PROTECTION TO SOCIAL INDUSTRIES. PUBLIC MEETING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4153, 5 December 1870, Page 3

PROTECTION TO SOCIAL INDUSTRIES. PUBLIC MEETING.

Pursuant to nofrce, a public meeting was held on Saturday afternoon, in the Marhesquare, under the auspices of the New Zealand Local Industry League. The meeting was convened for 2 o'clock, but it was half an hour after that time before anything like an assemblage could be gob together, and, when the meeting actually commenced, there were not more than 150 persons present, most of whom were unemployed or small farmers who had come iuto town with their produce. The meeting in no sense represented the thinking portion of the community, and it was well understood before the proceedings commenced that any result arrived at would be utterly valueless as a test of public opinion. A platform was improvised from an express wagon, and a table and chairs were placed in front for the Press. The Hon. H. Chambbrlin was called upon to preside, and, in opening the proceedings, regretted that the meeting was not more numerous and more respectable, owing to the absence of many who had promised to attend. He feared that "promises were made, like piecrust, to be broken." He called upon Mr. D. Graham to address the meeting. Mr. Graham said the object of these meetings was to bring forward arguments in support of the movement for fostering local industry. He referred to the importance of the occasion, and the interest which he took in the subject. He moved, "That, in the opinion of this meeting, the existing depression in the various industries of the colony is largely the result of unrestricted importations, and that in order to restore confidence and to promote permauent prosperity it is desirable to seek such alterations in the existing tariff as will offer protection, for the future to native industries generally, and the legitimate era- | ployment of labour and capital in the employment of the country." Many arguments might be adduced to show the injury of free trade, and the benefit which would be conferred by an improvement in the tariff It was hoped that the electors would use their influence in the forthcoming elections in returning members pledged to support measures for the encouragement of local industries. The speaker referred to the injury of unrestricted importations, and went on to speak of his own experiences as an old settler. He had recently travelled through native land capable of producing wheat sufficieut to supply the whole country, but the natives were precluded from producing grain, owing to the obstacles caused by free importations. It was evident that, however the price of wheat might be raised, the working classes would benefit by protection to local industries. (A Voice : What about Williams's blacking ?) Mr. S. F. (-lark said he came forward much against his will. Were they all employed ? ("No.") Did they want employment? ("Yes.") If they did they must demati I such a change in the tariff aa ! would afford employment. (Mr. Bright here marie some observation.) He believed the meeting would not listen to Mr. Bright, who was very far behind his namesake. If they desired employment for all classes they must alter the tariff; instead of allowing the people abroad to flood the market with their goods, and driving local tradesmen into the Bankruptcy Court — a practice which was unfortunately too common. (Laughter.) A free - trader had used the argumeiit that they need not trouble themselves about importations, as they did not pay for imported goods. He hoped the meeting would scout that argument. The truth was that foreign capitalises was afraid to invest money here, and he was assured by a gentleman that many English creditors of tradei'3 here harl not realised more than Is. 3d. in the pound. He referred to the depressed condition of the industries of the country. The prospects of the country depended upon the introduction of capital from abroad, but recently the idea had gained groun i that this was more a place in which to siuk capital than to realise profit. The prospects of the country were good, and, in proportion to its size, it might some day rival America. (A Voice: Paper currency.) Well, he thought it would better to have that than to send money out of the coun+ry in payment of interest and sinking fund on foreign loans. If the working men desired to retain capital in the colony, they should support encou- ! rageinent to local industries. : Mr. Mattukw Henry Roe alluded to the '' excess of imports over exports, and argued j that our capital was being sent abroad, im- i po erishing the country. He had himself been a free trader, but had altered his views. The difference of a halfpenny upon the loaf was a serioua consideration to the labourer at home. Here, however, such a item was of little consequence in comparison with regular employment and good wages. A great proportion of the population was employed in work for which they were unfitted There was a great deal of misdirected labour in the country. la order to enable the country tj pay interest and sinking fund on the loans it would b«* necessary to introduce population. The encouragement of local industries would afford employment for the next generation. It was a question that came home to every father, to every husband, and to every man that expected to be a father. (Laughter.) Mr. McliwalTiV asked the speaker what he thought of the conduct of Mr. Gillies in sending <letectives about fco hunt up the unemployed men of Auckland. Mr. Roe : Well, I hope it was to giva employment to them. Mr. Ellis said it was evident that their commercial and manufacturing interest demanded serious attention and inquiry at the present time. It was for this purpose that the meeting was held, and he trusted that similar ineeting3 would be held throughout ' the country. The speakers were simply here in the capacity of inquirers, and he trusted that fair and impartial inquiry would be allowed. While he believed that no more favouring circumstances would give them what they desired ; a combination of unfavourable circumstances might defeat the success of any ameliorative measures. Our sefctlers were not wanting in energy and skill, but they were bese' by difficulties, which it was the interest of the community to inquire into and remove. They should, however, view the matter in a comprehensive light, looking to the general benefit of the country by the development of our industries. It was a poor argument to say against those benefits that some one class would need be first benefited, and that the results would not accrue for a year or two to come. He would as soon cut his hand off as advocate the interests of one class against another, but the object should be considered in a genuine broad-hearted and patriotic spirit. It was true that the town could not prosper were the country neglected ; but there were some who seemed to lose sight of this fact. He maintained that it was utterly impossible for the country to continue to import without protection. To continue to send away capital, unless money was introduced by means of loans, would result in ruin. We must either borrow money from abroad, or get people to come into the country with a little capital, to become ultimately victims of the same condition of things as had ruined those who preceded them. The present system would not, by any amount of bolstering, prevent utter ruin to the colony. The term " bolstering up" was often applied to the measures advocated by those who favoured the encoui'agement of local industries, but he maintained that the term was more applicable to the measures which their opponents advocated. The speaker compared the circumstances of the country to those of a mismanaged home. By keeping money in the country it would be available for expenditure , in developing other industries. He contended that we could produce for exportation to foreign markets The immense traota of land on the East Coast were fitted to produce infinitely" more grain than we could consume for years to come. Ho considered* that' ( any protection should be merely nominal.

