The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1885. THE NEW TARIFF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2036, 8 July 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1885. THE NEW TARIFF.

Tim Colonial Treasurer made an important statement in the House yesterday afternoon with regard to the iterations which it is proposed to make in the customs tariff which he has brought down. lie said he had considered all the suggestions that had been made to him, and would like the House to grant the Government the following evening to deal with ■ the question. . The proposal whs agreed to, and we shall, therefore, not be long in doubt as to what it is intended to do. The Colonial Treasurer is, however, mistaking the temper of the House and the country if he thinks he can dispose of the question merely by making an explanation of the modifications which lie is prepared to accept, or by debating it for one evening, unless, indeed, he swallows the leak and contents himself with simply tinkering the old tariff, The attitude of the House and the country is distinctly hostile to him on the subject, and although no party in the House is at the piesent time anxious to unseat the Ministry, he will find himself with a very small following indeed if he insists on the heavy increase of duties which he proposes to make, We do not think that Sir Julius Vogel is insincere when he says that he does not mean the new tariff to be of a protective nature, because a very large 'proportion of the articles on which it is proposed to increase the duty could not be produced in the colony even if a rate equal to their full value were charged. But there is a strong tree trade section in the House' which, combined with those who object to the increase of duties on other grounds, commands a very large majority, and which, if not prepared to take office, is prepared, to oust the Government on the Tariff question, whatever the consequences might be. The statement which the Colonial Treasurer lias promised to make—whether it contain an announcement that the Government means to stick to its proposals, or whether it cover an

ignominious red nit must ther ■ fnlV ii(> looki'll I'll' vvsli.i :i| one of the session, We lliink that siii* Jiuuh Vogkl is fully nware uf die risk Inwould run by insisting un the increasd duties on necessaries of every day life, and that, as it would not suit liirn to go out of office just ab present, he. will make an attempt to steer a course midway,. still holding to his announcement that the proposals are not cast iron. Of conise, such a position wohld be very undignified; as he is aware that the House is willing to allow the Ministry to exist for some time longer, he will uofc hesitate to avail himself of any. subterfuge that will secure him an extended lease of office. ;