THE TARIFF.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 140, 14 June 1888, Page 2

THE TARIFF.

MEETING OF THE INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

A MKJ-TE. G of the Auckland Industrial Association, to which the public were invited, called for the purpose of considering the tariff proposals of the Government, was held at Bell's buildings, Wyndham-street, last evening. There was a good attendance, and Mr G. Fraser occupied the chair. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, stated that the object for which they had come together was not so much to discuss the various items of the tariff, bub to pass resolutions to help the Government in passing their tariff proposals. He also alluded to°the absolute necessity for fostering our local industries, and then called upon Mr A. E. Devorc (Mayor) to move the first resolution. ■','_.. His Worship moved the first resolution as follows :—"That this meeting is of opinion thab the tariff proposals of the Government are beneficial to the public at large, and they will assuredly develop new industries, assist thosealready existing, aud give muchneeded employment to a large number of men, women and children." (Applause.) He said that there must be running through the minds of all the position of New Zealand and its wants, and the fact that people were leaving our shores. He referred to the progress of the protection policy of Victoria. New South Wales had also prospered under a free trade policy, but she had a large land fund to fall back upon. New Zealand, however, had not prospered with free trade, and men were leaving for other places. He also noted that our prosperity came about with the arrival of people, and our prosperity went as the people went. We wanted something that would give work to keep people in the colony, and he believed the tariff proposals of the Government would have this effect. In a manifest of a slud which arrived here the other day, lie selected a few items, including paper, j tinware, saddlery, blacking, agricultural implements, brush ware, linseed oil, varnish, and a great many others. If these new industries could be created or fostered by the tariff proposals of the Government, they would surely increase the spending power of the people. He thought that there was no necessity for argument as to the assistance that would be given to existing industries by the protection afforded in the new tariff. He thought that reluctantly they must come to the conclusion that free trade did not pay, and that free trade would not keep the people here. A change was most certainly wanted, and he thought that the Government should have every assistance in carrying out their proposals ; also, that our members should be held bo their hustings pledges. Mr Thorne seconded the motion. He said that in one circumstance of the colony protection might' be the right thing, and in another circumstance free trade might be the right thing. Under existing circumstances .ib was protection that was required. Where we could make goods just as good and cheap as impoited, we should pledge ourselves to eat and drink and wear nothing but that •which was grown or manufactured in the colony. This, assisted by_ a judicious protection of local industries, would speedly solve the present difficulty. He maintained that it was better to pay a few shillings extra for local manufactures than for imported goods, and thus keep ourselves in employment. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Mr Edwin Harvey said that in his particular trade, coachbuilding, the effect of the new tariff would be to kill that industry, by an imposition of 20 per cent, on materials. 'The Chairman said that in the tariff there were exemptions, and he understood that some of the woods required in coachbuilding came under that heading.

Mr Pye explained that the Association had sent circulars to the various crafts in Auckland with the view of posting up our representatives in their especial requirements.

Mr Charles Atkin said that so far as he understood the tariff as affecting buggy spokes and shafts, if they came in ready for being shot together they were under a duty of 15 per cent,, but where they came in rough they were free. He thought that the tariff was right in that respect. Mr Atkin instanced cases where his own apprentices had. been compelled to leave this colony to obtain work, and, what was worse, these people who were leaving the colony lefb their wives and families behind them. He thought the Government should have every support in framing^ a tariff which would protect our local industries and give work to our labouring classes.

