Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCT. 31, 1891. Only a Little More Protection.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 31 October 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCT. 31, 1891. Only a Little More Protection.

The Chairman of the Wellington Woollen Company let fall, at the annual meeting on Wednesday night, some remarks, which bode ill for the unfortunate settler. After indulging in some tall talk about the wonderful succe. s of his company, it having been a dividend paying one since 1888-9, the chairman asserted that the affairs of the company were resting upon an absolutely sound foundation. This surely should be sufficient for the shareholders, if they accept the statements as facts, without their worrying about the concerns of other companies. Mr T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.H.R., thinks otherwise. He puffs his own concern up, refraining however from mentioning, they not many years ago, improved their property a la the Bank cf New Zealand, by forfeiting so much paid up capital, and calling the shares so much less, lhis seems to be the eminently business way of making money. However these things have nothing to do with

us. and we only mentioned ifc to show whai may h ye been the motive for th. wo I- derful thoughtful feeling shown by the Chairman for " smaller " concerns. " Two or tbree -raaller mills are ' not quite so prosperous as thoir best friends conld desire The increase in the tariff some three years ago does nofc appear to have diminished the importation -. f woollen goods

it may well bo argued that ths tiriff under tbis I? cad is worthy of r oir.e rerious consideration said the chairman. It certainly ia, hub not in the direction of further increase in the duties as Mr Macdonald appears to desire. If the Wellington and similarly large mills, are paying, it should prove that the smaller ones have only to increase the plant and capital to pay just as well. If the tariff, increased ten per cent in 1890 has resulted, as the Chairman says it has, by the imports increasing fifty per cent, it shows that the Eome production is liked better by the purchaser than the colonial. It seems clear that in spite of heavy duties, people will 'buy what suits them best. The large companies, being able to be regular dividend paying ones, show that they fail to meet the competition of English goods in the question of prices, *" and prefer large profits and small turnovers, to small profits and large returns, resting on the twenty five per cent duty to keep them afloat, The cost of the Wellington Mill is a fair example, they are only able to give eight per cent on their yearly output, yet the State protects them to the amount of twenty five per cent. Settlers are invited to contribute seventeen per cent for the pleasure of having colonial made articles ! This is shown by the Chairman to be the case, as they utterly failed in selling their productions outside of the colony, as in 1890 the export of woollen goods had fallen to less than half that of the previous year, and was not quite £13,000 in value ! The Chairman said that the figures he gave showed " that the Australian trade has not yet proved of sufficient magnitude to be very profitable to the mills engaged."

Here we have the opposite views of different interests clashing. The Government pretend that they want the people to take to the land, yet do nofc hesitate to tax them twenty-five per cent to encourage factory hands to herd in towns. Mr Macdonald was almost pathetic in his remarks about the'injustice of settlers buying imported woollen goods, he pictured the'" saddening' spectacle of young men and young.women, born in New -.ealand, reared and educated at a greafc cost to fche State, leaving it for other countries -'where fchey will obtain with ease those industrial openings for their energy and ability which have been denied them in then* native land." This is bosh of the purest kind, as very few of thoso leaving have been brought up to factory life ; nor has ifc been shown, except; contrarywi.se, fchafc those who have left our shores have " obtained with ease " openings of any sort. The very fact that there is no Australian market for New Zealand goods, show that the factories there are fully employed and not in want of these unfortunate young men and young women Mr Macdonald seems so much interested in. •ir George Grey's "unborn millions" is the only bosh to match this with. This speech has been made with a view to get the Government when they again tinker at the tariff, to give these Woollen Companies another five or ten per cent for distribution amongst the directois and shareholders. The hands wiil not need any, as the competition for places in the mill must be very activw, in view of the number who are " month after month " leaving for other countries to seek such industrial openings.

