THE COST OF PROTECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15922, 7 May 1912, Page 8

THE COST OF PROTECTION.

TO THE EniTOB. Sir, —In your issue of May 8, under tho heading of "Census of Trades," you refer specially to tho boot and shoe industry. In craving' space in your valuable columns to di&ciiss this subject further, I am aware that a certain section of the public will conclude that I, as an importer of boots and shoes, have "an axe to grind." I wish, at the outset, to assure you, and your readers, that this is not so. My object is solely to nut the question of the heavy and unjust taxation on boots and/ shoes before your readers, and leave to deride whether or not it is 111 the best interests of the people—the working classes in particular—to continue the present high rate of taxation.

I venture to say that no other line of business has been harassed by taxation to the same extent, and it makes one (who knows the burden under which the people are living) marvel that there is not an outcrv against the cost of our footwear. If there was ever an instance of the majority suffering for tho questionable good or the minority, it is surely this protection of the boot and shoe industry. We hear enough about cheaper living, Industries Week, and the rest, but has it ever ocenrred to your readers what it costs them to keen in employment the 2272 poorly paid workers referred to in the abovementioned article ? I think not, or else it would not be tolerated a clay longer. If, as a very low estimate, we say 5.000,000 pairs of boots, shoes, and slippers, etc., are worn in New Zealand annually, and these were taxed at the rate of Is per pair, the amount realised would enable the Government to pension off the present employees at the wages earned last year,' viz: £197,593, and leave a balance of £52,407 for revenue; or to, compensate manufacturers for capital invested. Then if the Government did not like to see the present hoot operatives ; drawing their pensions and walking about doins: nothing, they could, instead, settle them comfortably on small farms, which, T venture to say, 99 per cent would prefer to their trade. Can /■you credit that all this and more can be done for this handful of poorly paid workers, and still, enable tho remaining million wearing boots and shoes in this dominion to buy their footwear from 30 per cent cheaper than at present ? Remove the present taxation alto--1 gether, substitute tho Is per pair rate, pension off the present operators, and the average price of ladies' shoes instead of being 15s to 25s will come down to «.n average of 6s Gd to 18s 6d. In the men's boots the difference would be even more noticeable, but to enumerate all would be trespassing too much on your valuable space. "As regards children's boots and" shoes, two, and in some cases, three pairs, ; conld be bought for the price of one to-day. In the face of these facts, doss it not follow that the sale of boots and shoes coming from the world's best makers, would treble itself, causing a demand which the present wholosalo and retail stores could not possibly cope with? And this, remember, is after settling those who did not wish to stay at the trade, on comfortable farms, or to take up other profitable and more congenial occupations.

I am not opposed to protecting our industries when they are in a position to supply the product without being a burden to the peonle, the workmen and the manufacturers themselves. If you cared to interview these latter, I believe you would find tho majority, if

not all of them, only too pleased to give up the manufacturing, and make their money by easier ; and more pro* fitable methods of buying and selling. It js hardlv possible that our new of Customs has had time to go thoroughly into this question, but if Mr Laurenson wants to make himself "the man of the hour," he will tackle this truly Liberal measure fearlessly, and for the public good, adopt the scheme I have placed before your, readers, ending once and for all the ever Incessant cry from an afflicted public, "Aren't boots dear?"—l am, etc., IMPORTER.