Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 28, 21 August 1890, Page 2

Correspondence

[We are not responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.] PROTECTION AND MONOPOLY. TO THE RniToß <>F THE STAR. Sir, — The American writer I quoted in my last letter mentions that 25,000 persons own one-half of the wealth of the United States, and that the whole of the wealth of the country is practically owned by 250,000 persons or one in 60 of the adult male population, and he predicts, from the recent rapid concentration of wealth, that, under present conditions, 50,000 persons will practically own all the wealth of the country in 80 years, or less than one in 500 of the adult male population. No doubt the great extent of territory in America, giving scope to the surplus capital of Europe, especially England, has in the past given rise to a certain amount of prosperity in certain parts, and also offered a fair prospect to the British workman to follow up the capitalist to the far west ; but the working man, no doubt, finds plenty of competition even in those regions in these times. Naturally the American has had no objection to this influx of capital, but in view of the manufacture of pauperism in large towns by his own unprincipled policy of Protection for which purpose that scheme i 9 well adapted, the Yankee has lately attemped to prevent a fair share of the poorer classes of Europe from migrating to the States. The foregoing condition of afiairs in America has, I believe, almost reached a climax, and a change is impending, as the outcome of the last presidential election will show, and the working man from his bitter experience of the delusion of Protection, will turn in favor of Freetrade, and those in favor of that policy would. I believe be found fully equal in numbers, but vested interests and influence preponderate on the other side. The Government of any country will be subject to a great deal of corruption until the working man takes some interest in some of the leading questions of the day so as, in a measure, to be able to make use of his own judgment in voting. Up to the present time the unscrupulous candidate who can spout, making black appear white, using bribery, and other unfair means, has been favored. There is no doubt, as to the subject of female franchise, that the wite of the working man, and in many cases women, will make use of their votes with better judgment than men, simply because they would want to know upon what principle the candidate would be entitled to their vote. Besides, women in these days, as a rule, have deeper religious convictions than men, but to find either religion or principle in so-called " Protection " is a more complex problem than that of race distinction or the weather. I give it up. I believe an Act of the Legislature to bestow on female-; the privilege of voting, is just about being passed in the United States which, when it comes into force, along with other causes, will, I believe, over-balance political affairs in favour of Freetrade in that country. The working man of this colony would do well in giving the foregoing subjects some thought, so as not to be led away with the delusion that Protection has been proved to be m America, and he will then find it his interest to vote for Freetrade candidates in the forthcoming general election. I do not claim that a boom will take place by the means of a Freetrade policy, but something better and more lasting, which will, with a breaking up or check on monopolies, &c, contribute to the welfare of this colony by creating thriving seaports as well as prosperous inland towns, and give a fair chance of prosperity to all. My next letter will be on the subject of " Protection in New Zealand." — I am, &c, A Colonist. Feilding, August 19, 1890.