PROTECTION AND FARMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14507, 22 October 1910, Page 5

PROTECTION AND FARMING.

Sir,—ln your issue of ho lot 111 st. Mr. Frank Col beck writes in reply to Mr. Eraser's clamour for more protection on the iron trade of the Dominion; in other words, ] Mr. Froser wants to still bleed tho farmer and the primary producer to it greater extent than is already being done. To " kill the goose that lays tho golden egg," etc., seems to be tho solo object of tho unthinking people of the Dominion. Unless tho geese, (the fanners ia particular) take. a. united-

stand to prevent this course of things the- < primary products of the Dominion will cost more to produce t "Kin they will bring in the open markets of the world. This will be tho inevitable end if a cry of halt is not rnado with protection on our so-called local industries, which are a curse in disguise to the Dominion. Any sane person must concur with Mr. Colbeck's able remarks, and it would be well if every man and woman in trie Dominion (including members of the House) were to- road and thoroughly digest them, ami to act accordingly, as it is only a matter of time when necessity will demi.nd that our primary products must be stripped of the unnatural cos I of production as at present. Seeing that tho soil of New Zealand can easily carry ten times its present population, why tho necessity of bolstering up unpayable industries at the expense of the whole community. and tripp ing the natural iiuiu-rrioi of the country, that would in tho natural way of tilings he payable and leave a prcfii lh'sides to enable the national debt of tho country to be pai l olf'r N. 11. Boning.