LOCAL INDUSTRY AND PROTECTION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 16

LOCAL INDUSTRY AND PROTECTION.

.TO THE 881108 Of "THE PW6SB." Sir,—The reply to the report of the Industrial Association in yonr Columns of the 22nd inst. might well be left to your crushing leader in to-day's issue, but a few further considerations seem to be worthy in that connexion. No one would object to the attempt of the Industrial Association to boost its manufactures were it directed exclusively against the foreigner, but surely the time chosen is as inopportune as the attempt is ill-considered at the present juncture to seek to increase the Customs duties all round, without any preference to Britain, when her industries are languishing and, as everyone admits, need our help; at a time, too, when it is abundantly plain that Britain is making strenuous efforts to encourage a widespread sentiment in favour of our produce in the Home market.. All she asks for is a fair measure of reciprocity on our part. 1 would like to ask the gentlemen of the Industrial Association where their industries would be were it riot for the British market for our primary produce; but, after all, their recommendations and resolution's, as you suggest, are not calculated to cut any more ice than they themselves. • The bid by that Association for the support of Labour in the proposed necessary legislation is not only contemptible, but almost so indecent in its transparency as to amount to bribery, but Lahour will realise this and that any such increase of Customs duty, must inevitably lead to profiteering, with increased cost of living; and so the vicious circle would go on. What the Industrial Association should seek to promote are improved methods and more intelligent management, with the elimination of all waste (which was found so effective in America and other progressive countries, and is now dawning on England bv her necessity)— "sound technique,'' as you succinctly but expressively put it, including the scrapping of antiquated machinery in the factories, so as to produce goods of the British standard and of the same lasting quality, combined with co-opera-tive principles, which Labour would nrobably appreciate more than the sop held out hy the Association.' We wouldall then like to give preference in our

purchases to New Zealand goods, but so long as they are so obviously inferior, so will we continue, despite Customs duty, to prefer the better and more durable article. It is to be hoped that the British Manufacturers' Association will arrange to stage a display to counteract the proposed exhibition. of the Industrial Association—a game at which two can very well play.—Yours, etc., April 23rd.