The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1st, 1925. PROTECTIVE MEASURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL Ist, 1925. PROTECTIVE MEASURES.

1 hi: <|Ue.stion of Piotcetiuii versus I'rec Trade was a detinite issue at Home in the election winch ga\e Labui its chance to enjoy olli.e. hear ot 1 rotectho me..sure,s Ijy the Baldwin .Ministry caused the defeat, lor the Liberals who tliiew their lei in with Labor, stood opposed to protective duties, I’role live duties tend to raise the cost of commodities, making bring dearer. U is so all the world over. Tariff inform is always a delicate process, because i.sually there are

two issues—one to provide revenue and ill a otl.er to foster trade or industry. Whore the la.titer is f.f chief moment it would certainly he bettei

to resort to a bounty scheme of production. That would he the best procedure of all to foster secondary industries, if the country could so order its final.te. .England lui.s long been free trade, and has nourished greatly, goilig, into nil markets of the world and competing successfully against foreign trade.s, many of whom had the benefits of protection behind them. The bounty scheme would help legitimate industries which were w.-rtli while, whereas protection while it helps all, helps also those which will never be able to walk by themselves, yet the community as a whole has to go on paying dearer for articles in order that goods at a highei cost than is necessary, may be produced. The public- mind might well wake up and take this aspect of the matter into consideration, Protection has a great hold on New Zealand, mid the moment the tariff is touched, manufacturers of all descriptions rush in and clamour for higher duties on imported goods that the same articles bitty be manufactured here at a greater price. And the pkiblic have tv* pay that enhanced price, while very often they use the imported article, which were it not for the import duty could be sold much cheaper, it is in cases such as tlie.se where the bounty scheme has its special advantage, for the' local manufacturers couh lie paid on mass production which would ensure cheaper goods and the under putting pf the imported article. Genuine industry would llourisli with ml annual saving all round with goods at a cheaper price, i

another direction the Government is mriving also at protective measures, and that is in the control of dairy produce, for which it is sought to force up the price at Home, with the result that we will hear a lot about London parity, and the sale of butter ami cheese here will go up in sympathy if the Control Board gets its wily. Again the people will have to pay the extra price, because legitimate trading will not he observed and the supply will he so restyidted as to for.e up the price to meet the demand. This is not legitimate, hut i will have the virtue of helping th dairy farmer at the expense of tl long suffering public who is called on all the time to pay the piper. The great means to help trade is production and not prohibition of production. Yet protection is a form of prohibition, while dairy control is essentially sej—compulsory prohibition at that. Then we have the compulsory prohibition regarding export of timber. Here again Government by its action forces up prices and, worst of all, restricts trade and employment. Capital is penalised, and the forest wealth cannot be used up economically, because so much of it has to be left in the hush or burned in the slab, and because the market where the 'waste timber might he used up. is not open for export. New Zealand is being handicapped very seriously in regard to all these* matters, and a revolutionary change requires to be brought about at the ballot box, so that those responsible will be asked to retire from office to make room for a new govern ment, which should be called upon treview matters as detailed here, the

attention to which would work miracles in adding to the prosperity of the country now and in the future.

From time to time much is heard about prohibition in the Unitt States. It is very difficult to enforce it, as the cable news from time to time reveals. President Coolidge lias referred to the matter publicly on more than one occasion. Ho did so when entering upon office, and late], he urged his fellow-countrymen to a more satisfactory compliance with the

prohibition law. Hardly bad he taken office in succession to President Harding in 1923 than he called a conference of State Governors' at White House to discuss with them met hr. ol' more effectively enforcing this Act; and since then there has been ample evidence from time to time that the scandals arising from the illegal traffic in liquor have aroused his keen resentment. 15ut the plain fact is that to patrol the boundaries of so vast a territory is a task of immense magnitude, and that the authorities have so far been unable to cope with it. because of the simple impossibility of establishing a force large enough to perform the duty adequately. Now the President, evil eiitly still impressed by the extent to which this traffic is carried on. has addressed a remonstrance to the nation. It is very doubtful, however, whether those who have deliberately set themselves to break a law of tin Statute Book will take much heed of an appeal by Mr Coolidge to the better instincts of humanity. “Tn' our Republic,” says the President, ‘•the first rule for the guidance of a citizen is obedience to law.” This, says an exchange, must be the first rule in every State before it can oven make a, pretence of exercising the functions of a State, but behind this rule there must he the salutary and ever-present power of the policeman. If Amoiica is trying to enforce a law without a sufficient number of policemen to make that, law effective among thuie who are disposed to break it. it is easy to perceive that her task may he peculiarly troublesome and difficult. But the moral support of the citizens is the best effective means of enforcing the law. The plain fact is that so many dissent from the restrictive measures of ] imbibition. that thov do not consider i: an offence to evade the law. Tin: sort of thing is happening in most countries where restrictions which a considered to bear unduly on the public, affect the liquor laws. Here ii New Zealand the same thing happens, and week hv week there are crops o cases of persons being found on licilsed prciniises after hours without legal excuse. The law is such tlmi the citizens as a whole will not give it their moral (support, and they think it no offence to set about evading the law. Similar conditions prorail in I'uited States, only we should ■sav. mole so.

Xuw Zealand occupies a lull page (with illustrations) in the annual Financial and v iimnien ial Review of “The Tillies.'' I.oinh u. Considerable skill in the use of essential (acts lias been displayed in the reading matter. Reference is made to , i working out of the Government's policy of econo inie.s and the resultant relief of taxation, and re-establishment of penny postage. The revenue account in <Oll- - form is given, and the fiiiiin rial condition of the Dominion is decribed as .sound. The public debt is also given, and it is shown how much of this is represented by repioducfivo assets, such as railways and hydroelectric undertakings. The State Advances .system is explained and facts given of the highly productive character of the country, which Is described as “Britain’s chief food supplier.’ Also “the largest per capita purchaser of Rritisli goods.” The tourist, and traveller is also appealed to and what Now Zealand has to oiler ill sport and scenerv is all plainly set forth, with out use of extravagant language. The page will eortiiinly be lead with in-terc-'t and profit by all interested in New Zealand from the puiiit of view of .settlement, investment, economic! or breaking new and attractive ground for Uniting, or fishing and deer slalk-