The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, MAY 30. 1885. LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 2, 30 May 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, MAY 30. 1885. LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

! In his speech at Hawera, Major Atkinson said that it must be admitted that if the colony was to be prosperous, if the land was to be occupied m small blocks, ther, there must be provided m some way a home market for our produce. He referred to the difficult question of the employment of labor, pointingout that all over the colony arose the cry that industries are being worked by boys, and that as soon as a person had finished his apprenticeship his services were no longer required. This was a serious question, and he called attention to it because the community as a whole must consider it. He did not doubt for a moment that the present Government were doing their utmost to promote industries according to their views. The late Government equally did their best. No doubt the feeling of many public men m the Assembly was that the local industries should be encouraged m some way, and no dq.ub&!the : question of free trade arose, and he was not going to enter into that question; but he said this, that if to-mor-row they were to remove the whole of the • Customs duties^ supposing the colony could afford to do without the revenue, one-half the population must of necessity leave the colony. What that argument might b 3 worth was a question for people to consider, but it was as certain as possible that if the protective duties o£ 15 and 25 per cent, were to be removed it meant the closing up of the industries of the colony. That was a matter that needed consideration, and he was certain that the local industries question vtas one of the greatest problems that was to come up for tljeir consideration. These sentiments are m accord with the opinions often expressed m these columns. There can be no doubt m our opinion that the question of ! locfal industries is probably est problem" that can engage the attention of any Legislature. We have pointed out over and over again that. New Zealand's prosperity will never be" permanent or assured till local industries shall have been established all over the country. Local industries mean permanent employment of skilled mechanical labour as well of the working classes, the circulation of money, the development and utilization of our natural resources, all of which are ! the chief factors and elements m universal prosperity. We may have prosperity from the expenditure of borrowed money, either of colonial or local loans ; but a prosperity so achieved is temporary, delusive, and disappointing, because it is not enduring, and because it creates fictitious values of land and all other property, and induces a mania for speculation which normally ends m disaster. It is no argument to use that m our own immediate locality certain local industries wjiich have been launched have not been successfully established. The causes for failure could be easily demonstrated, but need not be entered upon here. Wle are satisfied that local industries must yet be acknowled as New Zealand's main stay, and when the truth of this theory is more universally admitted and acted upon, there will not be the periodical depressions that cause so much distress among the working ' classes. We again assert that the local industries question is tite " greatest problem " that can be under the consideration of any I. legislature; and the day that sees this fact admitted by our representatives m Parliament will be a happy one for the colony, and the precursor of better times and more assured and permanent prosperity.