MR HORNSBY AND PROTECTION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10489, 28 November 1911, Page 4

MR HORNSBY AND PROTECTION

[To The Miior.l

Sir, — There is oil'© feature of ih» present Parliamentary election thatfc I would ask. your permission few! space to draw. pubfc aifctentioiii to, viz.,, the. caaddidature of Mr Hbrnsby, and Ms advocacy of a high, protective 'tariff. Mr Hornsby Sis' standing for ejection in, a purely pastoral and agriculttural disiiariot, and the policy •that he champions of "high, protection" is aniniical to the primary industries ihla.t provide, fully 80 per, cent, of ohw exports, -upon l wihlchi our prosperity solely depends. Our farm* ors tmusft sell) their products, in a (£ree-4;rade market, and if ithey are compelled ito buy, theiir supplSes in a. "protected" one, they will 1 be placed at a great disadvantage to compete in. the world'© markets, for under |& policy of protection." they, wjou'H' have to pay monopoly prices for [their suppSiies, and this- would imereaise.. their cost of production, aald also reduce the prices that they re<ceive for their products'; "High protection" is also injurious to the worker, because it abnormally increases his cost of living without raising wages. The latter, being fixed by demand and' supply, are quamtiitaveEly reduced,, because high protective tariffs, by excluding competitiotti, increase prices', and tlfts outs cfowm the purchasing power of the working mom's wages. In conclusion:, I wouOki 1 invite ail tine, farmers and working men in the Wairarapa electorate to calimfly aaid dispassionately reflect upon these facts, and if they consSider <them rational, their? plain diuty, if they desire to escape Ifche calamity of "high protection/.' that Mr Hornsby would inflict upon them, is beyond aUka-easonahife doubt to vote solidly againlst • hiim.—l etc.,

FRANK W. BURKE. Featherstan, Nbvemiber 27. .