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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3802, 5 March 1881, Page 2

Fbom- what we can cull from latest Australian papers, it appears that South Australia is gradually freeing herself from onerous protective duties, and is becoming far, more liberal in her principles of trading. This is a good sign, as although it would be manifest madness to abolish all protective duties afc one fell swoop in the colonies, there are no doubt many articles now manufactured in large quantities that do not require protection. For New Soath. "Wales the principles are neither protection nor free trade, but; are a happy and judicious mixture-.of both. Those manufacturers who need protection in order to successfully compete with European and American houses, have that privilege granted them, while those who are of a sufficiently

old and firm standing to defy competition, and who would not be injured by the abolition of protective duties, nave not the privilege extended. The merit of this medium is that while the consumer has to pay extra for thoae articles of colonial manufacture which are protected, the effect is counterbalanced by the cheapness of the goods on which there is no protective tariff. Victoria is the rear of colonial progress towards Free Trade, and her policy is wholly protective, and yet, with all the protection to her manufacturers, she is in a far worse position than South Australia. The Chief Secretary of South Australia recently published an address containing the outline of the Ministerial policy. Among other reforms, he proposes a scheme to remit £6000 Customs duties. While declaring himself a firm advocate of free trade, he disclaims a desire to rashly interfere with existing interests, fostered by a discriminating tariff, but considers the time had arrived when we may fairly commence to reduce the duties levied principally for the purpose of forcing manufactures. He proposes, therefore, to reduce the ad valorem duties on imported articles, except those of undoubted luxury, from 10 to 5 per cent. In order to malte the reductions contemplated, he proposes a direct tax on all property, real and personal, that an individual possesses, of, say, icl in the £1. This tax is intended only to reach the well-to-do class, but property under £300 in value will be untaxed. 'From this tax he expects to receive £60,000. The determination expressed by the Ministry, through their colleague, to reduce the protective tariff demonstrates that they are alive to the necessity for a reduction, and, if need be, a total abolition of such tariff. This latter contingency is, however, a fact that it will probably take years to accomplish. The views expressed by the representatives of the various colonies at the recent conference in Sydney, are stiongly in favor of free trade, and we have little doubt that New .Zealand will be guided in her method of procedure by the example set by the sister colonies. Such industries that demand protection should be protected, while those of sufficiently safe establishment, and which have nothing to fear from outside competition, should be gradually and judiciously reduced until the time has arrived when we can throw open our ports to traders of every clime and nationality without doing so to the detriment of New Zealand manufacturers. New Zealand is far too young at present to admit of a purely free trade policy being established, and in order to gain those desirable principles it will be necessary to use the utmost perspicacity in bringing them into general operation.