St. Paul daily globe., 1892-01-09
A VOICE FROM AUSTRALIA.
The Farmers Of the Antipodes Are
Beginning to See the Point.

AhC Ot tIlc hnUIDOueS arc
Beginning to See the Point.
AT the annual meeting of the local |
branch of the Victorian Farmers Pro-
lection association on the Goth ult. the
president said that they had to consider
the adyisability or otherwise of winding
up the branch. His opinion was that
farmers had not profited much by.pro-
lection so far, and he thought that they
should try free trade, says the Austria,
liasian. w. Petering moved, and Mr..
Cox (Borungl, seconded, that the
Minvin branch of the VieL
torian Farmers Protection association
be wound up. 1t was the only branch
that remained. he believed, i'll the coli
ony. When they formed upon fresh
basis he would rejoin them. Councillor
Cox said he regretted that they had to
give i'll. but their political platform did
not represent the views of the majority
of farmers. Farmers had long ceased
to take any interest in the proceedings
of the branch. The first society estab-
lished in Minyip was the Progressive
association. 1t was formed on free
trade basis. and for long time it flour
ished and the district advanced by
bounds. Phe town expanded un-
der its energetic guidance, but pro-
lection crept in, diSSenSiOnS occurred
and it collapsed. He was always free
trader, but was ever ready to act with
others for the advancement of the dis
trict up to certain point; but when it
came to putting tax on all articles
farmers required, and giving them IN
return no equivalent, he thought it was
time for a change. 1t was quite true
that if new industry were started un-
der protection with heavy bounty
wages at first were high, because there
were few wOrkmen who understood it;
but it was only temporary state OF
things, and even if wages were
higher the purchasing power of money
was very different. Undoubtedly
early protection, by raising prices all
decreased the purchasing power. and,
therefore, failing any rise in wages, it
must be positive injury. The market
for Australian farmers was England,
where they had to face the keenest COM
petition. In the early days of protection
they were told that it was only to start
their young industries. That was the
cry over twenty years ago. He
did not know of single indus
cast aside its crutches and could go
alone. Not satisfied with an increased
percentage upon plowS, harrows, etc..
the agricultural implement makers had
asked for an ad valorem duty of 35 per
cent on threshers, horseworks, strip |
pers. reaperS and binders and number
of other articles required by farmers. |
Protection, once established, never |
moderated its demands. That unf1lnch- |
ing champion of free trade, Muir
ray Smith, stated at meeting |
at Numurkah that there were |
only $1,000 people engaged in manufact-
uring. while 97.361 males and 50,245 /
females were employed i'll agriculture.
Would they submit to be rated and
taxed for the benefit of this miserable
minority? His answer was mo" Was
it anything surprising that the majority
of farmers had reverted to free trade?
Let all fare alike-not one class sub
SidiZed and another taxed. Their future
plank would be free trade. He thought
the sooner they took action the better.
1t was too late that evening to do any
thing further. Let them talk it over
and be ready to defend their rights
when called upon. Let them have a
strong organization for the next election.