The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1837. THE PROTECTION AGITATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2607, 26 May 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1837. THE PROTECTION AGITATION.

At a public meeting held in Wellington on Monday evening hot a resolution earned which declared "That New Zealand requires a fiscal policy which will create new 'manufactures and industries, and thus afford employment not only to the present adult population, .but to the young people of both sexes," Too much weight need not bo attached to this expression of opinion, because it was admitted that the gathering was one mainly composed ot protectionists; but still, it may be regarded as a demonstration which may influence tho course of political events. Witli parliament sitting in the Empire City, such a question as protection might fairly be left to it, but ovidently a certain amount of organisation is taking place on the part of those interested in local industries, and the late meeting: is the outcome of it, Manufactures are presumably to be forced apon us and the community is to bo taxed to start them and keep them going. .. We don't like the prospect of New Zealand becoming the home of thousands of pale-laced mill hands who will labor in dingy rooms from daylight to dark for theirtive orsix shillings a day, In the great manufacturing centres of England, immense wealth has been accumulated, not by the operatives but by-the employers of labor. This we'iilth has been created at the cost of the blood and bone and muscle of the people,. Thoraoeof men who pass their existence in workshops is altogether degenerate, Manufactories are a sort of Moloch which slowly drains the life blood of'a populace. Tho father of a family in a manufacturing town finds that his earnings are insufficient, aud brings his wife or li.is children into tho prison house to aid his income. Men, .women and children all congregate into workshops and pass their lives in monotonous and unhealthy bccupations. Surely in Now Zealand, 'With millions of acres lying waste, we can do. better ■than this'for those- who make their homes with us. Surely a crust of bread and liberty in tho green fields is better than the wretched comforts which the city artizan is able to obtain. The extension of industrial enterprise is good for employers of labor, is profitable for landlords and property holders, but it is not good for those who crowd the workshops and who livo their lives out of purs air and sunlight. Far better for our New Zealand pqpnlation to be employed in growing wheat, in tending Hooks and herds and in cultivating .the fruits of the earth than in competing witli- the pale-faced laborers of tho old world, the patient slaves of the great manufacturers. In America, where protection has run its course,, where every possible development of local industry has been accomplished, thb bitterest misery, poverty and distress is to be found among factory operatives. Men Who live on land, or work on land, never, perhaps, touch the extreme degrees of. either wealth or poverty. The beHt settlers in New Zealand con* firm this experience, and so long as a living is to be mado off tho soil we ought to regard it as oup msip chance, and not tax the kipdly .earth to build

factories. We do not object, to-such' natural development of industrial enterprise as the circumstances of the Colony may warrant, but we do protest against , taxing the Colony further to force and stimulate industries for which New Zealand is not as yet ripe. j

■ Major Atkinson, in moving avoto of want of confidence in the present Ministry, is clearly actuated by 4 .sense of duty, as it is weft known .tliat the opposition do not desire to come into power till after the general election,; It is said that the no confidence debate will last a fortnight-and that the (lovernmfcnt will be defeated. We have faith in the latter assertion, but sincerely trust that. the former is incorrect. The issue is. to all practical intents and purposes, already decided, and to discuss it for fourteen days will be a cruelty to the members and to the public,

It has been decided to convene a publio meeting on the Imperial Institute question in Masterton. We regret this, not becauso we are opposed to the project, on the contrary we ffivor it on the ground that the Queen has expressed a special interest in it, and that she has a right to expect the sympathy of her subjects with any movement bj which she desires her jubilee to be marked-our regret lies in the fact that the proposal has been coldly received in Wellington where' the Governor lives,-where the leading mew of the colony are now assembled, and where many wealthy and'' honored colonists reside. If under such' favorable auspices the response .is-luke-warm wliat will it be in Masterton where the conditions of success are less favorable.. If there is not a fair chance of making the. Masterton contribution to the Imperial Institute one worthy of the town and of the object for which it is requested it would be far better to let it drop.