Protection.

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 144, 20 June 1892, Page 4

Protection.

4 Commenting Otx the report that the Ballanoe Ministry intend to increase the Customs duties, tho Sydney Morning Herald says .- — " Apparently, New Zealand is only gaining the same experience which has been gained all the world over from the teaching of tho Old Man of the Sea. Protection, once seated, is not to be shaken off, at any rate without a severe struggle, or the occurrence of something liko a miraclo in tho national life. Introduced, whether knowingly or othorwiso, in the interests of special classes, its operation tonds to create and to maintain a standing army for its defence. Whether the system temporarily succeeds or fails, tho demand for its continuance and extension is sure to be heard. The trade that feels itself benefited longs for more ; the trade that has missed the hopedfor good attributes its misfortunes to tho inadequacy of the aid it has recoived ; other trades that were forgotten or passed by clamour for their share. And ao the process gOGB on. We have seen what has happened in tbe United States ; we have seen what has happened in Viotoria; we are forewarned of what is abont to happen in New Zealand. An elaborate contrivance was imported some years ago for enabling a ponderous road vmgino to pass over soft places in bad roads. It laid its ovtn roads. The great characteristic of Protection is that it prepares tho way for more Protection, so that when once started one can say where it will stop. Protectionists attribute _ this to what thoj call the beneficial working of the system ; the true explanation is found in its chronic failure to accomplish its avowed purposes, and in its almout inevitablo tendency to croate vested interests that will fight to the death for tho retention and increase of tho spoils thoy have wrung by its menus, or hope to wring, from tho community."