THE CAVERSHAM MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 7233, 8 June 1887, Page 1

THE CAVERSHAM MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your leading article last evening yon ask me what saving would it be to take L 30,000 off the Civil Service and pat LIOO,OOO on the necessaries of life. I answer none. But, sir, do you mean to imply that I ever suggested such a thing. I fail to see the relation the one act has to the other. In the first place, Protectionists contend for a retrenchment not of L 30,000, but L 300,000, not taken off the poor laborer, but off all salaries over L2OO a-year and pensions,"especially those received by men not living in the Colony. In the second place, tho Protectionists do not wish to tax anything that can be truly termed the necessities of life. Putting a duty of 25 per cent, on imported boots and shoes will not make good colonial • made ones any dearer, but will tend to make them cheaper, as it can be proved in America and Victoria. It is one of youy own arguments that Protection will ruin the manufacturers, as it will cause such competition that they will be glad to sell their goods at any price. There is no need for either extreme, but the latter one will be the best for the country, as it will keep thousands of pounds in the Colony for circulation amongst all tradesmen, and induce the operatives to come and live amongst us.—l am, etc., J, Nm. Dunedin, June 7.