PROTECTION AND THE BOOT INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 4

PROTECTION AND THE BOOT INDUSTRY.

_ Sir,—The question of the high cost of living involves such matters as the tarift on imported boots, amounting to at least 25 per cent., whereby every man, woman, and child in New Zealand has' to pay more for boots. •The otficial report issued by Mr. Fros■tiokv on tho doings of the Boot Trade Congress seems to mo to contain a very great, fallacy.' The report jefers'to "the .stilish indifference of the people who livo in this' country! and who do not appreciate' the duties of citizenship, which should bo to support the industries of 'their own country." No doubt the silversmiths in Ephesus held similar views at' that" memorable iime when they raised tliOL.cry, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Mr. Frostiek's report makes it'appear as if. supporting local industries -were, not merely a duty, but the whole "duty of citizens. I deny that a citizen of New, -Zealand is under any duty to support a particular local industry ; on the contrary, I think that wo do our very best not only for ourselves but also" for our .country when we purchase the goods which suit us best, and which are the most reasonable in price. I may add also that no matter where wo mako our purchases, we cannot thereby injuro local industry as a whole, cxcept when- wo' • purchaso disadvantageously 'and prefer a less suitable local product to a more suitablo' English or foreign product. That is what the tariff compels us to do. In the hoot trade it is well known 'that: certain classes of New Zealand boots have certain defects, and that they sire dearer than imported boots ; otherwise the tariff would not bo wanted, Is a man,'for tho sake of charity to New Zea|andi manufacturers, to piaco himself -at a disadvantage by using Now Zealand boots when he can get greater satisfaction from other hoots P Tho interested man in tho trado will givo you a lot of trado "patter," but the public has hnd experience, and in tho long run knows its own business best. In purchasing where ho can most conveniently do so,, a citizen of this country is •not inflicting any neglect on Now Zealand industry as a. whole; on the contrary, he is .benefiting it. For every import there must bo a payment, and that payment must be made in goods or 6crviccs. Theso goods or 1 services form our export trade, and the industries which make up that .trade arc at least as important as tho other industries. Under a tariff, tho self-supporting industries which are not protected arc in effect penalised by the tariff-assisted industries which are protected. Tho penalty on tho New Zealand farmer is from 30 to 50 per cent. When boots ,are mado dearer by means of tho tariff that means that the cost of living for workers is mado dearer, and consequently the cost of production is increased in every other industry, sinco boots arc a necessity of life in a civilised, community. Tho result is that if we purchase where wo aro best suited, without any sentimental regard for loeal industry, and without tariffs, wo are assisting every self-sup-porting industry in New Zealand by enabling production to bo carried on more advantageously. In conclusion, I would like to quote the view of a very able and careful writer, Mr. J. A. llobson, who states in his book on "International Trade" that "free exchango within the area, and regardless of political boundaries, i 3 tho first condition and instrument of that aDDlication of industrial omrav by

all participants which shall jieaure the greatest aggregate of wealth ami tlla absolutely largest amount fqr.eaci; member of this industrial commonwealth."— I am, etc., CO,ST OF LIVING.