The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2665, 10 August 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1889.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The friction produced by- the consequences of conflicting tariffs between the Australasian colonies, lias been of some years standing. The hope of many liberal leaders of public opinion has been to see the ultimate removal of impediments of this nature to the establishment of a strong bond of harmony amongst the members of Anglo - Saxon nationality. It has, therefore, come as a rude shock to that school of political thought and progress to behold the tendency of the fiscal measures of the Victorian • Government, which are framed in no friendly spirit towards the sister colonics. The alterations in the Victorian tariff cannot fail to intensify that irritation which high import duties, imposed for the direct purpose of shutting out the products of other and friendly commercial countries, invariably give rise to. It appeal's to be the deliberate intention of Victoria to close her markets to the fruits of Tasmania, the oats and dairy produce of New Zealand, and the cereals of some other of her neighbours. One colony rigidly upholds one principle of economics, another as severely adheres to an opposite principle, whilst others follow an admixture of both in a more or less half-and-half fashion. Kindred poople, living under the advantages of autonomous government, use, or we may say misuse, the privileges secured under the charter of political freedom derived from the same parent stock, to levy fiscal warfare upon each other. The evil spirit of retaliation may possibly display itself to widen the gulf. Such an unnatural state of things must eventually open the eyes of the people of the colonies to the desirability of effecting a uniformity in their several tariffs. Finality must be readied sooner or later in the contest of Customs between them, and we shall in course of time see a common tariff adopted, based on principles of reciprocity or inspired by the spirit of federation. Diversity of tariffs is the lion in the path of the unification of the colonies, the creation of an Australasian polity which shall be grounded on one common sentiment of race, and on the similarity of national pride and destiny. The pressure and evil operations upon each others' industries through prohibitory and retaliatory dues, will drive the colonies to seek relief by agreeing upon a broad and common policy that will clear the way for federation. The union of the colonies will be the fore-runner of that greater and nobler deed, which will cement together all the scattered portions of the magnificent British Empire into a homogeneous and unassailable Confederation. The enormous expausion of that Empire, the limitless facilities it possesses within its own boundaries for the illimitable growth of the British race, enterprise and trade, make it practically independent of all other nations. The bulk of the commerce of the world is enjoyed by Great Britain and her colonies. New markets are continually springing up in every corner of her great possessions, giving increased activity to the manufacturing and productive energies of the Anglo-Saxon people, and adding largely to the national opulence of the Empire. This glorious Empire, this superb structure so wonderfully erected by the peculiar genius and industry of one kindred race, should be preserved for all time in unity, peace and concord. All its parts should be united against the world outside it in one Imperial scheme of government, one popular national policy, one basis of commercial intercourse, with freedom of trade and interchange amongst each one. The family should keep together,shoulder to shoulder, and it will stand like a rock against the waves of any combination that may hereafter dash against it. Anglo-Saxon Free-trade should be the watchword, and not this narrow conception of conflicting tariff's. Like the free-trade enjoyed by the United States of America within their own wide borders, the states of the British Empire should also deal freely with each other, and protect themselves, only, against the cheap and flimsy competition of inferior foreign manufactures.