NEW INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 31, 26 August 1871, Page 2

NEW INDUSTRIES.

[lndependent, August 23.]

The experiments with the iron sand reported yesterday, and the Flax Exhibition referred to to-day, forcibly draw our attention .to the important subject of developing the producing resources of our own country. It is gratifying to note that ever since the delivery of the financial statement of last session these have received more attention than was ever paid them before. Hopeless stagnation then gave way to hopeful enterprise, and in all parts of the colony our settlers have turned their attention to new industries. It is not to be wondered at if some of these, havingto contend against the “cheap labor” of older countries, have had some difficulty in being established. Every new industry has besides to contend against a lamfntably prevalent prejudice against every colouial production, which limits its use, and consequently both its payableness and its perfectibility. Of this, colonial beer and Nelson cloth may be taken as examples. The preference for their English rivals was for a long time so great that their consumption was limited, the return in the shape of profit to the manufacturer small, and the progress in bringing them to an equality with their imported rivals necessarily slow. Yet see, now, how after some years of siruggle the former article has succeeded in driving its English rival almost entirely out of the market. That this feeling is not peculiar to New Zealand is but too evident from the experience of our sister colonies. The same, according to Dean Swift, was the experience of Ireland. “ Both sexes in Ireland,” he remarks, “ especially the women, despise and abhor to wear any of their own manufactures, even those which are better made than in other countries.” “ I would be glad to know,” says he, “by what secret method it is that we are to grow a rich and flourishing people. The only trade worth mentioning is the linen of the North, and some butter from Cork.” “ If,” he continues, “ we do flourish, it must be against every law of nature and reason, like the thorn of Glastonbury, which blossoms in the midst of winter.” Now, it may be well to enquire, while on this subject, why the “ linen trade in the North ” was the only flourishing manufacture. If it became so without any Government assistance, then of course it would be an argument in favor of the nonintervention of go vestments, and against a leading principle of tbe Ministerial policy—encouragement to native industries. The facts are, however, entirely the other way. They rather show the value of special settlements, and temporary assistance to new industries. French refugees from the persecutions of Louis the Fourteenth settled in Ulster, and introduced the manufacture. King William 111 not being a blind believer in what may be almost called the superstitions of free trade, encouraged it by a large annual grant, and succeeding Sovereigns emulated his example. A Government board sitting in Dublin regulated the trade. After the union it was encouraged by a grant from Parliament continued down to the year 1826. Then , when it had &een successfully established, the Government props were removed, and it stood firm as one of the first industries of Europe. Had the “ infallible principles” of free trade been consulted, where would it have been now ?

We are glad to see that the principle of -encouraging native industries is to receive a further application this session in the shape of encouragement to fisheries. A bill for this purpose is promised in the Royal speech. This interference of the Government will doubtless be objected to by doctrinaires ; but every intelligent and patriotic colonist must hail it with satisfaction. The Scottish fisheries, now a very important industry, giving employment to many thousands, is the creature of legislation. It was first established by special bounties. Innumerable acts have been passed in England and Ireland for the encouragement of fisheries. Between the days of Edward I. and George I. more than twenty were passed. In the reign of the latter there was one passed of which this is the very suggestive title, “ An act for the better preventing fresh fish taken by foreigners being imported into this kingdom, and for the preservation of the fry of the fish, and for giving leave to import lob-

sters and turbets in foreign bottoms, and for the better preservation of salmon within several rivers in that part of this kingdom called England.” Tbe Government, in following the precedent of Scotland in encouraging fisheries, and in imitating Ireland m granting aid to the establishment of the manufacture of flax as a settled industry, are pursuing a course of legislation the beneficial results of which are proved beyond all contradiction. With such examples of success attending similar legislation, we do not anticipate much opposition in the present session to their giving effect to what is one of the cardinal points of their policy, viz, to stimulate home productions. “ One cause of a country’s thriving,” to use the language of that writer of masculine common sense from whom we have already quoted, “ is the industry of the people in working up all their native commodities to the last.’-’ Another he states thus : “ The conveniency of safe ports and havens to carry out their own goo&§ as much manufactured, and bring in those of others as little manufactured as the nature of mutual commerce will allow.” And another “ cause of a country’s thriving,” which is only beginning here to be enunciated, we quote as a fitting conclusion to our present observations: “the disposition of the people of the country to wear their own manufacture, and import as few clothes, furniture, food or drink as they possibly can live conveniently without.”