The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886. PROTECTION FOR N.S. WALES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1494, 17 April 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1886. PROTECTION FOR N.S. WALES.

The news that a New South Wales Ministry had decided on resorting to a policy of Protection most have fallen like a boinb-shell amidst the Freetraders of New Zealand. Hitherto New South Wales has been the one bright spot to which they have been accustomed to point in order to show to the world the beauties of Freetrade, and it must be galling to them now to find their ideal colony rushing headlong to ruin by adopting a protective policy. We, however, who believe that Protec lion is indespensibly necessary to save us from ruin, cannot at all feel any sympathy with the disappointment of Freetraders in this matter. It will doubtless bring the people of New Zealand to their senses before it is too late, and good mast result from it. Of course we will be told that this new departure on the part of New South Wales will be a serious blow to New Zealand. Hitherto one of the great arguments of Freetraders has been that if we were to pot on protective duties in this colony New South Wales would adopt a similar policy and shut us out of her markets. But she has not waited to consult our convenience now ; she has gone to work without asking us how it would suit us, although her trade with us is a# much as ours with her. We do not share in the opinion that the adoption of this policy will materially affect our commercial intercourse with her. Victoria is a very highly protected colony, and yet our imports from, and exports to, Victoria are much larger than those of New South WalesWales. With such a fact staring us in the face, why should we be afraid of Protection in New South Walee. The result will be that we shall have to pay duty to enable us to enter her market, but prices will be higher, and it will come to the same thing. During the past year wheat was selling at one shilling per bushel dearer in Victoria than New South Wales, and of course this would make up for the sixpence per bushel duty. There is therefore, we think, nothing very serious in the tariff proposals of New South Wales. The agitation to put on a protective duty has been going on in New South Wales for a long time. The Sydney Globe of a recent issue says “ that boot and shoe makers in Sydney are walking the streets and cannot get work, while in Victoria, where the trade is protected, they now send boots and shoes into New South Wales to the value of upwards of £37,000 annually. The Victorian can actually sell his wares there while local men and their families pine for want of work that goes to the neighboring colony.” The Sydney Telegraph also publishes a long accoum of a deputation which waited on Sir Patrick Jennings recently to urge the necessity of protecting agricultural products. The deputation consisted of over twenty members of Parliament, and they urged upon the attention of the Premier the following facts:—“They pointed out that Victoria charged 10s for every cow and calf, 5s for every bull, and Is for every sheep that crossed the border, while New South Wales allowed the Gallic and sheep of Victoria to come in free, with the result that New South Wales farmers were actually driven out of the market. Owing to high railway freights and competition with imported articles, wheat growing would not pay in districts distant from the metropolis. The Victorian markets were shut against them, while the products of Victoria' were completely swamping their own markets. Sir Patrick Jennings replied to the deputation, and promised to submit the facts which thoy had brought under his notfee to the Cabinet. In 1872 an agreement was

arrived at between Victoria and New South Wales with regard to border duties, but Victoria had since broken this agreement, so it was not the fault of New South Wales that these duties were put on. He could not diselosethe financial proposals of the Government until they were completed ; then he would submit them, and members would have an opportunity of discussing them.” Thus it was that the agitation in favor of Protection has been going on till at last it has assumed a definite shape, inasmuch as that it has been made the leading feature, of the policy of the new Ministry. Whether it will be adopted or not is a question that time alone can tell, but the fact that a large number of members of Parliament have urged the Government to lake the matter in hand, and that tin Government have since complied, give reasonable grounds to expect that something will be done in that direction. Whether this policy is or is not adopted by New South Wales, the fact that such a strong feeling in favor of it exists proves that the Freetrade superstition is being gradually dispelled. New (South Wales adjoins Victoria, and is in a good position to form a coirect opinion on the question. She sees Victoria increasing her exports tremendously. In 1879 the Victorian exports were £12,454,170; in 1884 the value of her exports was £16,050,465, notwithstanding the depreciation in prices, Notwithstanding that New South Wales is a much older colony than Victoria, that she is three times as large, and has extraordinary natural advantages in the shape of coal, etc., yet she is falling behind, and at the rate both countries are getting on she will soon be nowhere. The rao>e astute of her statesmen see this, and they evidently are determined to adopt the policy which baa so much benefited Victoria. Let us hope that New Zealand statesmen will also see it. We want it ten times more than New South Wales; we have an enormous sum to make up annually to pay interest on our borrowed capital, and we have no means of raising it except by increasing cur exports and decreasing our imports till the balance of trade is turned in our favor. With us it is not a question of whether Protection is right or wrong. We are drifting fast towards private and public bankruptcy, and it is necessary for us to trim our sails, so as to enable us to weather the Storm which has overtaken us. We Want money to pay interest on our borrowed capita!; this wa can get only through our exports, but if our imports swallow them up we have nothing left. It is on this ground we favor Protection : on the ground that to go on without it will bring us into difficulties; and, as New (South Wales has set the example, we trust it will result in forcing New Zealand statesmen to look the matter straight in the face.