GERMANY AND PROTECTION.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4264, 29 March 1879, Page 5

GERMANY AND PROTECTION.

It will not »u r priee anyone (eavs an English contemporary) who has watched the on;mo of German affaire with any caro to learn that the Government has decided to return to a full ey»tem of protection. The irou chiincellar has alwai b been a protectionist, and tho opponents of promotion hnvo of lato boen discouraged by tho long depression of trade. Gormen manufacturer* hsvo boen erjing c,\<t for higher duties, end they hi»ve now glided the day. Europe will witnose another attempt to foster trade by a eomploto eyetem of protection, and a» Franco evinces r.o disposition to depart from the present modified froe trade introduced by N-ipoleon, the two systems will be side by side for the otwervation of the world. Germany has never adopted free trade, and, therefore, the presoct depreteion of her tr.nle caniut bs attributerl to that policy. She has charged duties on many mtnufnetured articles, and tho retnrn to protection meane the iuereaeo of duties so v to be prohibitive, anil their extemion to a wider range. Time alone will show the reeulfc on German prosperity, but it it easy to fornoo some immediate consequence ou English trnde. There will be no longer much dread of Britith iron and eteel indmtriee suffering in foreign market* by Gentian competition, i for all manufactnriug expenses will bo increased in Germany, 10 v to oountorb&lance the adrantiiges of the cheaper labor market. On tbe other hand, the textile industries of England will inevitably suffer. The Germans are 'largo consumers of Yorkshire woollen goods and Lancashire yarns and clotho. What are known as Bradford and Leede fabrics are extereively used all ever Germany, and any prohibitive duty will eeriouely injure the woollen trade; but it may not interfere with the wool market, which most immediately concerns ue, for it is probable that for some time to oome the German manufacturers will use principally English yarns j and evan if they spin their own, they will seed to buy Australian wool.