The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 October 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1881.

In the New Zealand Times of Saturday last we notice an interesting letter from an old settler—Mr John Howard Wallace—on Protection v. Free Trade, This is a subject which is of special interest in a large centre of population like Wellington, but in a district like ihe Wairarapa it is not likely to become a burning question. Mr Wallace maintains that the free trade principles of Yilliers, Cohden, and Bright, though they were at the time applicable to an old country like England, are unsuitable for a new colony like New Zealand, He, however, overlooks the consideration that if these principles were right ones, they are right for all times and all places. The real truth is that principles are frequently inconvenient when reduced to practice, Mr Wallace claims that a policy of protection should be inaugurated in New Zeaiand; that we should produce as much as possible, and protect all that we produce. His views, if carried out wisely, would undoubtedly stimulate local industries and be an advantage to the colony. We are not, however, particularly anxious that local industries should he ''forced 11 in Few Zealand, The thing can be done, and protection is an excellent means to accomplish it; but the question to our mind is how far the thing is worth having. Is not a man, as a rule, healthier and happier on a farm than he is in a workshop? If we had a superabundance of farmers in proportson to tradesmen and artizans—if we had no waste land available for productive occupation—-we would any at once, "Go in for local industries," " encourage protection,"" make eveiything for ourselvesbut as yet only a tithe of the land in the colony suitable for cultivation is settled, and with a practically unlimited area of waste land, combined with the pretty certain prospect of a permanent outside market 1 to absorb surplus produce, it seems to us that settling land is of more importance to the happiness and welfate of families already in the colony and of 1 those who from time to time may take up their abodes here, A more rapid increase of population in our towns will follow no doubt at the, heels of protection, and will be nttendi-d with a certain amount of benefit to the entire community, but we would be content to see the colony make haste slowly, and not endeavor to run a race with 1 go-ahead" countries or eclipse old countries. The great charm of New Zealand to the dwellers in the Old Country is the belief that it is a land where a healthy natural life may be led without the strain, the. anxiety, and the worry which attends the earning of daily bred in the thicklvpopulated countries of Europe. We would like to retain for New Zealand this characteristic rather than stamp it as a commercial and manufacturing colony. We are very willing that England should make spades and shovels for us provided that we can supply that country with meat and butter and cheese.