PROTECTION AND FREETRADE.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 23, 11 August 1892, Page 2

PROTECTION AND FREETRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAM. Sir,— ln your last issue Mr Deverell again wrote in defence of Protection. He tries to make us believe that by placing a heavy import duty on imported articles the industrial class would be benefitted. Possibly a little more labor would be ■ employed, but as a set off against this " living " would be much more expensive, and, under cover ot these duties, capitalists would get a higher rate of interest for the money they invested in manufacturing, importing, &c. The increase oi interest, perhaps, would not be noticed as it would only be collected in fractions of a penny when the goods were being distributed to the consumers in small quantities, but totalled together a very handsome sum would be realised. Another reason why some articles made in a young country like New Zealand can't compete with imported manufactures is that immense sums of money are invested in labor-sav-ing machinery and appliances in the factories of older countries like England Germany and, also, in these large factories, which have been in the same families for generations, there are " trade secrets." In consequence of this knowledge of " wrinkles " there are certain productions it is impossible for outsiders to compete with in quality. If New Zealand could turn out these articles of the same excellence as the imported goods " Protection " would not be thought of. The raw material we have at hand, and the freights Home and back should be sufficient to keep our wages at a higher standard than those in other older countries, but this is another proof of the superior knowledge of Home manufac turCVs, and until they can be induced to come and live with us or let us into their secrets, we should devote our energies to the production of other commodities which cannot be so successfully competed against, and which we can exchange for for the products of our fellow workmen at the other side of the world, and not rob them for our supposed gain. " Protection " is very good as a revenue-raising machine, but who suffere most ? Why Labor.