In the libel case heard at Palmerston, a witness, the chief one for the defendant, was under cross-examination by Mi- Jellicoe f.r seven hours. A Palmerston exchange of Thursday states tliat in consequence of the continual "breezes" betweeri counsel in the Imrie case at the District Court last evening, His Honor intimated that if it occurred again he would exercise his powers under the Act and commit both solicitors for contempt of Court. The case, Holmes and Bell v. T. Kennedy Macdonald was so far heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday,. y defendants confessing judgment. This is the case that has been postponed two or three times from defendant havin. pleade I his privi ego as a member of Parliament ! Mr James Ingram is -to be congratulated on having the first cucumber of the season on exhibition. It is a very well grown specimen, m. asuring fully fourteen inches. It was in Joe Tos' window yesterday. There has generally been a race for this result, and we are g ad that Mr Ingrain has this year secured first place. Tho building standing near the Mainstreet, near the railway reservo. some time used as a blacksmith's shop, is now pulled down, to be erected on some other portion of the line The building was erected as a stablo for the horses employed on the wooden tram line between Palmerston and this town. Mr Osbovne has an altered advertisement in this issue which is worthy of attention. The Payne family appear at the flail tonight. An early attendance is advisable both to obtain seats, and to prevent annoying those present, whilst a song is being . rendered. | Tho Bailway authorities announce excursion fares for the Prince of Wales's birthday. ' The usual sitting of the E.M. Court will be held on Wednesday.

T'^e Insurance Companies having pro* posed to introduce tli . average clause into their policies, a meeting of business racn held in Wellington on Thursday unanimously earned the following resolution : — Thnt the introduction of the n_ crage clause . iv fire insurance policies in Wellington, with its ]*.'-_e number of wooden buildings, carrylug i_axiiDiun rates, and the low peiont'ig- of covering, would be unjust and vexatious. lho Borough Council mcc' s for bnsiness on Monday. The Royal Commission of the Chicago Exhibition announce that ap-lications for space will : c receivod up to 29th February next ; also that the suae, will be charged for, but if not used the amount paid will be refunded. A movement is on foot to establish freezing works in the Waikato. The following are all made to our special order :— Boys' White Drill " Sailor "Suits, Gilt Buttons an I trimmed Blue Braid from 4/9 each at Te Aro House, We lington. Boys' Cream Drill " Sailor " Suits, Collars trimmed Blue Braid, Gilt Buttons, f om 5/(5 each at Te Aro House, Wellington . Boys' Drab Drill Sailor Suits, Col ars tri > mcd Blue and White Braid, Gilt Buttons, from 6/6 each at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Blue Serge Sailor Suits, White Braided Co lav, White Flannel Fronts, from 6/9 each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Blue - erge Sailor Suits, Collars trimmed Bed Braid, witli White Singlets, and Lanyards Beautiful Badge on ihe arm, from 12/G each at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Blue Serge Sailor Suits, with White Singlets, Lanyards and Badges, from 8/6 each, at Te Aro House, Wellingon. Boys' Fox's Serge Sai'or Suits, with Singlets, Lanyards, and Arm Badges, from 18/6 each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Colonial Tweed Knicker Suits, from 10/6 each. Mosgiel Tweed .Knicker Suits, from 15s Od each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Kaiapoi Tweed Knicker Suits, from 12/0 each. West of England Knicker Suits, from 15s Od each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Scotch Tweed Knicker Suits from 7s each Mosgie Tweed 3 garment Suits, from 22/6 each. Kaiapoi Tweed 3 garment Suits, from 27/6 each, at Te Aro House, Wellington. Boys' Mosgiel Tweed Sac Suits from 25/6. Kaiapoi Tweed Sac Suits from 27/6. Roslyn Tweed Sac Suits from 33/6, at the Noted House for Boys' and Youths' Clothing, the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House Wellington. The second direct shipment for the season is just to hand ex s.s Tainui, 73 cases and packages have been received by us to date for the present season, and the very pick of the Spring and Summer Fashions and Nove ties is now obtainable in all departments at " The Bon March£, Palmerston North. I esidents of this district visiting Palmerston are respectfully invite 1 to inspect these extensive shipments of new and fashionable Drapery, Dress Goods, Mantles, .Millinery, and Novelties which surpass anything previously shown at the Bon March., Palmerston North.— Boss A Sandfoh. .