MATTERS POLITICAL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 105, 31 October 1895, Page 2

MATTERS POLITICAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — Your columns have lately been open to a discussion on Protection v. Freetrade. Allow me to give a practical illustration of what Protection really means. In the Customs and Excise Duties Bill the Colonial Treasurer put a duty on a copy book, and the Hon. Mr Reeves — a Liberal (?)— supported this duty in the interests of a certain firm in Christchurch, but Mr Allen, an Opposition member, moved an amendment, which was carried, that copy books be admitted free. The imported copy book is sold retail at 2d each, whereas the article made in Christchurch is generally retailed at 4d each. Well might Captain Russell ask, " Can the poor people of this colony afford to pay a Protective tax on the books that are required for their children, who are going to school ?" Vide p. 531, No. 28, Hansard of this session. In other words, the parents of 100,000 children would have had to pay double, or nearly so, for their copy books in order to benefit one firm of bookmakers I The word "Liberal" literally means free. Truly, we are governed by a Liberal Government, Liberal, heavy Customs duties. Liberal travelling expenses for Ministers. Liberal waste of money on the Pomahaka estate — about £10,000 above its real value. Liberal yearly addition to our National Debt— about "£BOO,OOO annually. Liberal talk on the hustings and in the House against capital ; and yet they have done hardly more than one sensible thing, viz., to legislate so that capitalists from London may invest their money in the gold mines of the North. I am, etc., George Wilks. Feilding, 28th October, 1895.