Freetrade v. Protection.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1894, Page 4

Freetrade v. Protection.

The troßsipy writer of the Australasian makes the following remarks on a much discussed subject : — " \ paradox, a paradox, at common sen^e it gaiiy mock*." Such is thft dpfinitionofa master of the art of stafnir opposiries in the same breath ; «inH if it be correct, then a g-av time may **c spent in the Assembly when listneing to a tariff discission. It must ho confessed to ordinary mortals tl>e gaiety is not so apparent as it m ; '>t be, but on the other hnnd the p -rndoxes are all there. One learns from hon. members — That i-faritinduß* r i":» need protection, and that 'he older the infants arrow the more protection do they require ; that taxing an article makes it cheaper; that making* an article cheaper enables the manufacturer to pay high wa2*e« ; that, intercolon:al freetrade is a nece*sitv. but it would be grossly unfair not to tax products coming from the sister state"! ; that to raise revenue at the Customs you sbould impose duties ro stop importation-; that prote m* m lessens pricey and tbat the far 'Prs and miners who obtain the beuifit of the reductions are entitled to compensation for their " patriotic sacrifice " in Daying more for commodities ; that protection sends up w_£,es, bu' that it is absurd to say th«* tariff attracts to the ci*v, because the waires in the protected trades are low»r than in the non-protecert industries ; that protection destroys tho importers 1 monopoly, which is good, ann that prohibition will give the local manufacturer a monopoly, which ip better. Cf France it was said at one time it was a despotism temper? d by epigrams, and the modern colony of Victoria may be described aa a democracy influenced by fallacies. j