PROTECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 7187, 15 April 1887, Page 2

PROTECTION.

Sir,—Youroorreippndent "Protectionist" says, on the authority of a Freetrade boot importer, that boots will be cheaper than now in two years if Protection is carried out—i.e., the import duty raised to 25 or 30 per cent. I have no doubt he is substantially correct. -Whether it be in two years or longer, it will just be when the supply of boots is in large excess of the demand:. The holders of stocks mil then be glad to sell them for whatever-they-will bring; justaa manufacturers of locks in America imported the raw material from England, manufactured it in America, and finding the market glutted there, and urgently requiring money to keep them afloat, sent their stock to Sheffield and undersold English manufacturers. All that is easily understood. It is simply the natural result of Protection when fully carried out, and it means rain to the manufacturers. If " Protectionist" denies this, and declares it is simply because the manufacturers here can manufacture boots at a cheaper rate than they are now sold at (with profit to themselves), then why da they not do it? It cannot be frgm, want of competition, for the importers of boot*, with their heavy stocks which we see so abundantly in the streets of Dunedin, indicate that' competition in the trade is sufficiently lively. To bring matters to a point, let "Protectionist" answer distinctly these three plain questions : 1. Can local manufacturers profitably manufacture and sell boots at a cheaper rate, than they are now sold at ? 2. If so, is there is not sufficient eosa,I petition from importers tQ induce, them to do so? 3. If they cannot manufaotom cheaper now, what reason can he show for believing tKey -will be &V>\e to do so two years hence t —I am, etc, Honrstt. Dunedin, April 15. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—ln the report of Mr Bracken's ad- . dress appears the following }—" The Proteo- ) tionist held that the first law of natnre bids ; us.to guard and oherish those who are nearest and dearest to as." Is that so? If [ the Protectionists hold that doctrine, why i do they, seek to prevent me exchanging my , produce with my father, my brother, and > other relatives in Britain by putting on i heavy import taxes ? b No, sir; those who are responsible in this ■ clamor for heavy taxation (named by them i Protection) have no desire to " cherish' and 1 guard" others. All. their interests -are , centered in Number One. It is myself first, self second, and self third. Facts, and not , poetic bunkum, will weigh most with the . sons of toil.—l am. etc, Wobkxb. Dunedin, April 15. j TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Mr Bracken, at his meeting in South Dunedin last evening, asks " Whether J it is wise for the people of this Colony to L content themselves with the present mongrel 1 tariff, or whether they ought not to demand i a revision of our fiscal system in the diree- ) tion of judicious Protection ?" Mr Bracken, like so many of his political friends, did not 2 give the articles he wishes to see protected, i or the rate of duty he would propose to 3 meet that end. Probably, like the bootj makers of Wellington, he may think SO per i cent., a fair amount of protection to local I industries. By way of stimulating his desire to afford further information on the subjeot, 1 would like him to reply to the following inquiry:— Are you prepared to advocate the placing of such a duty on printing paper ana printing materials as will enable the existing paper mills at the Water of Leith and Mataura to extend their mills for the production of the paper used in the ' Evening Herald,' By the Customs returns, it appears wet imported Jfhe following materials duty free: Printing- pspar .. .." .. £67.211 Printing iok 8,509 Printing materials ... .. Ufißß A total of .. .. ... £84,308 If Mr Bracken is prepared to levy a protective duty on these articles and to give practical proof of his sincerity, let rim pledge himself to advocate in his place in the Assembly the levying of such a duty as will enable the Colony to manufacture its own demand for suoh articles. When Mr Bracken has answered this question, with your permission I may extend my inquiries.—l am, etc., A Consumes. Dunedin, April 15.