PROTECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1553, 11 June 1885, Page 2

PROTECTION.

The folio «vinst letter has been addressed by the New Zealand Protection Association to Mr D. Reese, M.H. R. for Scanmore :

Dear Sir, —At the usual weekly meeting of the N.Z. Protection Aatooiation, at which there was a large attendance, the portion of your address to the electors of Stanmore re Protection was Drought up and disousael, whan a resolution Was unanimously carried that you should be written to, pointing out that your statement that Protection enriched a few manufacturers at the expense of the masses is incorrect, as the Association can prove that in nearly every instance where there has been a doty levied on articles that are manufactured in the colony, the competition between our own and the foreign manufacturer has become so keen that it has been the means of reducing the price of the goods below what they were before the duty was put on ; therefore the consumers do not have to pay more, as you would lead them to believe, but get their goods cheaper in nearly every instance. In regard to enriching a few manufacturers the Association would

point ont that a protective duty does not prevent any portion of the community from investing their capital in manufacturing, and would assure Ur Reese when a few manufacturers have become rich by a protective duty there will be plenty of capitalists who will invest their money in manufacturing, and this will be the means of giving remunerative employment to the masses, which will give them a purchasing power they would not have under a free-trade policy, when moat of the goods are imported. It seems to the Association a great pity that a few of the members of the blouse of Representatives do not take a broader view of this subject, and try aud legislate for the welfare and happiness of the people. Yours, etc , D. Bellhousb, Hon Secre ary New Zealand Protection Association

At a complimentary banquet given to Mr Pearson, MUR. for Ashley, at Oxford on Monday evening, a farme • present, who was enlarging on the question of Free trade v Protecti m, suggested that the Government, which aided the development of local products and home manufactures, might go a step further, and afford a guarantee to all New Zealand wheat growers of at least 3s per bushel, 'be suggestion was received with signs of approval by some and with a smile by others.