The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885. THE POLICE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2140, 7 November 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885. THE POLICE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

It seeraa to be takon for granted by a number of our contemporaries that the Government will take up the cry of protection at the next general election, and that by this means they hope to secure a considerable majority. We do not know what cause then- may lie for making the supposition, and, widespread as it is, we venture to think that it is made in error. The utterances of the Premier and Colonial Treasurer duringthememorabledebateonthe tariff proposals lastsession contained nothing whatever to show that they were anxioas to introduce a protectiv'epolioy. Indeed, the Treasurer took particular pains to explain that the proposed increase in the duties was simply intended for revenue purposes, and nothing else. We know that, free trade members ridicule the statement and point out that the intention of the Government could have nothing to do with the result, which would bepiotective in its nature all the same. While admitting that this 'is quite .correct, it yet remains quite possible that the intention was not to afford protection, and we only need to point to the proposed impost on tea. which could scarcely be- produced in the colony for years to come, to show that there weie reasons, apart from protection for attempting to make the 1 increase. In the Financial Statement Sir' Julius Yogel further said that he was neither a protectionist nor a freetrader in the ordinary acceptation of those terms, Taking all these points into consideration, the Government could scarcely turn round and say, " We aw protectionists, and we intend to introduce a protective policy," without laying themselves open to charges of inconsistency, To say that the Government is going to do such and such a thing at the next election, is very much like taking a leap in the (In k, for we doubt very much whether, in the face of the threat to squander the North Island Trunk Railway Loan, the Government will see much of the Treasury benches during the coming session. A party may probably be formed to support the cause of protection, but we do not think that the membeiu «.f tjie present Ministry will belong to it as a body, We are not inclined to think that sugh ,a parjty would gain a very great number of adherents. The free trade party is pretty strong in New Zealand, and the working man who complains of hard times is not at all likely tp support a proposal which, if carried, would mean that lie would have to pay something iike five shillings more for every pair of boots he buys, or ton shillings extra for a new suit of clothes, without seeing that he ■ gets a direct benefit, Events members of the Trade and Labour Councils would hesitate tp say that they would t support tlja idea with such an immediate I result before tjj,ei£i, ft is true that the | reply giv.en ,by. .Sir .fuui/s to the JDunedin Manufacturers' issocia-: tion might be taken tp ujeau that Government jfiteftda to p in jieadlpng for protection, but wjiefi compared with his other utterances it might also mean nothing at all. Tim OwMmry ' Press, in reviewing the result would inevitably follow the adoption of 1 a protective policy, says " The adI vocates of are careful to say nothing about our ex- , ports orofan artificial imports. How are we to sell our wool,' our wheat, our frozen mutton, pur gold, our coal, and other exports, if we are not at liberty to obtain goods in j exchange, except on payment of a •; heavy penalty to the Treasury? How are our |ee,t's o£ pne steamers, which ' attract to our shofep jippulation and wealth, to he kept running, if .ther? 'is, 1 to be a restricted import trade? "'Are! • 'we to be a self-contained nation entirely, doing all our trade amonget ourselves, and having little or no intercourse with foreign nations 11f go, ■ it is .certain we shall never be a great nation, ftt fc.bis is the logical out-, come of protectionist .theories if carried to the extreme to whiclj t!>ey ftrQ.jilyays carried when once tidopted," think the position is very fairly put, and commend it to the consideration of those who think that they can live as cheaply, and find iis much work, with a {irotectiyp tariff as without it.