The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 1884. Local Industries

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 81, 18 December 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 1884. Local Industries

♦ The intimation that the Government intends to encourage local industries during the recess has had the effect of awakening into life a spirit of progress which we hope will not be aUowed to go to sleep for want of proper encouragement from the public themselves, who are the persons really interested. A Trade and Labor Council and a Chamber of Manufacturers have been formed in "Wellington, and a deputation which waited on Mr Richardson, the Minister of Public Works, a few days ago, was informed that the Government were willing to do everything in their power to encourage the rnanufactureof locomotive engines, the whole of the machinery for which — with some slight exceptions, such as tubing> &c. which would have to be imported ■ — could be made in the Colony. Ten engines are to be made in two years, the first to be handed over in eighteen months. It was supposed that the , cost would be greater than for the imported engines. The benefits to be expected from the promotion of this kind of work are far greater than may be at first supposed. Admitting that | it savors somewhat strongly of Protection, which will raise a host of opponents to the scheme, yet it must be allowed, in this instance, that in the establishment of an industry which will not only be a means of giving employment to a large number of skilled laborers, who are remarkable as a rule for industry and intelligence already in the Colony, but of promoting an expansive trade which will more than sustain the natural increase of their families and give a remunerative trade or profession to their sons. The lads trained in the workshops of tbe manufacturers in England and Scotland have hitherto almost supplied the world with practical engineers, and it is within the bounds of reason to expect that tbeir sons, bom in New Zealand, may develop all the proverbial skill and determination of their sires. No one objects to the present expenditure on scholastic education, and the teaching of a trade is on all fours with it ; therefore, there ought to be no cavilling at an indirect means of teaching tbis or any other occupation the united exercise of which would necessarily add so much to the general wealth of the Colony. The probable excessive cost is also problematical, as there is no reason to expect that wages for tbis class of labor will be abnormally increased, and even supposing such were to happen, other sinnlar artisans would rapidly put in an appearance and bring down the wages to a legitimate level. This sort of Protection would not increase the price of food. On the other hand, Professor Fawcett says : — " Directly the principle is sanctioned that certain special industries are to be fostered by the State, the trade of a country at once ceases to be regulated on purely commercial considerations, and is placed under official and political guidance. The State is made the arbiter and superintendent of the entire industrial economy of the country. The State decides what industries shall be called into existence by Protection, and determines what is the exact amount of encouragement that 6haU be given to each particular trade. It is impossible to imagine any Government can be qualified to discharge such functions ; hut even if it were qualified to do so, no one can doubt that in determining the exact amount of Protection which should he given to particular trades — whether in one instance the duty should be ID per cent, or in another 20 pen cent. — the' political influence which would* 'he. brought to hear .by special interests would exercise a far more potent effect thari'aUy conclusions, which might be arrived- at from carefully weighed industrial consideration ." We are inclined to. behove, however, that so long as the Government confines itself to the encouragement of the making of engines, raUs, and other material for use, in the Colony, no harm can ensue or monopolies be created. „,'"'.