Nuhou, Volume I, Number 10, 28 March 1873 — RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA. [ARTICLE]

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA.

What do you say to that ? Is it feasible, and' is it deserving of consideration ? It in eertainJy worthy of eonsideration, to let our Ameriean friends, and tlie \vorld see, that we have got more than one string to our bow, and niore than one trump card to play. Perliaps if Australia was a confederated Republic or Empire we would not: liave mueh ehanee, beeause her Queensland politieians, in the sugar interest, would fight us hard in their Senate even as the Louisiana and other interests have fought us, and,would %ht us at Waslimgion. But let us imagine the Pacifie Coast States detached from the Union, do you tliin.k we would liave the same trouble in negotiating a Heeiprocity Treaty in Ban Franoisco, that we have had, and may liave āgain, in Wasliington ? We tliink not. Well, the Colonies of Yictoria and New Soutli Wales, are now in ihat detached position, and either one is capable of aYrording us a market> « Let us Iook a Iittle into that market, and see how far it may be wortliy of our consideration. The duty on all raw sugars in Victoria and New Soutli Wales, is a little over one cent per pound. We ean ship to ilial market in mat whieh w y ill alford a saving of lial'f a cent a pouml a-t the least; and the lower rate of interest in 4 the Colonies wouId more thaii halanee the dilierence in freiglit, as hetween Honolulu and San Franciseo, and bltween Honolulu anel l-lie Colonies. In Āustralia we woukl liave a large and steady market. Siigars would not be likely to touch such extremes, as they do in California. We would be free from tlie Bpeculative feeling we have to encounter there, sometimes caused by the wheat crop, and eonsequent inllux of ships inlo the port of San Francisco witli sugar in ballast, seeking freiglit for Europe,—and otlier speculative inlluences. We are n6Sv getting a large portion of our supplies from Sydney and Aucland, and wilh a regular line to Australia, we might expect a large increase of trade, even under present conditions. But of course, a Treaty of Beciprocity woukl he a great: additioual stimulus. It is an actual- faet, that we ean get goods froni Lohdon hy way of Bydney, thus crossing three pceans, eheapei* than we eaii direct, , owing to ihe large fleet requimi for return cargōes. The Australiaii people and Austr&lian publie men, would give us every attention if we made such a prdposition, whereas the United States lias sueli a multitude of interests always up before iis Congress, that it is only by dint of hard work and mueh canvassing, that \vo ean gain a slight and divided aiieniiou. We don't meaii to s;iy ihai we are going to advoeate Treaty of Keeiproeity. But we Say it is worthy of eareful eonsideration, and may yet be wortliy of advocaey ? and we onght to give it enough of atiehtion to make oui luofhers on ihe l?ontineitt to the East foel t that we are not without hope in the little Couīineni to tlie West. The Colonies will have to eonsult tho Home Gt>vernmeni of eoursc ; bvit thoy will no doubt pet tluu i

. ( 'onmit } readily a did Canada, in ihe | case !of lier Treaty of Eeeiproeity. Thia i |Aust|ralian Treaty, however, would noi] I afTord that op}K;rtu]iity, whieli some of our" desire, who want to go liome 1 jby \vay of Washington; but it may be a jgood opportunity lor an abie īnan who j wanis to fc>erve the intere.sts of this Ar-, \ chipelago.