The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY JUNE 5, 1885. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2008, 5 June 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY JUNE 5, 1885. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF.

It is reported that the Government propose to make material alterations in the customs tariff during the ensuing session, and that a decided step in the direction of protection will b.e taken, Until his last return to' ISew Zealand, Sir JuLiusVooel; lias always bjgn a free trader, and we do not know that he has as yet announced himself as g protectionist, A revision of the tariff, with ut view to removing a number of anomalies, is perhaps desirable, but we doubt whether the House will grant any serious increase of duties under any pretext whatever; nor do we believe that the inhabitants of the sountry would,, if appealed to, he so short-sighted as to agree.to pay extra for the necessaries of life for the sake of enriching a few .manufacturers. We believe that the state of nubjje feeling on the subject is such tliat IJinis^jj. would scarcely venture to face the!" country upon i,t, Nothing postove is, haywif, known ; as to what the pro-' posals really #i'e : ; but .we may in any case expect ,that either an attempt will be made to insert Ijhe thin .end , ! pf the wedge, or that'holdp,of .bond; will be frightened into making exten-; iSive withdrawals, whioh would ln^n; an immediate rush of currencyinto the! coffers of the .Government, and cause a temporary relief of the pressure which has made itself felt in anticipation of the loan, A similar dodge has ere this been played in the Colony, and the result proved very satisfactory to the Colonial Treasurer ot the day.