IS FREE TRADE A DELUSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1874, 10 July 1884, Page 4

IS FREE TRADE A DELUSION.

A correspondent writes as follows to the Morning Post on the above subject : This is a sample question of common sense that apeaka for itself, in my opinion ; every other country, including Our own colonies and dependencies, go in or protection, and the Americans are rapidly paying off their national debt by it, and protecting and encouraging tlieii home industries afc tlio expense of ourselves and others. Are they all to be condemned as fools, and arc we the only wise people, or vice versa ? We became the most prosperous and the greatest nation in the world under extreme difficulties, and were enabled to meet ali demands upon us by protection. Sir John Brown, speaking lately at Sheffield, said he believed tiiat England had arrived at the summit of her pros perity, and that he saw in all directions trade leaving the country. I contend that we have prospoied in spite of frco trade, and not by it. The so-called fiec trade commenced nearly 40 years since, and if we look without piejudice to the cause of our prosperity riming the same period we shall find much to explain it quite independent of free trade. Within the time lefened to the whole of the railways, both afc Home and abroad, have been established, cu dilating hundreds of millions of money, and giving employment to millions of our labourers and otheis, we ha\ ing had to supply the bulk of the mateti.il, &c ; and everyone will agree that railways have given immensely increased facilities and business advantages beyond all calculation. Within the same period the penny post has become ganeral ; this has also given enormous advantages ; all the telegraph lines have been established botli at home and abioad during the same time, and it is impossible to calculate the advantages arising f torn these. The use of steam has been increased immensely and been applied to all kinds of industries and to our navy and merchant shipping. Machinery of all kinds has been impioved, keeping pace with it ; and la-%t, but not least, hundreds of millions of fresh gold and silver lias been hi ought into cv dilation, enriching all the world — and all the world weie our customcis. Other advantages too numeious to mention have tended to our prospoi ity. It appeals to me folly to talk of fair trade or reupiocity, tlieie ate no two countries equally balanced in their tiade and interests, and it is the duty of every Government to study the interests and happiness of its own people. In every country where theie is piotection, trade is immensely on the increase ; is it so with England ? We must have o revenue, and 10 per cent might be raised, attheexpente of the foicigner, on all our imports that compete with our Home productions ; this, even, upon coin would add but a halfpenny to a four-pound loaf, and the poor man would benefit in the long run. Theie is no advantage in a cheaper loaf if he has less to buy it with. It would help the farmer to compete with the foreigner and save him from ruin, and enable him to give employment to the labourer, at the same time to pay a fair rental to the landowner, and all would be the richer, and I am told that this amount on corn alone would produce as much as our piesent incomejtax. At the present time our land is going out of cultivation, and if this continues it will bring ruin upon all classes. There is no other country in the world where protection is so neccssaiy as in England, and fiee trade will bo our ruin, if persisted in. There is no class so deeply interested in this question as the woi king men, and if they will only set their faces against it they have the power in their own hands at the next election to reverse it by voting for those only who will pledge themselves to suppoit a measure of model ate pi otcction. Theie is great reaction of late, and I know many personally who sec their mistake, but fcome have not the coinage to nek now logo it, so they fiholtor thonwlves under the name of fair ti ado, etc. I shall be glad if you consider the foregoing rcinuks, worthy ot publication in your papd.

The Sue/ Canal Commission approve of the pioposal to widen the canal, and have appointed a committee of inspection. Adout GuMJtns.— When two pushing young women make a gieat display of bidding each other <;ood-bye, it may be called ' much adieu about nothing.' 'Dlxms,' a-Ued the Colonel, 'when can I see you ?' ' You can see me now, your honour.' 'I want to talk business to you. When will you bo it home ?' 1 When I get tl.ere, sor.' 'I want to see if we cannot make arrangements by which you can pay me.' 'In that event, soi, Oi won't be theie till &ome tune nftciwaids ' How to Maxake tijk Yor\<: Folk at Table. — An ingenious mother who has long been bothered by the fastidiousness of hei chi'dien at table lias at la^t disco\eied away of eucumventing them. She places what she wants each child to eat befoie its neighbour at table, and of couise each cues for what the other has, and the ends of justice aie piomoted. Thought-Reading.— Irish Gent, (paying debt honouis) : ' There's the sovereign ye Kindly lint me, Blown. I'm sorry I haven't been able ' Saxon (pocketing the coin) j ' Ne\ cr thought of it fioin that day to By Jove ! Foigot all about it '" Ii ish Gent. : ' Bedad ! I wish ye'd tould me that befoie.' (What did he mean ?) A good story is going the rounds of the Dorset Battalion of Volunteers. An officer in attendance at a. shooting competition the other day noticed two of the men firing with anything like William Tell's precision. Appioachi.ig them he nngiily exclaimed, "You fellows, you don't know how to shoot ; lend me a nflcand let me show 3*oll. ' "Bang," and the target was missed. A bioad giin overspiead the face of the two privates, but the officer was equal to the occasion. Turning to the fiist, with a frown upon his countenance, he remarked, "That's the way you shoot, sir." A second attempt and a similar result. Turning to the other he continued, "And that's the way you shoot, sir." A third shot and an 4t inner" was fluked. With pardonable pride the worthy officer returned the rifle, triumphantly adding, "And that's the way I shot." The men ever since have entertained a very high opinion of him as a marksman. A man had met a girl in a lonely place and forcibly kissed her. She was terribly indignant, and had him him arrested. She gave an account of how he gazed at her intently, and then, suddenly throwing his amis around her, imprinted a kiss upon her lips. The prisoner made no defence, and the jury was expected to promptly convict him of assault. They returned to the Court room. "The ju-ju-jury w-w-would like to ask the young lady two questions," the foreman said. The Judge consented, and she went on to the stand. "D-d-did you wear the j-j-jersey that you've g-g-got on now?" " Ye=s, \b," was the demure reply. "And w-w-was your ha-ha-hair b-b-banged like that ?'' "Yes, sir." "Then, Your Honour, we acquit the prisoner on the ground of em-mo-motional insanity." Rats and Mice.— lf you wish to de strjy them get a packet of Hill's Magic Vi'rmin Killfk in packets, 6d, od, and Is, to bp obtained of ill storekeepers, or from f . B. Hill by enclosing an extia stamp. Yes !It is certainly true. Ask any of your friends who have purchased there. Garfick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing- of Furniture, Crockery, and Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and CranwcH'p is the Cheap Furnishing Warehouse of Auckland. Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your new house is nearly finished, or, you are going to get married, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lome-street, Auckand. Intending purchasers can have a catalogue font free.