The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1888. FACT VERSUS THEORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1808, 6 April 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1888. FACT VERSUS THEORY.

Thoso politico-economists who have made a fetish of Free trade, and care not if the industries of the country are crushed beneath the wheels of the Juggernaut car m which it pursues itß way, are never tired of dinning into our ears the cry that Protection is asked for solely m the interests of a few manufacturers, and must operate disastrously as respects all the rest ot the community. They have persuaded themselves into the belief that all this is as capable of demonstration as a problem m Euclid, and regard with supreme contempt all who venture to challenge a set of assertions which they deem to be selfevident, or at least easily provable propositions ; but which we take leave to think are merely parrot cries and party shibboleths lacking m the essential element of truth, For example it is repeated usque ad nauseam that the effect of Protection must necessarily be to make the thing protected dearer than under Freetrade, and the inference, if the statement is to carry any weight, is that so long as Protection endures so long also will these comparatively high prices endure. Hence it is concluded that the consumers, who represent the bulk of the people, suffer under a protective policy for the benefit only of the few who are producers. But if it can be shown that this is not so, that — admitting that m the first instance, that is to say for a time Protection enhances the price of the thing protected — local competition then begins to step m and eventually reduces prices as low or lower than under Freetrade, then obviously the whole argument of tho freetrader fallß to the ground, because it is seen that the ultimate result of protection is to benefit the consumer as well as the producer. But is there any evidence that this is the case. Unquestionably there is, and we need not go out of New Zealand to find it. Take for example too salient industries. One is that of binding twine for reapers and binders . Before tho imposition of the duty tho price of this article imported from Home was 3 s 3d a lb, to-day an equally good article can be, and is locally manufactured and sold for 8d a lb. Another, m connection with tho price of woollen goods, was brought under our notice to-day by a member of a firm which deals largely m such manufactures. The firm m queution recently despatched an order to a Home house for, among other things, a line of what is known m the trade as West of England hair-cord tweed, which article was invoiced to them at 4s 4d per yard, and . cost 5s 5d landed m the colony. They have since visited the Mosgiel factory and find that an identical article as regards pattern, quality and value can be supplied to them at these mills at 3s 9d per yard, and that it can be delivered at their own doors at something more than 20 per cent under the price of the imported goods. That . doubtless is the result of the competi- • tion which has naturally followed upon i the firm establishment of the woollen manufacturing industry m New Zealand, and similar results may fairly be looked 1 tor from tho establishment of other industries suited to the colony. "An ounce of fact (says the proverb) is worth a pound of theory " and the facts we have adduced are indubitable proof that thero is screw loose m the Freetrade theory, and that its dogmas are not to be received with the unquestioning and blind faith which its disciples consider the highest proof of political wisdom.