THE Evening Star. PUBLISED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3770, 27 January 1881, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1881.

A: question that has long agitated allclasses of society who take an interest in the welfare and prosperity of New Zealand is the much-argued one . of Protection v. Free Trade. "When many years ago John Bright took up the cudgels on behalf of Free Trade, there were not wanting plenty of mem. bersjof the English House of Commons adverse to such a step, and it was not until the question had been thoroughly sifted and argued, and until after B8*»ral verbal battles had been fought, that the policy of Free Trade was agreed to. At the time Free Trade was introduced into Great Britain it was thought that the country was old enough to throw to the winds the revenue obtained from protective duties, and that merchants and manufacturers, ironmasters, and others were of too old a standing to,be injured by foreign competition, even when foreign houses were able to import their goods into England freeof duty. Theresulfc of theTTree Trade policy in England has been no doubt beneficial to a certain proportion of the population, bnt it has meant ruination and subsequent emigration to others. For example, many articles formerly protected are sow sold to the masses at

reduced prices in consequence of the abolition of the protective tariff thereon. This? will be afc once held up as a proof of the advantages of the Free. Trade policy, but another example will show that the workings of the system are not so advantageous to the people. The ironworkers of the v Black Country " (Staffordshire, Worcestershire and North Warickshire) prior to the introduction of Free Trade were always permanently employed, and were earning good wages, but since its introduction what has been the result? The Belgians, who are one of the most abstemious and industrious nations in Europe, have been enabled to manufacture iron goods, export them to England, and deliver them into the heart of the Black Country, while the ironmasters in that district had to quietly submit. The English masters | finding that Belgium* and the United States could successfully compete with them, endeavored by reducing the wages of their men 5 or 10 per cent, (and in some instances by more) to maintain their trade. This led to strikes, and often to unpleasant relations between labor and capital. In considering Free Trade as regards the Colony of New Zealand, we must think of it in three different lights—(lst) What class will itinjuremost? (2nd) What class will it benefit most ? (3rd) Will it be more beneficial or injurious to the Colony at large? In answer to our first question it is clear that consumers of imported goods will be the most affected by an imposition of a protective tariff, which will enable New Zealand houses to compete with the manufacturers of English goods. But even though consumers, of:such articles have to pay 50 per cent, extra for a Colonial-made article, the protective tariff on such articles would encourage and create new industries. In the second plaice, Protection would greatly increase *the prosperity of Colonial houses, and would retain much money, now sent out of the Colony, in the Colony. For the last, it is difficult to say whether the introduction of a purely Free Trade policy would injure or advance the interests of the Colony at large, but there is no doubt that the infantile industries, of the Colony need carefully watching, and that, in order to ensure their safe arrival at maturity, some means should be taken to protect andjßncourage local manufacturers.