MR DEVERELL—HIS BOOTS AND PROTECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 29, 25 August 1892, Page 2

MR DEVERELL— HIS BOOTS AND PROTECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAtt. Sib, — In order to show how self-interest tends to warp people's minds on the subject of Protection, the following incident is a good illustration :— Sir Robert Peel in his first great measure for the reduction of import duties, diverted the Housa of Commons by reading a letter addressed to him by a person connected with the herring fishery, cautioning him not to lower the duty on foreign herrings, or else the Norwegian fishermen would undersell them (the Scotch), the writer adding, with delicious simplicity, that he was " a thorough freetrader in every other respect but herrings." On the same occasion, in order to illustrate the baneful effects of Protection on the morals of the people, Sir Robert Peel read extracts from a letter or circular from a noted smuggler to a London firm, stating the premiums he charged for conveying French lace, veils, gloves, etc., by the indirect channel, " The premiums varied from 8 to 13 per cent, and were, of course, considerably below your Custom House duties." Another amusing incident with reference to smuggling occurred when Mr Joseph Hume, flourishing his silk bandanna handkerchief before the members of the House of Commons, exclaimed " Here is a foreign ware that is totally prohibited. Nearly everyone of you has a similar illicit article in his pocket." So much for your prohibition. I am, etc., Saml. Goodbehere.