NOT ANSWERED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17281, 23 September 1916, Page 11

NOT ANSWERED.

TO Till EDITOR. Sir, I attended the meeting of the Board of Industries last night m order to ask two questions, which I duly put. They wore not answered because (i) it was claimed that they were not revelant to the business of the evening, and (2) because the time was geyting late. As to (1) your readers may judge, as to (2) tho fault was that of the board. The questions were: (a) Why should shop assistants and clerical workers (employed outside of protected industries.) bo taxed in order to try and find employment for workers in protected factories? (b) Is it true that tho total hands employed in New Zealand boot factories was in 1900 2696 and in 1910 2072, and that two increases in the tariff on boots had taken place during those ten years? Mr Frostick quoted figures showing the groat distress existing in England, which he attributed to freetrade. 1 quoted similar distress which existed in Victoria in 1893 under a 40 per cent tariff. I did not claim that this was even primarily due to protection, but; 1 gave the testimony as a sot-off against Air Frosiick’s remarks. / Now as to the quotations being twenty-three years old, I say if they wero truo then, they are still true. It not, at what rate per annum doos truth become false?—l am, etc., C. H. NIGHTENGALE. September 22.