"LIBERALISM" AND STANDARD OIL.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 42, 22 December 1911, Page 12

"LIBERALISM" AND STANDARD OIL.

Lα Iris opening InvercargiH speech, Mr. T. Fleming had something to say about the Orepuki shale works. A good many years ago, he said, a company spent a large sum of money in establishing these works. What encouragement did the Government give the company. He would tell them. This socalled Liberal paternal Government took all the duty off kerosene, and practically ruined the company so far their business in this country was concerned, and thus, instead of benefiting the consumer, the principal benefit went into the pockets of the American Oil Trust. In Canada they did things differently, and give substantial bonuses to encourage local industries. The American Oil Trust (Standard Oil) was a world-wide thing. It was a magnet that operated everywhere, and drew good things to itself. Whatever Standard Oil interests needed, Standard Oil agents secured for it in some way. Where they could not get things to them, they bought them —anything at all from an oil well to a senator; but the funny thing about the removal of the duty from kerosene in New Zealand — tliat gave New Zealand oil trade to the American Trust and extinguished the poor little Orepuki Shale Company —was that the New Zealand equivalent of American senators, able to influence legislation, were not for sale in New Zealand. Still the duty came off, the Orepuki company went out, and that pious American, John D. Rockefeller, had yet another reason to thank heaven for its mysterious workings in his behalf. (Laughter.) New Zealand was the poorer by the loss of a promising industry, and admirers of the Seddon-Ward colonial-industry-en-couraging Protectionist Ministry had ever since been in a state of puzzlement as to why they should have so wantonly and barbarously slaughtered the Orepuki company and used what was a most unlawful weapon for a Protectionist Government to use —"free trade in oil." —(Applause.) —''Dominion. ,,

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. —Ben. EVanV.linfc ,