PROTECTION IN CANADA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1692, 21 October 1887, Page 4

PROTECTION IN CANADA

The following letter is published m the h Western Morning News," a well-known EJiglUh journal : It may possibly Interest some of your readers to hear what a Canadian, speaking from a twelve years experience m that country, h« to say on the question of Falrtrade versus Free trade. The writer of the letter from which the extract is taVen is connected with one of the largest Canadian wholesale firms, and is, t bar. fore, Bpeaking from practical experience of tha purchasing ability o£ Canadian*, and baa an intimate knowledge of our own manufacturing districts, rb well as those of FraDoe. Germany, aod Switzerland. In a recui latter he says" : 4 Business hare this spring has been everything that could be wished for, and the prospect for the fall is equally good, English people terribly abuse our Protective tariff, but we know what ii good for ourselves. I have seen the country riae fr.-m great depression to a period of s-f"^ pro»p rlty, the principal gauss of which h-s heen our protective farlff. It amuses Canadians to read the ©pinions of iSaalish papers, as nuny of fhem are entirely ignorant if the facts.' Oontraßt this pic ure if trade 'all that could be wished for.' with our own depression m all branches of trade, and the question will at otoe arise, — if Proteotion can do so much for Canadian trade, why should it not prove an equally PQtenfleTer m reviving our own languishing or expiring industries ? One fact is certain Freetrade will never enter the region of practical politics until the Wotkiugman o»n be convinced that it will emure vim wnat tens of thousands cannot bow find — constant employment, and a fait day'a wag*.'