The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 1884. Protection

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 37, 9 September 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 1884. Protection

As the following extracts from the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce are of special interest to farmers, we think it advisable to lay

them before our readers for their information. At the annual meeting of this Chamber Mr Chbystall moved the following, which was unanimously agreed to : —

That, in view of a movement in the Colony on the part of manufacturers or others seeking increased protective duties on many articles (already the subjects of considerable imposts), and the imposition of a heavy protective duty on agricultural machinery, implements, manupes, and other articles specially required by agriculturists and stockowners, and which are now admitted free of duty, it is hereby resolved that the Government be respectfully informed that, in the opinion of this Chamber, it would be an economic mistake, and opposed to the interests of the agricultural, pastoral, and mining industries, as well as to the interests of the public generally, to legislate further at present in the direction of increasing existing or imposing new Customs duties for protective purposes. Mr Chrtstall enumerated the following articles as calling for consideration : — Now free, proposed 20 percent.: All agricultural machinery i except reaping and threshing), churns, cheese presses, chaff cutters, curd mills, Hessian bags, horse rakes, iron sheep racks, machinery for boiling down sheep or cattle, plough lines, rick covers, rope, steam enginei, turnip cutters, twine for reapers and binders. Now free, proposed 15 per cent. : Manures. Rabbit asphyxiator to be 20 per cent: Now 15 per cent., proposed 20 per cent.: Apparel and ready-made clothing or cloth (partly or wholly woollen), boots and shoes, hats and caps. Now free, proposed 20 percent. : Plaster of Paris, crab winches, drain pipes, fireworks, flour bags, forge backs. hydraulic rams, iron blocks, iron bridge work, &c. The following letter from a Christchurch merchant, which speaks for itself, was read at the same meeting : My object in desiring to see you was to chat over the proposal that I hear is to be made by tbe Industrial Association, to levy protective duties on agricultural implements, with a view to the matter being discussed by the Chamber of Commerce. Being myself au importer of such goods, and therefore personally interested in the consequences of the proposal, I do not feel myself at liberty to ntroduce or discuss the subject in the Chamber. lam not a freetrader, nor am 1 a protectionist, in the vulgar sense ot those terms. lam of opinion, speaking generally, that Customs duties should be levied for purposes of revenue only, and that, within proper limits, the interchange of products and the course of trade should be as little interfered with as possible. But in considering the incidence of Customs duties, due regard should be had for local industry, a* d, without taxing the community at large for the benefit of a few manufacturers and the fostering of "exotic" manufactures, the duties should be so adjusted as to encourage legitimate local industry. Acting on this principle, although it actually interfered largely with my own trade, I gave a cordial support to the manufacturers of woollens, boots and shoe*, saddlery, etc., these being enterprises for the working up into finished form the natural products of the countiy, and therefore " legitimate" objects for encouragement, the promotion of which, while beneficial to those engaged in they. and to the country at large, did not militate against any other industrial interests. The largest industrial interest in the country, and that upon which the prosperity of the Colony mainly depends, is undoubtedly tbe agricultural one; and in proportion as that it prosperous, so to a veiy great extent will the country at large be prosperous. The future progress of the Colony largely depends on the success of the farmers, for ita its absence the settlement of tbe land at present unoccupied cannot goon. Owing to a succession of bad seasons, and the unprecedently low prices of the chief productions of the country — wool and grain — the farming interest is suffering severe depression, and every assistance and encouragement will have to be afforded it to enable it to tide over the present distress, aod hold on till a change of cultivation, or an improvement in tbe Home market*, places it in a better position. To this end therefore it appears to me that any readjustment of tbe tariff should be directed ; and instead of imposing any duties on the implements, goods, seeds, &c, used by agriculturists in the prosecution of their calling, all such duties should be remitted, It is not necessary to place in opposition the implement manufacturers and the farmers; but, if it were, the vital importance of the latter interest should at once determine the course to take. The Colony can do without the implement makers for a time at any. rate, but it cannot do without the farmers. As a matter of fact, however, the implement makers already enjoy a " natural" protection in the shape of the cost of importation amountin-.', as it does, upon such goods, to 30 per cent, up to even 100 per cent., and in tome eases more than that. „ Under shelter of this "natural protection" a considerable industry has already sprung up, and although all tbe iron aod most other materials have to be imported! more than one large fortune has been made by tbe interprising founders. Such manufactures, therefore, really need no further protection, and were it accorded, it would only have the effect ot rising prices to the damage of the agriculturists of the Colony. And it they do heed further protection, surely such industries may fairly be classed as " exotic," and not legitimate, and they should not be supported at the cost of the community.