WHAT FREETRADE IS DOING FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1807, 5 April 1888, Page 3

WHAT FREETRADE IS DOING FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

The unsatisfactory operations of car Freetrade policy (writes the " Australian Star," of Sydney) »re being rapidly made apparent to the man whose capital Is m his hands, and who has beeD, for a long time, taught m his country that labor conquers all things. Labor just now is not In demand, and capital Is looked up. There is no employment for the one and no remunerative outlet for the other. Foundries, factories and workshops ara being closed everywhere m the suburbs, and what is before the working men of JNew South Wales it does not require a prophet to foretell, Misery and wretchedness are staring him fairly m the face, and famine And destitution will shortly be marching through the land. Pyrmont, Mstwuila the home of labor and the eoetus of business and bustle, is now quiet enough to satlfy the most anxious seeker after peace. The ring of the workman'r hammer is no longer heard, the cheery shouts of drivers to their teams no longer disturb the holy c»lm of the earlier mornIng, and the beginning of the end of the Freetrade reign of terror is at hand, The quarry owned by Mr B. Sounders is closed — all hands are given a holiday. Trigg and Marr'e large establishment 1b being worked half-time, and D. and W. Robertson's Bplendid establishment is almost deeerted, and a valuable plant is idle. Francis Guy's timber yard is kept m work by the orderg from Victoria, and wood cat m the forest ( is shipped direct from Moruya to Melbourne. Goodlet and Smith have dis- \ charged a number of men. since Christmas, and m various other of the smaller places where men were employed and wages paid weekly, the doors are closed and silenoe reigns. The pick of our skilled workmen are leaving New Sooth Wales and findIng employment m poor Protectionist Victoria, whither, no fnrther gone than yesterday, twelve unisons proceeded on a two years' engagement at 11s per day. Skilled workmen find ready employment In the southern colony at the current rale of wages, and we may anticipate a general exoduß of the bulk of our best men, unless, as employers tersely put it, " things improve.*' The capitalist, as well as the laborer, is beginning to feel the ploqhing of the shoe. With thousand of pounds' worth of plant lying idle, Bhops and cottages everywhere empty, and no reproductive outlet for money, the leESon is being borne home to them with stronger force every d*y that Freetrada ia a very doubtful blessing.