The N.Z. Times SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1907. A VOTE FOR PURE WOOL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6314, 14 September 1907, Page 6

The N.Z. Times

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1907. A VOTE FOR PURE WOOL.

with touch is incests*a*.mco tux “ WBUjutereti IHBKVXKIWNX.” BSTASMSa*© I* 4 *-

'The case for and against the use of cotton in the manufacture or New Zealand tweeds, blankets, mid flannels was debated upon a liberal scale in the House last night, in Committee of Ways and Means. Tho question came up in the form of a new item in the tariff-putting a duty of fourpenoo a pound upon raw cotton, and the arguments employed on the oife hand by the Minister and those who, like him, are jealous for the maintenance of the reputation of our woollen fabrics, and on the other hand by members who look at the qnestioji from tho local business standpoint, were directed with great skill and ingenuity. There .is a great deal in the pica, urged by, 'Mr Barber, that the local manufacturers should be encouraged to turn pnt an article of good quality to compete with the cheap imported shoddy fabrics which are alleged to be largely used by people of small means, but this contention, though it may find support upon the principle of the free admission which the tariff recognises, tannot look for much in any other direction. The remission of the duty would not, as Mr Laurenson neatly demonstrated, confer a boon of ■conspicuous dimensions upon the working man, who, besides, for his own sake as well as that of the colony, should be encouraged to gjvo all-wool fabrics the preference oyer all mixtures. In a matter of this kind the member for Selwyn is a sqfer guide than Air Ell, as the committee evidently thought whon it declared for the retention of the item by a majority of fourteen. It does not follow that tho vote will have ■the effect of inducing the mass of the .population to wear pure woollen cloth or tweed, and it may happen tjiat the local mills will still find it to. the advantage of their shareholders to compete with the cheap imported goods, but this consideration only serves to emphasise the wisdom of the course pursued by the Government. So long as mixtures are sold as such there can be no objection to their manufacture here or elsewhere, but the inclusion of raw cottai in the taxable list will serve to indicate at least a belief on the part of the House that it is being used illegitimately—that it is a component of goods, such as blankets and flannels, which are popularly supposed to be made of wool only. It was, as the Minister of Customs expected, a surprise to many people to be informed that 80 per cent, of the imported cotton goes into our “pure woollen” goods. An industry of this kind, whether “primary” or not, is not one that deserves encouragement, and we are glad that the House decided to give it none —at least, officially.