FISCAL CONTORTIONISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 27, 2 February 1932, Page 10

FISCAL CONTORTIONISTS.

Some time ago Canada, following all the accepted theories of Protectionists, placed a prohibitive duty on New Zealand butter. She refused to "employ the foreigner" to make her butter for her. She decided to take a further step towards the "monopoly of her own market" and to circumvent countries which were seeking the "free run" of the aforesaid market. In short, she acted in •trict accordance in every way with accepted Protectionist doctrines. At this time New Zealand placed an embargo on Canadian implements and automobiles, thus protecting, in the manner beloved of tariffists, her local industries. Even in the case of automobiles, which the local industries merely assemble, Britain, our best customer, had the first call on our trade for such work as we could not do for ourselves. So far so good, but a strange thing happened. Protectionist politicians and Protectionist journalists in both countries, ignoring the consummation of their pet theories, at once began to clamour for a mutual agreement between the two Dominions to undo the good work. Mr. Downie Stewart and Mr. H. H. Stevens were dispatched post haste to Honolulu for the purpose, and, so it is believed, succeeded in shattering the Protectionist structure, to the accompaniment of political and journalistic applause. Can you beat it? G. B. Shaw has said that if you want people to take notice of you it is necessary to do some outlandish thing. He suggested standing on one's head in the middle of the street. He forgot the Protectionists—that would be nothing new. FREE TRADE.