PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 11 January 1899, Page 8

PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY

EXPERIENCES OF AMERICA

TRADE AND HIGH WAGES.

A correspondent of the 'Sydney Morning

Herald', quotes the following authorities in reply ■to the assertion of the freetraders that protection in America has operated to cut down wages and ifesen production- As to the Tariff League figures, a leading New York paper recently remarked that 'it is a significant fact that no newspaper in the United States has

made any serious effort to impugn them, and therefore they stand unchallenged as substantially correct.' The statistics compiled by the New York .Commissioner of Labour afford unmistakable evidence of prosperity among the working men of that State, and show that In the tirst quarter of 1597 there were 98,92b inon at work, earning an average wage of 155d01. 6c. each person for three months. In the last quarter of the year the number had increased to 153,896, and the average earnings to ITidol. 47c. per capita. It is only necessary to add that the Dingley tariff replaced the Wilson-Gorman tariff during the interim, to show how immediately protection increased both the number employed and the average wages paicr. Employment increased over 50 per cent., and wages increased 12i per cent, all round, notwithstanding any exceptional decreases in a few places.

The American 'Economist,' reviewing the year 1857, said of the last half of it, under fuller protection*:—'The wage worker has less difficulty in finding employment, and when he gets it it is more permanent. When times are brisk more men are needed.and here is where the working man is benefited by a healthy state of trade, to say nothing of the better wages he. is likely to receive.'

The new tariff comes in as a steady potent regulator of prices and production, throwing works to our own factories instead of foreign ones, and enabling our millions of workers to find work and secure wages.—'Mauch Chunk Gazette.'

'As a-result of the new'Dingley protectivejtariff there has been a gradual and prettS^geriefal advance in wages to the working men of the country, both by the enhancement of the rate of wages and the increased steadiness of employment. Findlay has just fairly begun to profit by the re-awakening under the new tariff, but improvement is coming to her industries now in unmistakable measure. The employees at the Bell potteries have just been accorded an increase of wages amounting to 12J per cent, ,as a direct result of the Dingley law. This is a restoration of McKinley wages reduced under the operation of the Wilson law. On Saturdi»r the window glass plant will begin blowing glass with an increased force, and a wage advance of from 12 to 20 per cent. This likewise is directly traceable to the new protective tariff, and is a restoration of wages lost under the low. tariff policy of Groyer Cleveland.'— 'Findl&y (O.) Republican.'

'The new Tariff Act has successfully passed the crucial period. It is restoring the industries of the country to prosperity, is giving work, to idle labour.is giving the American markets to American products.'—'Wilkes Barre Record.' k

'It is noted as one immediate and logical result of the Dingley tariff that there is an improvement in the character of the clothing of the masses of the American people.'—'Clinton (Ind.) Herald.'

'The tariff that built up immense industries Which can compete with the world, and yet paid American mechanics much higher wages than anyvjhere on the globe, is a thing to tie to.'—'Tacoma Ledger.'

'It is expected that there will be a generaL advance in wages with the opening of the sawing in the coming spring, and the outlook certainly is bright for the immediate future, not only in the matter of wages, but in the increased employ.nLent.'—'Buffalo. News.'

'The wages of miners in States, namely, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois have been recently raised 10 • per cent.'—'American Economist.' 'If we let go of protection we destroy the home market by diminishing the consuming power of our own people, and we let go of the substance for the shadow. The American standard of wages and of living must not be lowered.'—'New York Commercial.' 'Our country was never so prosperous, money never so easy, work never so plentiful, wages never so high as under protection.'— 'Honnellsville Times.*