MR FORREST ON PROTECTION AND RETRENCHMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2344, 19 July 1887, Page 3

MR FORREST ON PROTECTION AND RETRENCHMENT.

to tmk miron, •MR. -I'he meeting of the association last Toe-day was so poorly attended, through had weather, that it was a pity the motion for adjournment was not readily carried. To try ami go through such a downpour as that of hist Thursday would have been simply madness ; oven if one did venture, an adjournment seemed the only kind thing to do. I had intended to tie present and was prepared with a resolution ns indicated hy the heading of this lutter. .Said resolution speaking for itself and running thus ; That in the opinion of this meeting a protective policy should go hand in hand with vigorous retrenchment in order to find employment, not only for thousands of young people growing up, but also to compensate for the privation that vigorous retrenchment is hound to entail. How this can be cut out of any reform association .1 cannot toll, as nearly every constituency demands this as the loading question. You, sir, say, leave it out because it is dehateable. fs retrenchment iiotdcbatable? To cast hundreds out of employ and increase the present miseiy without making other openings for employment; is this not dehateable? I

am an old free trader, but I now claim protection is what we want. I was first initiated as a free trader in ISIS, when I was but 12 years of age, and well do I remember the freu trade crusade and the day of election. Stage coaches travelling through every village with enthusiastic committee men with their mottoes flying, “Cheap bread for the people.” And well I remember my father being a member of one of those committees, and the, groat delight in aiy home when the votes carried free trade and the abolition of the Corn haws in England. Now, is it any wonder that I remained a firm advocate of free trade principles for 25 years, and fifteen of this in New Zealand ? But at last it began to dawn upon mo that I had only got an old English experience, which was not acceptable for a young and beautiful country like New Zealand ; and as Z, began to gain the experience as a colonist 1 came to the conclusion that what was food for England was poison for the colonies, Bor the, last Id years I have, advocated protection for New Zealand. Other remedies now so much demanded for the relief of our depression will only aggravate, that depression, unless protection is one of our first principles. Hut here let me explain that I am not of those who would cling to protection for ever. My protection is simply a matter of expediency. Wo have got to the very bottom. Our credit is about done, and we must live within ourselves for a time. I filler countries have been just as low before us, and invariably protection has been resorted to as a last rosnnrsc ; but in no case has it been known to fail in bringing hack better times, and as soon as this shall ho so in New Zealand, no doubt I shall be one of the first to cut away at protection. An erroneous impression among many generally is that protection is always a conservative question. This certainly has been the case in England, but in the Colonial I’arliamcnt protection is recognised as a liberal measure. I have seen this stated in the Hansard of New Zealand' Parliament, and never yet there objected to.

Protection pays and pays well. It is the means of starting Industries and Manufactories, thus providing work for a large population, with a purchasing power, Which is bound to benefit the farmer and almost every man, woman, and child in Now Zealand. Wo not only want work' for the unemployed, but for the thousands of youths growing up.

Retrenchment indicates privation, for by retrenchment it is proposed to take away the present employment of 400 school teachers, and at least -100 civil servants. Every person must bo fed, either by the broad of industry or by that of idleness, and protection moans employment for the people. (Into Victoria and New South Wales and see the happiness in Victoria compared with that of New .Smith ‘ Wales. Hero is what a Waikato farmer noticed when he was there In Now South Wales dirty looking larrikins of both se.x were prmvlimr about the streets, ready for any devilment, but upon landing in Victoria, he at once saw a pleasant change, smiling and contented lads and lasses ducking towards then- homes from industries and factories.

Now South Wales against Victoria used to bo a favourite topic with free traders, fn fact, when I wrote upon protection (over a year ago) that was tire most froqueut question put to me, and this is how I answered it in a letter published in The Watkato Times, July 2nd, 1881!-.—I said, “ Victoria was a poor ngi{cultural country, hnt under protection vast industries arc being started, which at present are only in their infancy, but which must ultimately bring that prosperity which all countries enjoy when a largo number of manufactories have been established.’'

What t wrote has proved to he correct, for to-day Victoria is the most flourishing country in the world. Rob it in ! Rub it in ! I It hurts the free traders to see Victoria above all other countries, because its policy is protection.

Now, opponents to protection frequently point to out customs duties as sufficient inducement to start industries, but I say “Xo I’ Protection must be affirmed and guaranteed for a term. Amu cannot expect capitalists to come from England, America, or any other country, unless a fair trial is to be given. A temporary duty by no means indicates a “ protection policy.” America had free trade three times' since 1812, but she has had a protective policy for thirty years right off. The greatest depression ever felt in America was in 1857, at the end of a fourteen years’ free trade policy. The “ditty” of a free trader rims thus Buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market; just so, with the small difference that the world (except England) denies you to enter your goods in the dear market. When Cohdon, Teel, and Bright went the rounds of Europe it was thought the world would embrace free trade principles, but to-day wo find the world more protective than it has over been, and yet a hamlfull of people in New Zealand are sotting up a free trade ideal for the acceptance of the world. Lot ns look to our own homo affairs, leave alone confederation, and such out of the way expensive qnes lions, and turn to the contentment of our own people. Let us consider well how we can aid each other hero, and let Xova Zoinbla frame her policy according to her own people’s desire. Before concluding, I will say a few words upon whore wo have found themselves; through our policy not being well-chosen, general damnation has come over ns. E’or the last 17 years every member sent to Wellington has been pledged to economy ; in fact, wo have a full record of unfulfilled promises, and to road the goings on in Parliament from the dajly papers gives one the impression that it is the most degrading place a man could enter. Thousands are driven from our shores for want of employment, and for those left behind employment is precarious. Strong party men used to deny that people were leaving in thousands, but will they deny this to-day. Sir tioorgo trrey, in speakingon the land question in the House throe years ago, gave the very best authority that 3000 people over and above arrivals loft New Zealand in 12 months, and Major Atkinson, in reply could only say—if it was so, he was veiv sorry, and hoped they were only drawn from Xew Zealand in order to carry out some contracts in the other colonies. Then, electors, be up and doing; take the man for your representative who has the courage, ability, determination, and constant energy to work for the reform so much needed and demanded by the people and so, as no mistake can occur, leu your candidate sign the political creed and re. form that he is called upon to embrace. And whether Stunt, Atkinson, or Vogel, down, down with the man that dares to sell or purchase support at the sacrifice of principle,—Yours obediently, .1. Eokkest. Cambridge, Jnly 13th, 1887.