NEW ZEALAND FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1899, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

. ; -... : (TotheE«ov.)-Siß,--The ■" Austria* influx " , question would appear tl have subsided into unusual quietu d e»«-J?roui all ' iaccounts the diggers «re inclined to support the Kauri Gua Industry Act loyally, although it islcertainly in a rather crude form at Iresent. They look upon it as a ste* towards ultimate protection, firsl of their^own rights and, secondly, of ithe gum^ industry as a whole. I notice that in a recent issue of your joulnal you cordially support the actionjtaken by the Premier in. stopping the influx- oi these Austrians, and a\ great many persons quite agree with ryou. There is 'little doubt that the exigencies oi the case demanded that so' ; mo irninedir ate and decisive step should be taken if a series of calamities iwere to be averted from our struggling settlersol the North. * The 'present state of the gum market is a sure irtdiciatiou that the Premier was fully justified in his ! prom pt action. For some*, considerable time past, good prices have been j prevailing and indifferent diggers were j able to eke out a living because even low : ■ graid.e gum commanded a iemunerative figure. Now note the 1 Isult oi ! tho irush of _£ustrians. Gum if. jtumbling 5 , at an alai-ming pace, and .Ijiere isno saying hotr much loAver it will, come, To '{put it briefly, .the state; of the market is chaotic.. If, then, 0./ any oi bur gumdiggers could only jus-i; livo ai late prices,, what is to become "ol then: when rates are ? Stcirvatior or t\he Chaifitable Aid Board;, inusl stum them initio face. • We may resi assured, sir, tfiaf this question a>f the gum liudusti^j-will in the veift ne;-; ■ future^, d.-mfind" ?: still more atffnthm. and iiui.- i'-.gtsaatt'on hev&dliei' inS^^**" at least a* Restrictive as the present Statute — in }faot, the more restrictive in pro^ynrti.j'n! ;-as it is more deliberately considered in Parliament. "New Zealand for the New Zealanders " is a motto that it may suit some people to JLeiugh at^but it has good sense in.it; •iand if there aye indications that there is going to be -^ good deal of distress and, ai? pxtrH heavy drain -on our Charitable Aid. funds, then it behoves us to put iri: j-irr-ctice Nature's first law — self -preservation. No code of inter-, national' rulete t'm over-ride or stultify w^ n;ny take for that puringbC—l am, \et< . ''"'" \ . \ ■ Protectionist.