MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1887.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 268, 14 November 1887, Page 4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1887.

We admit that the position of the Pro- j tecttiomsts in the House who favour retrenchment and have pledged themselves to oppose Sir Julius Vogel is a very difficult one. There can scarcely be a doubt that the defeat of the pre. sent Government would involve the return of the late Colonial Treasurer to office. If, then, Ministers persist in their demand for time to bring down the revised tariff, and they are forced from office before they can give effect to such of their proposals as are generally approved, it is doubtful whether the constituencies would not call the members who brought about the downfall of the Cabinet to account for their action. The Premier's assurance to the deputation which waited upon him on Saturday that he will be prepared to submit a revised tariff to Parliament at La session to be held in April, modifies ithe irritation that will be felt at the failure of the House during the present session to submit proposals giving substantial tariff assistance to local industries. It is quite true that unless done witih great care and after full inquiry, a eh ange of the tariff might inflict serious injury not only upon commerce, but upon local industry. Major Atkinscw'splea, therefore, that, working from 9 <a,m. till 1 o'clock the next morning, he is already unable to cope with his parliamentary and administrative duties may, perhaps, be accepted as .$ vti&id one. All we can expect off him, or of the members of the House who" are pledged to Protection, is, that no ti'jne shall be lost in carrying out the pipmised revision. There is no wish, a$ our morning contemporary asserts, to force the Government into a cottaer, and we should have a poor opimou of our members if they allowed themselves to be pud*

cat'spaws of to secure a party advantage by putting thia or any other question forward unfairly. They are bound by their hustings pledges, and by their own convictions to make the Government understand plainly that they are in earnest on this question, and that, whatever the consequences from a party point of view, they will insist upon a policy of Protection being inaugurated at as early a period as possible if their votes can secure that object. Having done that, we believe it will be wise for them to accept Major Atkinson's assurance that he will convene Parliament to deal with the question in April, and if his proposals are not then satisfactory, their plain course is either to amend them or turn the Government out of office. The unbroken commercial and industrial prosperity of Victoria during the lasfc six years, while New Zealand has passed through a period of severe stagnation despite the assistance obtained from loans, is the best answer to those who fear the consequences of Protection. There is no colony of Australasia which has within its own borders to the same ample degree as Newj Zealand, the'materials necessary to supply all the wants of its people. We could close all our ports to-morrow and cut off communication with the outer world, and our people would still be well fed and well clothed. It would not, of course, be a wise thing to do that; there are many commodities which we can exchange with advantage to ourselves, but there are many others which we now exchange that ought to be locally produced. There is no reason in the world why we Bhould import a single pound's worth of woollen goods. Yet, while our imports of these goods—largely shoddy—continue, the Kaiapoi mill has been obliged to put its employees on three-quarter time. The directors of this Company, in their annual report, justly observe: "In view of the large woollen manufacturing facilities now existing in the colony, your directors trust that the Government, when considering the whole question of encouragement to local industries, will so legislate that these mills shall afford still larger employment for the people." Industries like this, which work up the natural products of the country, might; be left almost entirely to local competition without the consumer being damaged. In the long run, the producer of the wool and the consumer would be benefited by saving the cost of transit and exchange in a distant market, while internal trade would gain from the custom of a large and well-employed population.