The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas t Prevalebit THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1884. The Industrial Association.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1408, 18 December 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas t Prevalebit THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1884. The Industrial Association.

If the interest taken in the government of the country could be gauged 1 by the number of political associations that have been established in New Zealand, this colony may be reckoned fortunate. In most of the larger centres of population a craze has sprung up for forming amateur parliaments, and most of the measures passed by these irresponsible bodies are of that revolutionary kind dear to the heart of the extreme Radicals. This sort of thing, however, is perfectly harmless, and if it affords any amusement to those who take part in the debates nobody will be inclined to grumble at it. Then, r again, we have the Trades and Labor Councils, which have gained the administration of Sir George Grey, who never loses an opportunity of obsequi- | ously flattering the so-called working classes. It will be remembered that at the general election these Councils prepared what is known in America as a political “platform,” the planks of which included the nationalisation of the land, reduction of the hours of labor, a national bank, and several other of the most new-fangled theories of perfect Government. What effect' this action had upon the result of the election we need not consider, but it may be taken for granted that most of the candidates who supported the programme thus set forth did so because they clearly saw that the questions were entirely out of the range of practical politics and would not be brought up before Parliament. By this means they were able to catch the working man’s vote, without committing themselves. Ignorance of the first principles of political economy may be pleaded as an excuse for these Trades and Labor Councils, who, like the far-famed Tooley street tailors, evidently regard the world as made for them alone, but the same can scarcely be urged in favor of a kindred institution in Christchurch, known by the name of the Industrial Association, This latter was ostensibly founded for the purpose of furthering the interests of local industries, but one has only to glance at the names of the leading spirits in the movemeut to discern its real character. The whole affair is indeed nothing more nor less than a combination of speculators, whose object it is to secure such alterations in the Customs tariff as will benefit themselves at the expense of the general community. Not the least strange feature of this agitation is that no attempt is made to disguise the object which the members of this Association have in view. There lies before us as we write a printed list of suggested amendments in the Customs tariff put forward by the gentlemen in question, and a more impudent document if has seldom been our fortune to come across. Something like one hundred articles are specified, and on fifty-eight of these which are now admitted to the colony free of duty it is suggested that an impost of 20 per cent, be levied. A more barefaced attempt to initiate a policy of protection—a policy which long since has been condemned past argument—was probably never made, and although it is not likely that it will meet with success, it is well that people should be warned of what is going on in their midst. This Industrial Association is evidently guided by the same principle which actuates plaintiffs in actions for libel and breach of promise cases; they ask for a great deal more than they expect to get on ffie chance that they may obtain at least something. ■ It behoves, therefore, that these very , clever gentlemen, whose only object j is to feather their own nests, should be carefully watched, and any endeavor ; to manipulate the tariff to serve their ■ own ends nipped jn the bud. Of course these protectionists are ready with their ‘ glib sophistry to show that the policy ( they advocate would-benefit the colony as a whole, and if we take them at their r own valuation they are the most bene- 1 volent creatures on the face of the earth. It is only too plain, however, > that their benevolence, like their charity, I ij fc — : ns at home —and stops there. Un- n fortunately work l n g m « n . * n ‘| ,e f colony are but too eas..” eu e , - le t • J » w •»ion specious arguments of the pros.*..,. s 1 ists, and upon this question the Trades a i md Labor Councils, and the Indus- p rial Association are at one. The £ brnier believe that by shutting jut goods from foreign markets a! ocal manufactures will be encouraged sc ind thus employment will be found at H 1 ;ood wages for those that are out of vork. Both experience and logic have uiroved emphatically the fallacy of this y<

idea, but it suits the Christchurch Association to pander to the ignorance < ot men who can only look at a question 1 from one point of view. As to the ! public spirit of these speculators who desire a prohibitory duty to be placed upon all sorts of materials, that can be estimated by the fact that among the suggestions is one that 20 per cent should be levied upon all imported railway plant, with the exception of rails. It will be remembered that the Industrial Association was louder in demanding the construction of the West

Coast line than any other people in Canterbury, but it seems that their chief motive was that the principal part of the profit should go into the pockets of themselves, as would be the case if the necessary material was to be manufactured in the colony instead of being procured in the cheapest market. Should any of the suggested alterations in the tariff be carried out, however, it is the farmers who would suffer most, and it would therefore be well for them to keep a sharp look out so as to prevent any in- . crease in indirect taxation which would handicap agricultural pursuits more than they ate at present. With two such 5 strong interests as the working men and the speculators pitted against them — the one from ignorance and the other from se'f-interest —it is necessary for e the farmers to be on their guard, and we hope that the warning given to them will not be in vain.