The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 9. A COMPARISON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 9. A COMPARISON.

Statements published hy the B»t\ sh ioard of Trade and- the Washington Dejartment of Commerce and Labor supily the basis for an interesting companion of the relative positions of the British working man under free trade and ,hc American working man under projection. The figures suggest u.*u man who lives under a system of protection has a very decided advantage. Iho outstanding fact is that the American working man, after paying for his rent food and fuel, has £1 8s lOd a week left from his wages, while the British workin* man has only 7s 8d left. The Board of°Trade report shows the average wage of the British working man to be £1 lu» lOd a week, while the Washington report sets down the average wage ot_ the American working man at £3 !>s id a week 'Hie protectionist pays in most cases more for his food and clothing but it would seem that lie can allord it .several times over. "For clothes, tli ■protectionist workman can allord to naj 8s fi'/.d a week," states the Daily Lx press "in summarising the American re turn "This amount allows liim to dresi bis wife and children stylishly, ami per mils him to have sullicient suits o clothes so that he need not wear hu dirtV working uniform in the streets He goes to his business and comeshorn' dressed as a business man. l'"or life m suranee bis average pavmeut is Is ii',y a week; for hitoxieimts. ll%d, fo amusements and holidays U'/ 2 d; fo tobacco. lrt'/,<l; for organisation due, B'/,d; for books ami newspapers (■'/., I for religions purposes 7d. The protee tionist can afl'ord to take out mortgages and he pays, an average of £2 10s year in principle and interest. Afte iloin," all this, and more, be has a ne saving of £l2 Is 11(1 a year. That b almost as much as a British old-age per sion." Of course, there arc many nrgi ment.s to be produced on the side : free trade, and mnny thousands of Em lishmen liavc no wish to exchange tli conditions prevailing in their eonntr | for those of America. The figures, liov ever', are impressive.