DUTIES ON NECESSARIES

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 84, 5 October 1895, Page 2

DUTIES ON NECESSARIES

TO THE EDITOB OF THE STAB* Sir, —My last letter was written when tbe Stab of the 24tb of last month came to band wherein was published a leader npon the increased duties on boots and shoes, as an eye-opener to the working classes. The bootmakers of Christchurch have had a cbronic grievance for many years back as to more protective duties. It seoms to be the policy of the very Liberal Government to satisfy the aggrieved, even if it is at the expense of 99 out of 100 of the community. But in tbe history of protection has there ever been such a being as a satisfied pro* tectionist? I very much doubt it, and so I suppose this increase of duty will only gratify the few until there is a craving for more, and like the mournful ditty of that native nocturnal bird, wbich from his cry is called the " More-" pork " taking a spell after a feed, but having a voracious appetite has his eyes wide open to take advantage of another square meal off his victims. The difference between a protectionist and the aforementioned bird is that the latter kills his victims outright while in a drowsy condition, but tbe former kills trade by degrees and deludes his victims while their faculties are about them and their eyes are open. The tendency of protection from the start leads to monopoly, and tbe tradesman in a small way who derives a great part of his living by mending, and only makes a few boots and shoes for a limited number of customers, may in time find his occupation gone, by increased competition, and hangers on at large establishments, with labour saving machinery and to fill up the time of apprentices taken on at a low wage rate, therefore it is no wonder . that sweating becomes more common as protection increases. The miserable condition of Melbourne in Victoria is an exam pie of this. The pair of imported shoes presented to the Hon. J. G. Ward by the Christchurch bootmakers was a farce. If ' the poor and others could be advised to save their spare shillings until they could buy a superior class of boots, shoes, or cloth, then there wonld be no use of importing cheap shoddy articles or of manufacturing them in this colony, but depend upon it, that tricks of trade would be practised, and inferior articles would be produced locally to suit different buyers. As to anonymous letter writers, if the subject dealt with is for the good of the community, and neither personally vindictive nor libellous, it seems to me not very important what kind of signature is used. In commenting upon our trade with England I ■ thought the signature of " Colonist "was - an appropriate one. A number of writers are not distinguished by modeSty who sign their names to their letters, but like to see their names in print under articles very often taken from books, or other letter writers, with the object of making these articles appear as their own. On the other hand it is recorded that beneficial writers have died, and; their real names never yet been found out. I wonder at Mr S. Goodbehere - having such objections against anonymous writers, when such an author as ,: Sir Walter Scott would very likely have given up writing altogether if he had not ;: gained celebrity and encouragement by anonymous writing to begin with. This ■ is only one noted case among many of L| those who have from modesty not made known their real names, lam, etc., A Colonist. Feilding, October 2nd, 1895.