The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1885. FREE TRADE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1381, 20 August 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1885. FREE TRADE.

We would ask those who labor under that old-world superstition called " free trade" Why iB it that while the farmers of this colony cannot sell their wheat at any price, it is sold in Melbourne at 4s 2d to 4s 3d ? Our farmers would do well to reflect on this, and ask themsehes what is the reason of it. Our explanation is that about eight years ago Victoria adopted the policy of protecting her industries?, with the result that many factories have been established since, and the population thus iucreased to au extent that it consumes all the colony can produce. Would it not be better for our faimers to pay a little more for what they buy if they could get 4s 2d to 4s 3d for their wheat / It is no doubt very nice to be able to buy goods cheap in a free trade country, but it is very disagreeable to hare to sell the products of one's labor cheaper than what they cost to produce. According to a telegram published elsewhere, South Australia .is about to adopt a policy of protection, and that of a peculiar kind too. An import duty of 5s per head is to be placed on horses, 2s 6d on cattle, and 3d per head on sheep. We cannot approve of such proposals as these ; we think them absurd. We only point out to farmers how foolish it is to allow goods from a colony that imposes such duties aB these into thiß colony almost free. It is only a few days ago since there was a " rumpus " in Parliament over charging duties on Colonial wines. It is time this free trade nonsense was understood' THE UNEMPLOYED. We have good news for the unemployed ot Temuka. Mr K. F. Gray (Chairman of the Temuka Town Board) has has received the following telegram : " In reply re unemployed I am directed by the Minister to state that the £6O you ask for will be sent at once, but as the funds for this purpose are very limited, you are requested to make the amount go as far as possible. J. Y. O'Connor." The working men of Temuka can now see whose advice they ought to take. We have all along pointed out to them that they ought to approach the Government through the Chairman of the local body, and that if they did so they were sure to get attention paid to them. It is to be hoped that in future they will take this course when they require anything done.