AN ARGUMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8950, 14 January 1888, Page 3

AN ARGUMENT.

TO TUB EDITOR, | is, —Your correspondent 4 ' Alpha" should , sign his letters and cease attributing selfish motives to hid opponents, who are likely as unselfish as he is, besides it is weak argument. The principal reason why protection is required, is to counteract the absurd prejudice which existß against anything colonial. Inferior imported goods command higher prices than the best local. "Alpha" is right; working men claim protection, and buy imported goods, apparently losing eight of the fact that they are sending labour to other countries. Protection will keep labour in the colony, but the wages will be governed by supply and demand. As a protectionist and a member of the abused and misunderstood Auckland Industrial Association, I claim that it is to the best interests of every colonist, rich or poor, to bo regulate the Custom's duties as to encourage local industries, wkioh are adapted to the circum. stances of the colony, with the view of finding employment for all, and securing a local market for agricultural products. Probably 10,000 people are idle in the oolony; at £2 per week that means a loss of a million per annum in purchasing power, which accounts to a great extent for the low price of butter, cheese, eggs, fruit, etc. To employ these people it would be necessary to manufacture £1,250,000 worth of goods which we aro now importing,—l am, to., J. Wilson, Auckland, January 13, 1888.