auckland Government c)ioose to wage, we must /contribute war taxes, and those taxes leviecl froni ' the Custom-Houso. duties. The alteration tells more severely on -this Province tliaii on any hi New Zealanch for'we.cpntribute; in that ,way as' much' as arty/two, if hot any- three other Provinces.' W<7 depend; for /re yen ue' hi a /great dogrecim our •Cusionis, wlicreas /other Pro- , vinces cliiclly i-eiy onthcir lands and their returns. It is clear, therefore^ that ; though individually the residents iff othcV-Prpsinccs/iiiay- suffer 'as / 'much ; as oursclvtsi still as a "whole we' have incalculably flic worst; ;of it:7; Agaiu7tlic;pppulatibn;of Otiigq, as compared,- say \vith7Caiiterbui7, ; are hi ■; Very. " dissimilar 7propx>Vli^ "of evil is hot foltin tlio ono plai^ as -the : other, / A ' /"Yestw'day;;tlio'hlr|tirm^ taviil' -were

■: observable, in tho.iarge extra .... amount .of ..revenue, j received ; aud if , this jwa's to be. disposed of iv tlie Province in any usefiu work, foAV would object to its imposition. Instead, however, .of Otago receiving the benefit, no less than five-eights goes ;' to Auckland for "General: Government purposes," ■ which meahs in other words. to be swallowed up in expenses of the Maori war. As a practical il- j lustration of what share Otago gets of its own revenue, we may observe that .yesterday Ihe Customs/receipts, exclusive; of. the gold shipped for Melbourne amounted to within a few shillings of £1230. Out of this siim'£ 180 goes to the Otago Kxchequer, and no less than £800 io Auckland. These duties are raised on articles that -are retailed in .Otago, ,on everything that we need in fact, and they have - just been increased,:as we have previously stated, from 25 to 100 per cent. We need not ask if this is right; With men "out. pf. 'work, with; -families in sore .distress through the legal robbery, for really it isnbthing else, of oiir own resources, how' is it. to be expected that fchose'who can go will stay in such a' place. The country is abundant initsresoiirces/it- Would maintain a population ton times as large as it now contains, with ease, if jts legi.-latioii was.- of -a different character.' A greater iniquity than, the appointment of the Customs spoil wasviiever perpetrated by brigands. .--..,.. 7v - With reference to the stoppage of.p.ublie'worlcs,that follows on tl\e unjust diversion of our revenue as dearth of employment follows it . jAll these emanate from one source ; all have to thank/ the. Auckland-. Government and tlie Maori^yar,, for their existence. Every /man how pays an increased price for his moleskin trousers, or bine shirt, in order to feed the Maori war, in order .to/ allow; arm)* contractors and ; Auckland traders/to 'getrich. -'.'Whether the public of Otago choose to be patient under the lash, to kiss the hand that cor-i rects, and smilingly allow their pockets •to be picked in such a cause, and for such remains to be seen. We. are now suffering in purse and person, surely it is time that a stop.was put to further depletion. '"■ - / -aAA-.