The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885. PROTECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1344, 23 May 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885. PROTECTION.

Ever since we took possession of this paper we have advocated a policy of Protection as the only one calculated to develope the industrial resources of the colony. It is therefore with pleasure that we notice a strong feeling in favor of protection springing up in this colony, and that the Ministry of the day are more or less favorable to it. In Christchurch on last Wednesday, Mr John Holmes, M.H.R., delivered a very forcible lecture on " The best means of supplying the workmen of Nev Zealand with employment," and the only means he suggested was the placing of such protective duties on imported articles as would enable their being manufactured in the colony. He said that the condition of New Zealand was similar to that of America in 1830, when the American people depended wholly on the products of the soil ; or to Victoria, where, after the gold mines were worked out, soup kitchens had to be established. He then showed how America, Canada and Victoria were before they adopted a protective policy, and Raid though there were millions of acres of fine land to be got for nothing in each of these countries their populations were starving. Ho next inquired into the causes of the present depression, and attributed them to reduction in the expenditure of public money, reduction in the prices of agricultural products, dear land, dear money, and the want of local industries to give employment to workmen. He urged that the Government should make laws to suit its own community, regardless of how it suited any other country, and went on to show that for years New Zealand had been importing 30 per cent, more than she exported. He then read the following table of statistics :

Mr Holmes said that all the money we had borrowed from England since 1878 had gone in paying for the goods which we imported over and above the value of our exports. If industries were started here, and thi3 money kept in the colony, wheat would be about the same here as it is now in England. He then read a table of imported articles which could be manufactured in this colony. There was £4,403,999 worth of these articles imported yearly, and all this money might be kept in New Zealand if they were protected. Russia had adopted a protective policy, and between 1866 and 1896 her exports increased 81 per cent, and her imports 104 per cent. Under protection in France, the exports increased 25 per cent, and the imports 30 per cent; in America exports increased 72 per cent and imports 33 per cent, while England's exports only increased 16 percent and her imports 13 percent. This showed the least progress to have been made by Great Britain. In America between 1861 and 1880 the imports increased from 264,000,000 dollars to 656,000,000 dollars, and the exports from 204,000,000 dollar? to 824,000,000. In 1861 the imports of America exceeded tho exports by 70,000,000 dols ; in 1881 the exports exceeded, under protection, the imports by the enormous sum of 168,000,000 i dollars, or in other words there came to America every year £34,000,000 over what she sent away. It was no wonder they had no national debt. In Canada during five years of protection, the exports had increased from £80,000,000 to £109,000,000, and the imports from £107,000,000 to £128,000,000. He also showed similar results to have bepn produced by every country in Europe. At the close of the lecture the following resolution was carried :—" That this meeting is of opinion that the subject of furnishing employment to the workmen and youths of this colony has become of vital importance ; that, in consequence of the low price of wool, grain, and other farm productions, it has become necessary that a larger number of the people should be employed in manufacturing, and so make a home market for the farmers, and thus become more self-reliant; and that to give an impetus to manufacturing, the Government be respectfully [

requested to revise the Customs tariff, with a view to fostering and the encouragement of the industries and production! of the colony." This resolution waj supported by Mr John Ollivier, who expressed himself in favor of protecting everything that can be produced iu this colony. It is to us a pleasure, after havingadvocated this policy for years, to see that men of Mr Holmes's position have taken it up, and that it has received the unanimous support of a very large meeting in Ohristchurch. There is still hope for the country if this policy is adopted.

Imports. Exports. 1877 ... £6,973,618. £6,327,473. 1878 ... £8,000,000. £6,000,000. 1879 ... £8,374,585. £5,743,126. 1880 ... £6,162,000. £6,352,000. 1881 ... £7,457,000. £6,000,000. 1882 ... £8,639,000. £6,658,000. 1883 ... £7,174,000. £7,095,000.