we had adopted as out home should ai least; prodnce for as the food we eat, and the clothes wo wear. Local industries required to be fostered until they ware able to stand alone, and it wat oar duty to form a manufacturing population who would retain money in the country, enriching it. The speaker referred to the progress of manufacturing industry in America, under the influence of encouragement to their industries, and to their self-denial. He believed that success would attend efforts in this direction, »nd that the large pastoral, mineral, and agricultural resources of the country would be developed. The great question would have to be fought out in the forthcoming election. He was afraid that in elections the general welfare of the country was too often lost sight of in personal questions, such as the distribution of money and favours. Mr. Bright said, when they found a party were raising the departed ghost of Protection, it was time for every man who had the interest of the country at heart to protest against it. '«t would move as an amendment to the motion, "That^petition be sent from this meeting to the House of Assembly, requesting them to repeal the present Tariff, and to raise revenue upon an income and property tax." I There was in this city an institution the 1 great bulk of the profit* of which was »ent away to foreign shareholders. He had himself received a small legacy from home, which was mulcted in a property and income tax. In the Middle Island not less than four millions and a half was mortgaged to English capitalists at an average of 10 pec cent. The proceeds of this flowed out of the country. They should put the saddle on the right horse: they should not put the burden upon the working people. The other day a man charged him 15s. for doing less than a day's work. The man said he had been four years iv the country, and never worked at his trade for less than 15s. a day, and yet he would show in black and white that he had earned less money than he earned in the old country at 255. a week. Could artisans and labourers here compete with those at home? (Yes.) He saic', No. The tariff itself was virtually as protective in its nature as was necessary. (Mr, Clark : No. ) Well, he would meet Mr. Clark for k'ix nighfca in succession, and discuss the question with him in public. 9s. 7d in the pouud was paid away in the shape of taxation. The effect of this excessive taxation was to keep capital and population out of the country. A man worth £50,000 a year only paid as much as the man who worked for his linn*. Would they be bamboozled by the stuff that was being spouted ? (Laughter. ) Mr. Swan said he was not tjoing to take the same line as the gentleman who had just sat down. He would show that the policy of the Government as laid before this meeting, for it was the policy of the Government, was utterly fallacious. Mr. Vogel brought down a Tariff Bill, which proposed to increase taxation upon everything the working classes ate, drank, and wore, while it took off taxation from the squatter. Another object of the bill was to introduce, by means of loans, men who would by coming here lower tbe price of wages, while the price of living was increased. He would tell them why farmers did not grow grain. (A Voice : They have not got land in the North Island.) That was true, but it was also true that tbe formers were mortgaged up to the eyes, and could not sell a beast or an article of production without paying a commission on it. There was a round taxation of 23 per cent, upon the commodities imported. The tariff would be found more protective than iv America. We paid £28,000 to carry out the farce of the Provincial Oouncil up yonder — (laughter) — and handed over £300,000 to the provinces, which they spent aa they thought proper. They should not come here and talk about labour and tariff, but go to the root of the matter. So long as they gave £7,000,000 of money to ten provinces to spend, they should n t talk about doubling their debt. What he was in favour of was free trade, free laud, free immigration, and free labour. By free labour he mewit that taxes should not be taken out of the pockets of the working man here to decrease wages. Landed proprietors became heavily mortgaged, in their cupidity and desire to become country squires and autocrats. (Cheers.) The Chairman put the amendment to the meeting, but, as there appeared to be some doubt as to whether it was carried or not, he put it a second time. After some delay, and in the midst of a great deal of confusion, be said he thought there was a majority in favour of the amendment. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.