The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1889. MR RHODES’S SPEECH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1899, 1 June 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1889. MR RHODES’S SPEECH.

We have never derived any pleasure from criticising politicians adversely. On the contrary, what would give us pleasure is that they should all transact the business of the colony in a manner that would meet with our approval. Mr Rhodes, on this occasion, disarmed adverse criticism. His speech merely consisted of a tolerably full and fair resume of the proceedings of last session, and though we disagree with many of the things that were done we cannot find fault with Mr Rhodes for telling us they were done, or with the way in which he has told us his story. He stated the financial position of the colony well, and had the good sense of not, as usual, throwing all the blame on tne previous Ministry. It is indeed time that the lies with regard to the previous Ministry had ceased, and we are glad to feel that Mr Rhodes realises this fact. We have to compliment Mr Rhodes on the fair and moderate way in which he stated his case, but while doing so must point out some matters on which w© disagree with him. He says that “ practically now ws have as heavy a tariff as Victoria, so the result must be that the cost of living must be increased.” We have a far heavier tariff in New Zealand than in Victoria, and Mr Rhodes and those who think with him are the cause of it. The difference between Victorian and New Zealand Customs duties is that one protects industry, while the other oppresses industry. In Victoria, duties are placed on goods which can be made in the colony, for the purpose of protecting local industries; in New Zealand a heavy tax is placed on almost everything. The consequence is that owing to the fact that New Zealand taxes almost everything, while Victoria allows a great many things in free, New Zealanders pay twice as much per head through the Customs as Victorians. For every sixpence per head Victorians pay, New Zealanders pay one shilling per head, as will he seen by referring to Hayter’s Victorian Year Book. The raxes put on through the Customs on the people of this colony are therefore oppressive, but we want to know Whose fault is it ? It is absolutely the fault of freetraders like Mr Rhodes. If the protectionists had their way they would put a heavier tax on to give protection to goods which can be produced in this colony, and allow goods which we cannot produce to come in free. The result of this would be that the cost of living would be reduced, and local industries promoted. But such a policy would not suit Mr Rhodes and other rich men. It would mean that we would not get so much revenue from the Customs as we do at present, that consequently the property tax would have to be increased, and that the rich men would have more taxation to pay To suit the rich men Sir Harry’ Atkinson framed the present tariff and it falls oppressively heavy on the* public at large. Mr Rhodes seems to be opposed to subsidising the San Francisco mail service, but he says “if wo can get communication with Canada and the United States by paying a small subsidy, by all means Jet us have it.” By all means let us have none of it. We are paying a large subsidy now, and what is the result ? It is this : that every mail steamer is coming to Sydney laden with grain, and thus destroying our market. That is what we get this year from the subsidy we pay the San Francisco mail service. We pay for flooding the Sydney market with wheat, so that prices are brought down to a very low level, and the only chance our farmers had for years has been destroyed. We want no more of the San Francisco mail service ; it was never worth the money we have paid for it, and we hope it will be altogether abolished.