The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 741, 24 November 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870.

In bis address to the electors of Auckland, Mr Vogel reviewed the financial policy of the Government, urged the necessity of a moderate system of protection, and the obtaining of people to settle and be employed in the country. In regard to the protective policy, Mr Vogel takes as a basis, " that the industries chosen to be aided shall be only such as the circumstances of the country will make so successful, that one may feel convinced that within a reasonable period after these industries have been helped to obtain a fair footing, the articles produced by these industries will be more cheaply supplied to consumers, without a continuance of aid, than would have been the case had temporary aid not been given." In other words, it is intended to offer in the first instance powerful inducements for the investment of capital in the manufacture of articles, which, either from the raw material heiug produced within the Colony, or the process of manufacture involving comparatively but little labor, may be found eventually to enter into successful competition with the manufactures of other countries. So long as the aid is moderate, and the time limited over which such assistance shall extend, and only such articles are chosen as absolutely require a helping hand iu stimulating their being established as an industry, there seems a fair probability of beneficial result being derived from the initiation of industries, at first possibly artificially fostered, but subsequently competent to hold their own or undersell the manufactures of European countries. Aid granted by bonuses subject to these conditions would very possibly be found to answer the purpose, and be the means of capital being embarked in a number of very valuable industries. On the other hand, it must bo confessed that in many respects New Zealand is most unfavorably circumstanced for manufactories. There are the two obstacles of high-priced labor and dear living, certainly yery serious disadvantages in dealing with a question in which these two items have so important a a bearing; and it is due to these that our industrial efforts must be limited to these branches alone, requiring but a minimum of labor. It would not be an easy matter to particularise the various iudustries that almost at the outset might bo found to be capable of being successfully established. We have before us, however, an interesting report of tlio

manufacturing works of Sau Francisco for the year JSG9, and, as our present circumstances assimilate, perhaps, pretty closely those of California a few years back, we quote from the report, in order to show the magnificent industrial structure, already completed in that State. The following is a list of the works as reported bv the assessor of the city and country :

Axle-factory, grease, bellows, billiard-ta bles, boxes, brass foundries, boots, woodenware, breweries, candles, acid, cigar, cordage, furniture, flour, gas metres, glass blowing, glass cutting, gold and silver relining, hats and caps, hose and belts, foundries and boiler shops, windows, glue, lasts, lead pipe and shot, linseed oil, malt, matches, mirror silvering, pianofortes, fireworks, rolling mill, stilt grinding, saw making, sash and doors, saw and planing mills, soap, staves, marble sawing, sugar relining, tanneries, tools, trucks, type, tubs, vinegar, wine, woollen mills.

The report concludes showing an annual amount of £37,000,000 of industrial products for a community not exceeding 0(50,000. The application, however, of a system of bonuses, for tlio purpose of organising manufactures adapted to the specialities of the country, or which from their bulk, and consequently excessive import charges would place the colony, at the outset, at a considerable advantage, is widely different from the system of protetion which it was attempted to introdnco during the last session. If, by the introduction of a special class of immigrants and the offer of a moderate bonus, certain descriptions of woollen manufactures could be introduced, sufficient for the consumption of the colony, it could not be urged that the adoption of steps to secure this was an improper system of protection. The same would apply to many rough yet useful articles in the manufacture of which the flax product might be utilised, as for instance, bagging, woolpacks,cornsacks, &c. Buttheimposition of duties upon agricultural products is a policy diametrically opposed to the successful introduction of manufactures; and seeing that New Zealand aleady is in a position to compete successfully in her own markets with the agricultural products of other countries, a duty upon these articles canuot be reasonably advocated.