COLONIES AND PROTECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 221, 23 October 1909, Page 6

COLONIES AND PROTECTION

ISTINUUI.SHKD VISIXOII'S VIIIAVS. Christchurch, October 20. In the course'of a brief interview to,lav. Sir Albert Spiccr, M.P., president of the London Chamber of Commerce, made some interesting remarks in con ■ncction with Free-trade and tile coloSir Albeit, who is a staunch Freetrader, said that he had always held -that, the country which produced a large ■surplus nf foodstuffs could not afford to play with protection. There was no doubt that, at the present time, it would oc a very serious blow to many industries in Australia and New Zealand were Free-trade to be introduced Suddenly, and he did not think that pco. pie would be prepared to substitute for protection a policy of direct taxation. At the same time, he could not shut Ins eyes to the fact that Australia and New; Zealand were atrrU-uitursil countries, and their wealth was in these industries. If he (the speaker) lived in Australia or New Zealand he would lie a Free-trader on principle, and In- ri hoiild aim at giving ■each industry that had protection a limited number of years to enabl' it to nocome established with the view of ultimately withdrawing (hat protection. He was. however, bound to say that he believed that protection had ton strong a hold in Australasia to make it likely, that an alteration would lie made in the | near future.