LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 992, 30 August 1877, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sir, —I have read with much pleasure in your leader of Monday evening’s issue, the comments you put forward for the considelation of those who hold sound principles as to the wisdom of fairly, honestly, and properly developing the productions of any country. It is certainly good, sound, and wholesome advice, and it is to be hoped for those who come after us, that no such shortsighted policy will be attempted to be carried out here, as that which is now adopted in Victoria, and winch is the laughing stock of all enlightened men. To start with : the opinion expressed by the few who have lately got up an agitation in the interests of fostering what is commonly termed native industries, is totally unworthy of consideration by moderately intelligent people. It means this—To ass'st by I he aid of the State the attempt to do something that must ultimately prove to be utterly fallacious and injurious. The consumers generally are plundered by Act of Parliament for the benefit of a handful of men who are as a rule wild brained adventurers. The true principles of commerce are strangled, and the articles so produced are more costly to the consumers, and as a rule very inferior. Now, I ask, is this the sort of business desirable for the welfare of a country? By a protective policy, whether you call it fostering native industry, or by whatever name you give it, it all comes to the same thing in the end, destroying f air open competition, and making all articles so fostered dearer instead of cheaper. Unless the consumers of these fostered articles are protected all round, they are completely fleeced. The few benefit at the cost of the many. One would think the example shown in Victoria would be a lesson. The nonsuccess of the distillery at Warrenheip, once established near Ballarat, came to grief after the Victorian Government gave it a bonus of 4s per gallon on every gallon of the vile stuff it turned out, besides losing all its paid up capital, and more. There are numberless instances beside, of the injury which this suicidal policy has left on record. What I say is this, if a manufactory can’t start on its own bottom, it has no right to be helped on by Government aid. This is my wholesome doctrine. Had some of these lame adventurers (who lately advocated otherwise) been fortunate enough to have been brought up in the manufacturing districts in the Noith of England they would know right well that where machinery is improved almost daily it would be almost futile for manufacturers of a similar article to keep their heads above water here, even with the strong aid of the Government, coupled with the very best articles your enlightened contemporary, the “ Lyttelton Times,” could possibly produce. 1 should suggest that these agitators should turn their strength to insisting upon the Government affording proper railway facilities for transmitting the produce along the railway lines. This would benefit the country, and I feel certain their action would be appreciated. Yours, &c, PROGRESS.