A Protectionist Scare

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 13, 16 July 1889, Page 2

A Protectionist Scare

TO THE RtUTOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — Before entering upon the subject of depression, and the Chinese problem, I find it necessary as a Freetrader, to refute and show the rediculousness of an accusation, made use of by Protectionists against Freetraders during and since the last general election, and which accusation is calculation to mislead or throw a very thick mist around the subject.^ It has been .„ alleged by leading politicians that Freetrade would flood this country with Chinese ; and Sir Robert Stout in his great stumping tour — in the attempt to cling to his enormous salary by reducing, in some cases, moderately paid Government officials' salaries, and by imposing a duty on necessaries so that those least able to bear a burden, would have the same portion to pay as the rich — made use of this or a similar accusation. Such tactics as these are calculated to mislead or confuse and are quite unworthy of those who aspire to the' leadership of a party, and much more so in the case of a would be leader of a ministry or the state. Now, it may just as well be alleged that Freetrade would import freely French criminals from New Caledonia and even the obnoxious reptiles of Australia or New Guinea. The proper definition of Freetrade as the term would imply is freetrade in merchandise. Now as far as my knowledge goes the Chinaman is generally looked upon, or classed, as a human being although of very low type, and in connecwith this it is a custom of that race to export their dead back to China, but I have not heard that to secure return freight consignments of live Chinamen packed in bales or boxes and labelled " this side up —with care," haye been forwarded to the Wellington or other merchants, if so the well known tendency of Protectionists to favour monopolies, for the reduction of wages would cause them to be the first to take advantage of this natural incident. The fact is the accusation, although misleading to the thoughless, is ridiculous and deserves to be met with ridicule. But, as you may as well try to drive reason into the head of an Egyptian mummy, as into the cranium of a rabid Protectionist, I ask this question, namely, "What has Protection ever done to restrict or stay the influx of Chinese competition, or coloured labor?" I answer, very little, but has .rather encouraged it. Among neighboring colonies New South "Wales, favorably disposed towards Freetrade, has recently taken the most severe measures to restrict the influx of Chinese, and if our attention is .directed to America, to favour the Protectionist, as that land may be called their vantage ground, where they can point to the surplus riches accumulated under a Protective policy, but they conveniently leave out of the question America's great advantages, and also in what proportion her riches are distributed among her population. Yankee brag or blow has become proverbial, and one would be inclined to think- that some of the colonial papers had entered into an extensive contract to-do some of that business for that nation of boasters, notably the New Zealand .Times, which paper must surely have some Protection monopoly to back us, as articles published in that journal now and then, during the recess, would tend to show. Now, what has a Protective policy done in America to protect the white man from Chinese competition or coloured labor from black to a pale yellow ? I cay nothing, until Chinese competition began directly to effect the interests of the higher circles, and until a democratic government was in power favoring Freetrade, and which government also sympathised with the working man and woman. The truth is that the laboring classes in America are becoming enlightened as to the evil effects of Protection, that evil which the same classes, for want of thought, are being ensnared into in this country. It has been recorded that during the last presidential election in America that some of the mills, or monopolies, threatened to stop operations if the working man, or artisan, favored the election of Cleveland, which shows the great vested interests at wjv in that country. To conclude, I see by Hansard that the poll tax levied on Chinamen is running out in a few months time, and instead of a fresh tax I believe it is ' high time that the Chinese influx was stopped altogether, as there already too many of that race in this colony. — I am, &c, A Colonist.