Mr Harvey claimed that Mr Atkin had not answered his objection entirely. He thought there should be 5 per cent, more duty on finished articles than on goods imported in the rough. Mr J. M. McLachlan read a letter-from a friend in Canada on the result of protection in a village of 4,000 inhabitants, and the list" of " local manufactures enumerated was, as the speaker added, most remarkable. Under a protective policy they had obtained an increased rabe of wages and an increased demand for bheir manufactures, whilst the purchasing power of the farmer had been increased. (Applause.) Mr Kelly stated that where he was working (Masefield and Co.) they had put on two extra hands since the publication of the tariff. (Applause.) The re?olution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr P. Oliphant moved the second resolution as follows :—" That this meeting is of opinion that the Government has done good service to the country by its retrenchment policy, but it is also of opinion that unless the local industries are protected the great depression that now exists will continue, and consequently our working classes will be driven out of the colony, thereby reducing the Customs revenue, and increasing the burden of those who remain." He maintained that if the free trade party had their way we would have no industries, and it should be noted that our timber industries and other were built up by protection. He thought the tariff brought; down was a protective tariff, and ho could see the hand of this and kindred associations in its formation. (Applause.) He thought that if we had followed the precedent laid down by Victoria ib would have been better than the proposed tariff, for we were now 5 per cent, below Victoria. Mr T. Allen seconded the motion. He thought that the retrenchment proposals of the Government had not gone far enough, and claimed that the leading political economists were with them on this question of fostering local industries in a young colony. Mr Allen also stated, that American manufactures topped English manufactures by three hundred million pounds per annum under a protective bariff, and yet prices in America were very little above English prices. He maintained that though we paid an increased price for an article of local production for a time, in 'consequence of an increased duty, we would reap the benefit afterwards. He mentioned especially the candle industry, wool and machinery. He did not understand how, if protection increased prices, American machinery could be sent here bo compete with English machines. (Applause.) Protection should make people patriotic enough to patronise a colonial article, and this was the best way to foster our local industries. He maintained that all classes were benefited by a protective policy. The Chairman said he Mas confident that protection would have any amount of converts if it were only tried, and ab the same time he gave-free-traders credit for being sincere in their arguments.

The resolution was submitted to the meeting, and carried unanimously. I Mr H. M. Sheppard proposed the third resolution : " That this meeting thanks all those members who have voted for the protective tariff now before the House, and urges them to continue to give their support in having them carried, even if it necessitate the Government appealing to the country. " He referred to the influence that had been brought to bear on our representatives during the last session of Parliament, and said he thought it would come with very good grace from the Association to thank, not only our own representatives, but also the representatives of other provinces, in furthering the tariff proposals of the Government. He thought that they should especially thank those members of the Opposition who had come forward to assist the Government in this matter. He felt sure that the Government would nob allow their tariff to be torn to pieces, and that if they were defeated they would appeal to the country. In that event he (Mr Sheppard) believed that we would have even greater protection than was now proposed by any future Government. (Applause.) He also argued that it was useless to put the people on tho land if our industries were not protected and encouraged. Mr W. Leys seconded the resolution. He exprsssed regret that Auckland electors had returned two free traders, who had done all in their power to crush out tho local industries of the colony, viz., Messrs Withy and Peacock. Mr Withy was a professed free trader, and the working population of Newton would have, by this time, realised their mistake in securing his return. As for Mr Peacock, it was noticeable to anyone who had followed his political career that he was quite out of sympathy with the working classes. (Applause.) He (Mr Leys) thought that the tariff did not go far "enough, and as the best way of forming a tariff to assist the industries of tho colony the Government might have advertised throughout the chief cities of New Zealand that they would hold an exhibition, inviting all tradespeople and manufacturers of every description to manufacture every article that they could make, giving the price at which they could produce it, and forward the article with a full history of their trade, their requirements connected with that trade to make it a success. By thi. means he thought that the Government could have produced a tariff that would have pleased everybody. Mr Leys added that there were many things which could bo produced here which we knew little about, and mentioned specially linseed oil. He also pointed out that we were now paying less for various articles than before local manufactures were put ou the nntrket, notably, grates and boots. . ...

Mr Hodge said he had great pleasure to see such a resolution coming from the Association, which some little time back was so firmly convinced that no protective tariff could be got out of Sir Harry Atkinson. Mr T. Allen stated that large quantities of linseed oil had been produced here, and it only wanted a little more protection to become a profitable industry. Mr Jury differed from Mr Hodge concerning the attitude of Sir Harry Atkinson, and stated that Sir Harry had when in Auckland declined to give protection to local industries. Ho was glad, however, to see that the protectionists had in him a friend.

Mr D. Bates complained that sufficient encouragement had not hitherto bean given to skill and brains in our Patent Ofiice.

Mr Harvey said that they might accept all they could get from the Atkinson Government, because " There was more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, etc., etc." (Laughter and applause.) The Chairman coincided in this remark, and added that Mr Peacock had also repented and had stated thab he would now offer no opposibion to the tariff proposals of the Government. (Applause.) The resolution was then pub to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr Bell moved, "That the resolutions agreed to by this meeting bo forwarded to the Premier and the Auckland members." He said that there was no doubt that the Premier had been driven into his present position by the position of the country, but bhey were very glad to have ib even from bhe hands of Sir Harry Abkinson. (Applause. ) Mr W. Cooper seconded tho resolution, which he had r.o doubt would greatly strengthen the hands of the Premier and the Auckland members.

The resolution was carried unanimously, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. ,-..-'