PROTECTION LEAGUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2147, 13 June 1889, Page 3

PROTECTION LEAGUE

At the Conference of delegates of Industrial Protection Leagues at Christohoroh last week tbo following resolutions were adopted : * 'That as the niatiog Tatlfl •bounds with the moat absard anomalies, it ■hoold undergo a thorongh revision, and that In all f ntnre eompiiatlons the list of articles taxed for the purposes of revenue •hould be kept quite distinct from those whloh are taxed to proteot the New Zealand producer. That all artioles absolutely essential for the manufacture of New Zealand goods, and whloh the oolony Itself cannot produce, shall be allowed to come In dn f y free as raw material ; but all Imported manufactured goods or fabrics which can ba prodnoed here should be taxed io that degree as would enable the New Zealand producers to hold their own against tho foreigner. That the contemplated ohanges by Government— namely, the redaction of the members of the House of Representatives and the Introduction of Hare's modified system — are raoght with great danger to the democratic constitution of tba oolony; as the former, by enlarging the area of the ooaetltnenoles «od Increasing the canvassing expanses, will effectually debar any but rich men oomiog forward rb candidates ; and tke latter will still further curtail the political power of the people by giving an tudne icfluenoe to the voice of the minority. This Conference therefore wants the Government to refrain from legislation of this reactionary kind, and to fall baok upon the one man one vote prinoiple m all municipal and PBtliamentary elections. That the development of the sweating system m New Zealand, •specially with regard to several bronohee of female industry, calls loudly for Parliamentary interference. The Oonferenoe therefore recommend thst the Labor Bur eta be reconstructed upon an enlarged basis and UDder a reapontlble head) so lhat it may take oogDlsanoe of •il wage aoales mutually agreed upon by employed and emp'oyere, adjait disputes by arbitration, obtain statistical Information relative to the labor markat, and also •etas an agency for drafting the unemployed to districts where their services may be required without outvoting them to arbitrary conditions or noneosssar/ hardships."