The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1885. PROTECTIVE DUTIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1361, 4 July 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1885. PROTECTIVE DUTIES.

Fob. some time past the advisability of increasing the Customs duties, with a view to fostering local industries has formed a subject of discussion, especially in the chief towns of the colony. In Christchurch and Dunedin Industrial Associations have been formed, and the imposition of protective duties is the leading feature of their programmes. A how) was at once raised, of course, by the importers. They wanted no increase in the Customs duties ; they wanted freetrade, and the great and only argument they could adduce was that the increased duties would fail very heavily on the working men and ihe farmers. The working men and the farmers they want to protect frem the curse of monopoly ; they want to give them cheap food, cheap clothing, and cheap everything. The knaves never showed how the farmers could dispose of their produce when everything was cheap ; nor how the working men could get money to buy cheap goods when there was no means of earning it. But the importers have been reinforced lately. Sir Julius Yogel has submitted to the House a Financial Statement which has a protective tendency, and not only has it been opposed by importers, but also by some local manufacturers—the very men who might very well be expected to support it. It is easy to explain away the opposition of importers ; they make their living by importing goods, and might be excused for opposing what would very likely curtail their business. Their opposition to protection is inspired by selfish motives, and can easily be explained, and consequently will not have much weight one way or the other. The opposition of local manufacturers is a far more serious affair. They say they want no protection for their industries ; they can get on without it, and it is not easy to get over so practical an argument. Looking at the action of those local manufacturers in a cursory sort of way one is impressed with the idea that they are noble unselfish people. They object to a tax which would probably improve their own business because they alleged it would increase the cost of living. Such self-sacrificing benevo’ence would ■ndoubtedly be worthy of admiration, were it not that it is well known they are actuated by motives, ns selfish and far more contemptible than the importers. They feel that increased Customs taxation means increased local competition. They are afraid that if protection were given to industries foreign capitalists with improved machinery would step in and prove more dangerous competitors than the present importers. Never was there abetter illustration of the dog-in-the-manger policy than there is in the tactics adopted by these firms; they are unable to supply the demand themselves, and they will not, if they can help it, let others step in to supply it. The working men of Christchurch see very plainly through the benevolence of these people. They have met and pissed resolutions favoring Protection. They know that it is a very good thing to have cheap goods; provided they have money to buy them, but when they know that cheap imported goods mean depression, want of employment and poverty, it is not to be wondered at that they spurn the benevolence of those who avowedly for theirsukeare advocating Freetrade. Almost every class except the farmers have now expressed opinions on the question of Protection v. Freetrade. The farmers are like their own sheep ; they will submit to anything sooner than complain, yet we feel sure that they, as well as the working men, would prefer to pay a little more for what they buy if it would increase the price of agricultural products. At the present time everything is unsaleable, and this in a measure is due to the fact that large numbers of people have to deny themselves some of the luxuries in which they wereaccustomed to indulge in prosperous times. On this account the consumption of beef and mutton is not so large as it used to be, and this is partly the cause of the prices being so low. If industries were in full swing, and men working at them, twice as much beef and mutton would be required to supply the demand, and prices would be far higher than they, are at present. It is therefore the business of the farmers above all to do everything they can to promote the dovelopement of our industrial resources, and in no way can that be done so effectually as through the Customs.