Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

PROTECTION OF URBAN INDUSTRIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln your issue of the ISth instant we asked Mr. Regan, chairman of the lata Labour Conference, in the public interest, to define the exact nature of the tariff revision sought for in a resolution he had succeeded in getting passed thereat, favouring the desirability of pressing upon the Government a demand for reviewing the already heavy Customs duties. Mr. Regan, after the lapse of a week, replies :—" The Conference certainly did come to a decision that the attention of the Government should be called to the desirability of revision of the tariff in the direction of assisting our industries during the next session; and, as a friend of the worker, and a working man myself, I think very rightly too." He then proceeds to define "industries" as the manufacture of "boots and shoes, cabinet work, printing, candles, soaps," etc. In the mind of Mr. Regan the labour of the rural population, though the dwellers in the country represent two-thirds of the colonists, is in no sense " industry," and the countryman toiling his outrageously long hours, is neither a " worker" nor a " workiugman." The question of whether or not this overworked—and under-paid—majority are in the future to give an increased quantity of produce in return for wearing apparel and other manufactured necessaries, is treated with lordly indifference. In his eyes it is perfectly just that .the farmers, who are not in his opinion workers, should have to compete in the open markets of the world with all the races of mankind, whilst with the urban minority, this competition is neither fair nor just. After a quotation from the late James G. Elaine, a life-long adherent of the party in the United States, which in the recent Presidential election, received monetary assistance to the tune of £40,000 from Mr. Andrew Carnegie, of Homestead fame, together with equally big gifts from the rings, trust, and corner kings of that country. Mr. Regan concludes by stating that he " did not intend entering into the subject at all, as the Government are already pledged to the revision of the tariff," and that he " will have nothing further to say in the correspondence columns, as it will lead to no good results." The public will judge if the refusal of a public man to publicly define the fiscal changes desired by the important class represented by him is a proper proceeding. Ha will find the public conscience revolt at such refusal, and insist that the demands of the urban workers be fully and fairly submitted to the judgment not only of preponderating rural population, but of the whole colony. The assertion that the Government is already pledged to indefinite and undefined tariff revision is incredible, since no self-respecting administration would be prepared to sacrifice the industry of the great majority. If the artisans of the town, whether they term them themselves exclusively " the Labour Party," or not, are to remain a living force in the country, they must submit their plans fully and freely to the public judgment In the interests of that party, as well as of the public, we, for the second time, ask Mr. Regan to define the exact nature of the tariff revision sought foi by him.—We are, etc., Edmund Bell, E. W. Burton.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18940428.2.15.2

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 3

Word Count
550

PROTECTION OF URBAN INDUSTRIES. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 3

PROTECTION OF URBAN INDUSTRIES. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 3