GERMANY'S PROTECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 4

GERMANY'S PROTECTION.

The remarks just maiie. by ilerr Uc.!brueik in the Keh-hstag on the subjo-i, of <iermany's trade policy rrfer in the first place to his own country, but thev liave also a mueh witter application. \' id true that the irnius->trial competition between all countries. Protectionist or trot, is growing constantly keener, and that not even elaborate Protectioni.-t tariffs can secure home industries en-tin-ly a-gainst their foreign, rivals. But it is clear that Herr Delbrueck docs not for that reason advevato the abolition of protective duties; for he points out that England under her system of free imports lias had to put up with any treatment that her rivals think fit to give her. Germany may he d'issa'tißfied with the results of her Protectionist system, but she is by no means Ilkery to exchange it for Free.tTadc. For by so doing she -would give up the immense Advantage that England -lias already BUT" rendered—"the power of negotiating with her rivals ami either conciliating them by tbe offer of concessions or coercing them by the threat of stHl further penalising their trade.

It is clear from the context that wltai Hcrr Dclbrucck finds amiss in Protection as a system is not its direct effect upon industries or upon the condition of the people, but the danger which it involves that Customs dirties by political manipula'Uon may be"utDised to build up or strengthen nronopork-s which may ultimately prey upon the. wbolc nation. He-re Herr Deibraock points to a feature of economic development which has reached its ingncsd. pitch in the United States, mbere Q» tariff has been taken advantage of ly the Trusts to bolster up an ebtborate system of monopolies at the pobile f.ipmiHU, Thin contingent disadvantage, though it should he carefully giwrdcd against by Statesmen and administrators, is no argument against the theoretical sormdness of Protection. But it is interesdSnß to note that this eminent German thinker lias reaebed the conclusion already arrived at by many Aracrr--can economists and publicists, that the

immense successes achieved by the Trusts in recent years may be urged as evidence that, it is practicable to organise monopolies on a gigantic scale for private gain; and the inference naturally follows that it is equally possible for the State to organise all the means and methods of production at once, and to take them over and work them for tho benefit, not of individuals but of the general public.

Following is Mr D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 0 a.m. this day:—Southerly winds, strong to gale; expect unsettled and cloudy weather: rain probable; glass rise.

An interesting case illustrative of Maori Mistoms was mentioned at the K.M. -Court this morning. A fine looking well educated Maori appeared to answer why he had not paid tn."> 14/fl. He explained that his trilie put up a vault am] granite tombstone to the memory of his wife at a ■cost of over £ 4 2fln. " It, was erected on a. -tribal burial place. He had collected some £3O from the tribe and •made it up lo fJOO liintsclf, and he thought he could pet the balance in three weeks' time. An order was made for payment, but >i month wa-s allowed in which to raise the money. A sensational experience, befell a young man who "was riding a motor cycle along a country road in Victoria. He wns trawl ling at a fair rate of speed, antl 'was suddenly confronted with a double 'barbed wire fence then only about a qnarfcrr of a chain in front of him. PoTtimatpTy his presence of mind did not forsake him and, recognising' the futility of stopping liis machine within so short a distance, he simply "opened liis tJhrofctle." as the engine drivers say. and "let her go." Tl»e force with which the. machine «trnek the fence toroke both wires, the; motor keeping on for about a eonpie of chains. The driver got so tangled up in the broken wires that almost every particle of his clothing wm torn to fragments. Strange to say the motor snffered no damage, and the rider simply received a trivial scratch or two.

Mr C. C. Kettle announced at the SJVI. Court this morning thai he had given notification to the pftlice to bring before the Court any persons found loitering in the passages and corridors of the Court. Yesterday the number standing about the passages blocked the doorways of •public offices. He was informed some were smoking cigarettes and making rude remarks to women. That must be stopped, and he had therefore, given notification to the '.police to bring such loiterers, of they remained alter due warning, before Mr Cutten, to have them dealt with, as yesterday it had been a great nuisance. He hoped the warning would put an end to the. nuisance.

At the Methodist Conference yesterday Mr. T. W. Jones (Auckland) an nounced that arrangements had been made for a private organ recital to ba <nven in the Town Hall for the benefit of the delegates on Friday.

A small mullet boat of 3 or 4 tons drifted last night from her anchorage near the Onehunga Timber Mills, and was carried by the force of the northerly wind about half a mile to the wharf acainsx- which- she-struck and. sank.

Mr. B. ButSe reported at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Young Men's Christian Association that satisfactory arrangements were being made in connection with laying the founda-tion-stone of the new building by his Excellency Lord Islington, and that as soon as a convenient date could be fixed the ceremony wouM take place. The foundation-stone had been generously donated by Mr. Bonskill. Mr. J. Tyler (chairman of the boys' work) reported that the season's work had commenced indoors. The camp which had been held on Mr. Brett's property. Lake Takapuna, had terminated about the beginning of U>c month. Tt had been a great success. It was resolved* that a letter be sent to Mr. Brett, thanking him for the use of his property, and also that letters of thanks be sent to a number of others, who subscribed towards the boys' camp. Mr. B. Battle (chairman of" the Finance Committee) submitted his monthly report, and stated that the total receipts for the year which was just closing amounted (o £I.SSO 4/2.

