TINKERING WITH THE TARIFF.

Evening Star, Issue 7412, 6 January 1888, Page 2

TINKERING WITH THE TARIFF.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—"Freetrader" does not appear to be satisfied with the answers I gave to Lis first letter; he still persists in making incorrect statements. He says that I ttated in my last letter that the public would benefit 3s to 4s in every £ on what they lay out on umbrellas. Now, this is not a fact. What I did state was that those who are in the habit of purchasing local-made umbrellas would save 3s to 4s in the £; and that those who bought imported umbrellas would gain nothing. He then goes on to state that according to my own EhowiDg I needed no Protection at all, as I was well able to compete with what I call the hotter class of goods before the Tariff was altered. What I did say was that I would make " Fieetrader " a first-class umbrella, now that the duty was removed off the umbrella material, and if he could equal it in quality and price I would make him a present of it. It appears to me that "Freetrader" is some draper who can scarcely drag out an existence at the. present time through having to compete with other well-known firms, and who fears that if he has to compete with the umbrella-makers his trade in that line will be completely gone; but if he sells nothing but 2s lid umbrellas he need not have any fear of that, as no umbrella-maker would disgrace his shop by selling such common rubbish. He says that he does not believe my yarn about the bonnet-dyers; but nearly every one who comes to my shop to get umbrellas re-covered asks if the material will keep its color, as they state that when they bought from the draper it was a beautiful black or dark brown, but after a few showers of rain it was transformed into clay color, and that the drippings from the umbrella spoiled their bate or bonnets, as the case may be; that is why we in the trade call all common umbrellas bonnetdyers. "If Freetrader" doubts this, by calling at my shop I will show him plenty of the covers I have taken off, which are similar in color to road dust. He then wants to know if I can supply the drapers as cheaply as they can import umbrellas from Home ; if not, he wdl fail to see who it will benefit but the manufacturer. In the first place, let me inform "Freetrader" that we shall be able to sell to the drapers cheaper than they can import—that is, those umbrellas made from the material. The duty is taken off of such as reversible and laventine silks, good alpaca, zanella, and Italian cloths. But suppose we could not supply the draper as cheaply as he could import them, is that any reason why we could not supply the public cheaper than the draper? "Freetrader" appears to think that there is no one concerned but the umbrella-maker and the draper; but about the public thoy do not oare one pin's point whether we can supply the draper cheaper than he can import or not, so loDg as we can sell them a better and cheaper article than the draper. The public have suffered long enough from the middleman. The nearer the producer and consumer are brought together the better for the public. In concluding, let me inform " Freetrader " that before long I will be able to bliow him and the public that I can beat the imported article, now that the duty is removed off the umbrella material.—lam, etc., H. Lethaby. Dunedin, January 6.