PROTECTION AND THE WOOLLEN TRADE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2559, 3 June 1881, Page 2

PROTECTION AND THE WOOLLEN TRADE.

SECOND EDITION

The following letter, signed “Significant,” appears in the “ Press ” :—I notice with pleasure in your columns that the Mosgiel Company has secured from a Melbourne house £6OOO worth of orders, and, in referring to this fact, you say that “ as Victoria is not without woollen mills, and as there is a heavy protective duty, the transaction is significant, and the advocates of protection will scarce!}' care to furnish an explanation.” I quite agree with you, Sir, the fact is significant; it probably shows that the Victorian mills are so busy they are unable to supply all their own requirements, and it further shows how a woollen mill, started with protection as the Mosgiel was in the shape of a £SOOO Government bonus, and under a protective tariff of from 10 to 16 per cent, is able to hold its own and turn out their beautiful tweeds, &c., even for export, when, according to your free-trade arguments, they ought to have collapsed long ago. And, in conclusion, sir, another fact—For some time past the Kaiapoi Woollen Comsany has been making special lines of “ tweeds,” to the order of a Sydney house, as New South Wales is not without woollen mills, and enjoys all the blessings of free trade, it appears strange that so young a place as Canterbury should he able to accomplish this. My explanation is, that the present tariff is a substantial help to thriving young industry, and if allowed to remain a few years, will develope it into a mighty institution.