LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 40, 7 March 1877, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In a recent leader you say that the reduction of wages will remove the chief obstacle to local industries, but you seem to forget that there is a greater obstacle than high wages, namely, high, and m many cases, prohibitory railway charges. An instance of such is afforded m the transit of bricks between two neighbouring towns like Palmerston and Foxton, the charges for which amount to more than the value of the bricks. Our towns are too small to support local industries without the assistance of each other. A population which remains m Palmerston while buildings are going up and then migrates to Foxton because a big building is going up there, and seeks for a fresh field of labour when that building is finished will never make a civilised community. If a married man wants to work m Feilding he must pay half his day's wages for his ticket ; he therefore prefers to lie out of work until he can procure it m his neighbourhood. Furniture-making would be a good industry for this township because the red pine is cheap, but then the railway charges would not only lake the profit off the furniture, but also prevent mechanics m Feilding or Foxton from competing with the mechanics m Palmerston. The latter, of course, would raise their demand for wages directly a new industry started, so as to he able to pay the debts contracted during the present depression. Reduced railway charges would give this country the advantages of a city, because the labor market would not be disturbed by every new industry or building if labourers could afford to go to their work by train. A reduction m the railway charges would not only encourage local industries but also increase the traffic, and thereby increase instead of diminish the revenue. The effect upon trade resulting from the reduction of railway charges can scarcely be imagined. Everybody would charge less and get more money, and the money got would be of more use to him. The storekeeper would not be so easily overstocked, the manufacturer could depend on a market, the workman upon getting work, the employer upon getting labour, and m short prices would be equalised as they are m larger and more settled places, and enterprises could be rewarded with success instead of ruining the promoters and deterring others from following their example. . I am, &c, W. Palmerston North, March 1, 1877.