THE DEBATE BETWEEN MR HENRY GEORGE AND MR TRENWITH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2781, 10 May 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE DEBATE BETWEEN MR HENRY GEORGE AND MR TRENWITH.

(FKO.M ouu own correspondent.) Melbourne, April S. Mr Tkenwith gave a new definition of Free Trade last night during the course of hia discussion with Mr Henry George. It is not often that two prominent lunatics are permitted to mount a platform, each astride of ono of his favourite hobbyhorses, and tilt at each other for the delectation of some thousands of people who have paid a shilling a piece for admission to tho shdw. When I conple " lunatic " with the name of Mr Henry George, it is in connection with his Single Tax scheme—a stupendous robbery, which never could have been evolved in tho brain of any sane man under the impression that it can benefit any community whatever. And when I connect the term lunatic with Mr Trenwith, it is because only a person of that class would undertake to publicly di-cms a question, tho most rudimentary c!onH'ii\s of which he evidently knows nothing. That Mr Trenwith can elicit applause from his Trades Hull audiences no ono denies. JOvoii the professional fool of the old times, when every person of distinction maintained a "jester," had sense enough to discern what would best tickle the fancy of tho master who fed him ; and it does not appear that Mr Trenwith, who represents the - electors of Richmond in Parliament, has got much further than that. I havo said that ho has given a now definition of Free Trade. "My contention is," said Mr Trenwith, "that Protection increases the prico that tho producer gets, and reduces the prico that tho consumer pays by wiping out the unnecessary hosts of middlemen. Freetrade, as wo know it, or as it over can be known, means that a number of persons, whose interests in trade consists in oarrying thinars about, will manipulate the markets so that we shall produce what we require for ourselves, in order that they may buy from us for exportation, and we shall consume nothing that Wo produce in order that they may buy from us for importation." This is a rather long-wind sentence, even for the member for Richmond. But, if it has any meaning at all, that meaning is, that, merchants, commission agents, brokers, carriers by land and by water, ship builders, and all such ungodly persons, together with the myriads of human beings whom they omploy—including the dock labourers—are an unmitigated nnisanco of stupendous dimensions ; they are ono and all conspiring against tho rest, of the human race, wanting to buy and Sell for them, run their errands, fetch and carry things for them, in order I that they may earn a honest living. There is no need for them ; they produce j nothing ; " they toil not, neither do r.hey spin," according to Mi Trenwith ; they i only buy and sell and carry things about. In short, they are the outward visiblo sign of Freetrade. But, Protection does not want Freetrade. It does not need men to carry things about for it; it is a I great principle is Protection, a goddess, jjrroaier than she of Epheaus; Trades Hall is its temple and Mr Trenwith is tho high priest thereof. Altogether, _Mr Tronwith had a fine timo of it last night, and ho mado tho most of it ; his tono was loud and assertivo if his arguments wero not over convincing even to many of his own disciples.