The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1877. THE MINISTERIAL WAR CRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2622, 13 June 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1877. THE MINISTERIAL WAR CRY.

We are credibly informed that the Ministry have at last struck gold, they have discovered an auriferous voin for the electors to crush in the coming general election. The lead on which they have marked out their claim is protection or shall we write it Pkotection'. This is not the first time they have had a policy, but possibly it is their maiden effort at a programme to which all the members of the cabinet have given- in their adhesion. We have been accustomed both during the recess and during the session to receive almost a weekly bulletin of a policy emanating from a Minister, which was invariably contradicted within twenty-four hours by somo other Minister, but these policies we do not count. Hitherto Ministers have only agreed on one point, viz. " to differ," but »ow going to the country they must present a solid front, they must hare a cry, and their motto is to bo" Protection." A public meeting was held on Saturday evening, though at the time we write we have not heard the result of it, to establish " a New Zealand Industrial Protection Association." We are evidently face tofaoe now with an organisation which has the direct sanction of tho Government, and which,is intended to control tho coming general election. We learn that at the Wellington meeting only those favorable .to the principles of Protection were so that tho object of the meeting'w&B action rather than discussion, enrolment rather than debate. The Hon, John Ballance was announced to address the •meeting, and a better choice could not be made. .Sir Robert Stout,' and Sir Julius Vogel •hare not been sound Protectionist's in

the past and could not advocate a protection policy with as much freedom as their younger and enthusiastic colleague, Mr Ballance. It' seems to he Mr Balance's speciality to lead the Ministry, or mislead it, as the case may bo, on the public platform. We were also told by the announcement that Protection means "work and ■ wages to the great mass of the people,'.' but unfortunately no .one will have been allowed to tell the masses at'the said meeting what sorry, work and what miserable wages have been associated in other communities with the evil magician " Protection." The Government are evidently mobilising their forces, and their emissaries will go through the length and breadth of the land preaching Protection. 'We should, not be surprised df the first gun in this district were fired this evening at Mr McCardle's meeting, as Protection is" the ticket" for all Ministerial candidates. It will be rememberedthatduring the late session the Government wanted to increase the taxation of this colony by about £300,000 a year, and there is reason to believe that they still want this extra money. They dare not, however, ask the electors directly for it, because they would get a plain answer to a plain question, which would hardly suit'them. They therefore appeal to the country not lor more mpnoy, but for protection to looal industries which will givo more money. They are asking for an all round increase of Customs Duties under this mantle of Protection, and we really feel sorry for some of their followors, who at former elections have been wont -to denounce the very policy which now they will be called upon to support. This is awkward, but we oan trust to the ingenuity of many of them to go right about face at the word of command. The Ministry are gilding their pill " Taxation " with Protection, and expect the constituencies to swallow it. Possibly in large centres of population the pill may be swallowed, but we fancy country constituencies will have nothing to do with it. The pill, gilded though it be, is a nasty thing to take. It means that every householder in New Zealand will have, on an average, to subscribe at least five pounds per annum to protect local industries. It is true that ho has not to pay his five pounds down in a lump sum, but his food and clothing will, under a Protection tariff, cost him at least five pounds more a year than it does now. If a working man feels that he can afford to pay five pounds or so a year to encourage local industries ho will do well to become a member of the New Zealand Industrial Protection Association, but if he cannot afford the money lie will be a fool to join it. One thing is certain, that the working men of New Zealand will have to pay their full share towards the £300,000 per annum that the Ministry require in lieu of retrenchment, and we have some doubts as to whether they are foolish enough to do it,