The Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL MOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8815, 17 May 1907, Page 2

The Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL MOTES

AFTER the almost hysterical denunciations of Mr Deakin and the amazing indiscretions of Sir William Lyue, it is a relief to como back to sound British common sense such as was contained in Mr Asquiths’s speech in the House of Commons on Tuesday. He said that after a frank discussion of preference the Premiers and the Government had agreed to differ aud he thought they would be better friends than ever. Britain would be mad to interfere with the colonies in the full exercise of fiscal autonomy, while the colonies would be acting like fools and flying in the teeth of their own economic system if they allowed British manufacturers to undermine their native industries. A statement like this pricks all the pretty bubbles which the Premiers have been blowing, and brings us down to facts which is always dangerous to forget iu our speculations. The Premiers while iu England missed a fine opportunity of carrying their own theories into practice. Wo should have been glad to have seen them give up a little time to arranging perforeutial tariffs between the colonies. From our own knowledge of the ease with which a tariff arrangement could bo arrived at between New Zealand aud Australia, wo feel sure that the utmost harmony would have reigned among the Premiers during the discussion, and the satisfactory result which could undoubtedly have been easily arrived at would |havo provided a magnificent object lesson for the British Government. '

THE repeat of the Wellington Industrial Association on proposed tariff charges is the first sign of the conflict which will shortly ho ' entered upon,' The recommendations made by hodyrso arws

know them, are first a reduction in the sugar duty of 3s per cwt., second a duty of per cent on machinery which, can now be made in the colony owing to the patents having expired, and lastly more aid to the languishing caudle industry. The present duty on sugar is *1 per lb., or 4s 8d per cwt., and the reduction proposed would lessen the price of the 561 b. bag of sugar by Is 6d, or about *1 per lb. on small quantities. The real value of the concession would not he that it would materially lower the cost of living, but that it would afford great assistance to those manufacturers which employ sugar in large quantities, notably the jam, confectionery, and biscuit industries. At the present time the nearly prohibitive duty of 3d per lb. is charged on jam and' biscuits, and the danger is that having the market practically at their command manufacturers here will not lower their prices, but simply increase tlioir profits as the result of obtaining cheaper sugar. In order, therefore, to prevent this danger the duties on the articles which wo have referred to should he diminished so as to leave the manufacturers in about the same position as they arc now relatively to imported articles. This would secure a fall iu price iu jam, biscuits, etc., corresponding to the lower cost of production. It is well known, that industries which are once protected on the ground that they are socalled infant industries, never reach the self-supporting stage. For example, the steel industry in the United States still demands and re- , ceives protection, though it is quite strong enough in the common opinion to stand alone. Now Zealand ought to ho able to export jam, but this development will never bo readied so long as the trade is highly protected, and therefore every reasonable opportunity should be taken to render it as capable of holding its own iu the markets of the world as are the butter and meat industries.

THE proposal to place a dirty of 33)< per cent on all machinery which it is alleged can bo manufactured in the colony should bo resisted to the uttermost. The progress of the colony is intimately bound up with tiro extensive use of machinery, and it is the wildest folly to hold back every industry iu order that a few engineering firms may profit. The demand for a 83K per cent duty iu addition to the cost of carriage, insurance, aud other charges means that New Zealand engineers do not consider that they can produce machinery so as to sell it at less than about one aud a half times as much as the imported article would cost were there no duty. The real way to develop the country is to encourage the importation and use of every kind of machine. Engineers will be required to drive and repair tire machines, and iu course of time it will be found more profitable to produce certain classes of machinery here than to import them. This process would he a natural development, aud it would take a little time for it to be brought about, but the industry would then be founded on a firm aud lasting basis instead of only existing at tire expense of every consumer iu the country.