PROTECTION OF OUR INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9494, 25 April 1894, Page 6

PROTECTION OF OUR INDUSTRIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— your issue of April 18, ever the signatures of Messrs. Edmund Bell and E. W. Burton, there appeared a letter, in which it was stated that I (as president of the late Labour Conference) succeeded in obtaining from the delegates present an expression of opinion on the question of the revision.of the tarirr The Conference certainly -did; come to a decision that the attention of the Government; should be called to the desirability of revising the tariff in the direction of assisting our industries during the next session; and, as a friend of the worker, and a workingman myself, I think very rightly too. I cannot see any possible reason why other countries should n*ve the privilege of supplying us with goods which we can well produce ourselves. It seems pretty clear to me that so long as we continue to import boots and shoes., cabinetwork, printing, candles, soaps, etc., ate, so long will our workmen *ud apprentices coming out of their time have to walk the streets. It naturally follows.

We have in Auckland as skilled tradesmen as can be found anywhere, and machinery of all kinds of the most modern inventions, so that we are quite equal to turn out w*rk of all descriptions to suit all local requirements, and I do not think it fair or just that our workers should have to compete with the gaols of America, with Chinamen, aid with countries where wages are at a sweating point. Ido not believe in building up the industries of other countries at the expeise of our own workmen.

This is what the Hon. B. W. Perkins, United States Senator of Kansas, says on ihe matter:—"l am a protectionist beeausi I am an American. W* should have freetnde among ourselves because we honour one lap; and are citizens of a common country. Bat the man who builds no houses here, who pays no taxes here, who employs no labour hire, who does nothing to contribute to »ur growth and our prosperity, but who lives abroad beyond the oceans, whence he destes to bring his products, either farm or mamfactured, into this great American market in competition with ours—he should pay for the privilege ; and when he has paid for .he privilege we will cover the money into ihe treasury 4 of the United States, and with jit we will cancel our obligations and carryon the concerns of government And I wodd do this in the name of patriotism and ny country, because I believe it right." And this is what the late James G. Blahe, Secretary of State for foreign Affairs in America, says : —"lnnoeventcanthegrovth of large fortunes be laid to the charge of he protective policy. Protection has prove! a distributor of great sums of money; notan agency for amassing it in the hands of he few. The records of our savings ban Us md building associations can be appealed t( in support of this statement. The benefit;of protection goes first and last to the men vho earn their bread in the sweat of their fates. The auspicious and momentous result is tiat never before Jin the history of the world las comfort been enjoyed, education acquired, and independence secured by so large a proportion of the total population as in the United States of America." With the sibstance of these extracts I entirely agree, j I did not intend entering into this question at all, as the Government are already pledged to the revision of the tariff, but owing to She above two gentlemen being so anxious toget my humble views on the matter, I thinlJ it would be discourteous on my part if I didiot reply. I shall have nothing further to Jay in the correspondence columns, as it will bad to no good results. Mr. Andrew Bell i$ I have no doubt, quite able to take care of himself. am, etc., James Regan, I Chairman late Labour Conference