The Evening Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10,1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 261, 10 November 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10,1870.

; The public meeting held at the Mechanics'lnstitute on Tuesday evening was not a crowded nor an enthusiastic one. On the contrary those, if there were any such, who expected the Protection league to be launched amid salvos of artillery from human longs, must have been very considerably disappointed, for the meeting was a tame one, and had it not been from its presenting little ludicrous incidents to enliven its dullness, it would have been rather remarkable for it 3 lifelessness. All this may be fully conceded to those who from the de'mt of the Protection League augur its untimely death. And as wholly irrespective of the effects of the League, the principles which it is formed to advocate will soon be embodied in the fiscal policy of JN"ew Zealand, if the debut of the League should afford a little hilarity to those who faithfully cling to a lost cause, it i 3 well.

Various circumstances contributed to make the inauguration of the Protection League, at the present moment, unattended with eclat. There i 3 no use blinking the matter, but ifc has had very much the aspect of being a dishonest election dodge, got up to prejudice the return of Mr. G-illies. Everything is fair, we know, in politics ; and if the opponents of the best Superintendent Auckland has ever had, hoped to effect a diversion from the ranks of his supporters,they are welcome to their success. But it is not fair to the great cause of fostering home industries to draggle it in the dirt to work the ephemeral purpose of obtaining a few stray votes in a local election. And the promoters of the objects of the League would have made it more popular if they had taken steps to disabuse the public mind of the impression that the movement was intended for a subterfuge in the carrying out of electioneering tactics. As it is, the movement cannot now affect the candidature of Mr. Gillies, for, after his clear enunciation of his views before the electors, there does not remain a doubt on any mind, that to the whole extent de/irable for New Zealand, Mr. Gillies is as earnest as anyone for the development of infant industries, through the temporary application of the Customs tariff. We wish well to the ostensible objects of the Protection Leaguers. With all the warmth and ability with which we could, we have for many months counselled the formation of a League, knowing the grand results effected by such a movement in a sister colony, and should sincerely regret if the great cause under!aken should bdefiled by small and unworthy motives The comparatively small meeting on Tuesday evening is sufficiently to be accounted for by the fact that the majority of the people hire not been educated up to an interest in the question. It may also be attributed to the fact that the policy of the Ministry in power being one of protection to native industries, the imposition of a protective tariff is regarded as an accomplished fact. But we thiok that the chill has been mainly caused by the suspicion that an attempt was intended to throw dust in the eyes of tlie people, and to form a League for Protection to—Mr. Williamson. We sincerely hope we are mistaken, and should like to have the suspicion removed, so that the whole public may join •with heart and hand in helping forward a movement, having for its object, by means of a protective policy, the advancing of New Zealand to the foremost rank in the progressive march of colonisation.