During the month of March a progressive policy is being pursued by the Government in regard to the opening up of mrtive lands. No less than l. r >2,!«4 acres will be available throughout New Zealand l<efore the beginning of April. The greater part of this land is situate in the Canterbury district, and commostly second-class land in the vicinity of <'hr'wu-hurch and Timani, which is offered for renewable lease. Another large block of Oass A land in the (leraldine district, is also to be offered, and in Auckland several large blocks will be balloted for. The greater part of the land is ill the King Country lietween twenty and thirty miles cast of Otorohanga. The remainder is distributed through Taranaki. Nelson, Ot-ago. and Southland. During the following month several <~mall areas will be opened up in the ha me provinces, and also in Hawkc's I*..iy and Westland. "I don't sjv you should not go to the Hires." remarked Mr C. ( . Kettle 1o a debtor at the S.M. Court this morning, '•"but you have no to lose 17/ ii on the totalisalor while you are owing money." An order was made for the payment of 10/ per week. Another deibtor who admitted that he put money on the totalisator replied, '"1 mostly loaf " when asked by Mr Kettle if he made much at the machine. The feature, most deserving oi special commendation at the. Hawke's Boy Autumn Show was the splendid exhibits apples, peaches,and grapes from the Arataki experimental farm. The value ot the work done by thta station was elemty demonstrated by the interest shown by the public in the display. Mr. D, Hay (Auckland), the judge of fruit and hortirailtnra] sections, complimented Mt. Tom West, the acting-manager, and said it was the most comprehensive and instructive exhibit he had ever had before bin-. The visitors expressed great appreciation of the Department's work. The improvement of the orchardists' fruit exhibits this year, compared with previous years, testified to the commercial value the experimental stations are to the fruitgrowing industry of New Zealand.

I'Yom Oxford, forty miles from Christchureh,, a strange discovery is reported, At Rochford. near Oxford, there is a rock in the Waimakariri. washed on all sides by the river, the summit of which stand* well above flood water mark. Recently the river has formed a spit, making ihe rock approachable. A local resident, out of curiosity, went to explore trim rocky islands and -the first object that met his gaze was a human skeleton that had evidently been there for many yeaTS. At present nothing is known as to on what tragedy* the finding of the skeleton might throw some light. The damage done by the recent floods to CoTon-undel County roads, as far as is known, will amount to about £4OO, but owing to the difficulty of getting into touch with outside districts, it will he some days before the full extent of the damage is known. Many of the roads are so covered with landslips that traffic is blocked. Considerable damage was done to private property, many paddocks are covered with silt, and timber and many fences have licem washed away. The creeks have subsided.

A peculiar accident occurred a day or two ago at Oamaru. A local resident had sprained his wrist, and had bound cloths saturated in turpentine Tound the injured part, lie afterwards struck a match to light his pipe, when the handage round the arm ignited and hhmed up fiercely. Before he could tear off the bandages he sustained very serious burns. Before many years, the Dominion's water suppl}- will be as valuable as the railways are now. affirmed the Minister of Public Works in the course of an address at the Upper Hutt. He promised that the work of harnessing "the Hutt River would be taken in lntnd before very long, if only to be used as a standby in case of accident to the transmission wires from Waikaremoana.

The adventurous career of two youths terminated yesterday in the gaol at Wanganui. The young fellows, an Eurasian mimed Lee, and a half-caste named Sutherland, had been Irving for the last few weeks, it is alleged, on the proceeds of varkHis small thefts committed at Ongarue. Te Koiira, and Piriaio. When they were accosted by a. constable, who was on their track, they hotted for the bush, lifted a canoe and started on a trip down the Wangaruii River. The police again got on their track in a launch, and effected their capinrc. although they both dived overboani at the first attempt to arrest Them.

The Tanpo-Totara Timber Company, Ltd.. was yesterday charged at the Magistrate's Court with (1) Kaifing to pay overtime rates to J. Wild, Fl. Bark, A. Jansen, and P. Reddy: (2) employing a boy -without notifying the union or its agent with a view ta> hasring his wages fixed as required by the terms of the award. Mr. Northcr%ft, appearing for the Company, contended that there had been no breach, as the overtime was the outcome of necessary repairs which had to be made in order that the mill might not be stopped next day. Judgment, however, was given against too Company, and a fine of £25 was imposed and another of £lO for failing to pay overtime rates to F. C Moore. In the rase of the men, a fine of £l, and £.l 6/ costs, was imposed in each case.

vvonderfnlly good tin imitations of threepenny pieces are In circulation in Timaru. They may be described as perfect replicas of the minted coins, and have evidently been cast in a mould made from a new coin, the date on them •being 1908. Every mark is there, and the coin has the bright colour of Bilver. Only by ringing it on a hard surface, or comparing the weight with the coin of the realm, could the fraud be detected.

The J.CLL. Corner Store opens the winter ■season to-morrow wrth a bSg display of winter samples. Inspection invited.—.John Court, Ltd, Qneen-st.—(Ad.) Warner's rust-proof corsets give perfectly the figure .fetsbion lutes for ithis ■reason.—(AdJ^