TAXATION AND MONOPOLY.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 8

TAXATION AND MONOPOLY.

TQ THE EDITOB.

Sir,— ln the report of the Wellington Industrial Association, as read at a meeting on Tuesday evening,, referring to factories it says : "The Committee, thinks it wxmld be well if copies -of the reports of • visiting ConiTnittees were sent to every member of the House of Representatives. This, m future will be done. By thus drawing, the attention of Parliamentary representatives to the important industries m the colony • members may be brought to see the, absolute necessity of something bei-a?. done m the way of hiefcter protection through the medium of the Cuioms tariff." Immediately following ihis the report says : "The Association is m no way an advocate for straight out Protect-km; but on account of the many anomolies existing m the Customs tariff many of our important industries are severely handicapped and some m a languishing condition."' If this is not asking for further straight out Protection, what is it ? Why should copies of tlie reports be sent only to Parliamentary repre- i sentatives ? Why should they not be distributed broadcast among the people, so that they may have a chance < of discussing and advising their representatives on the matter ? We are pretty well full of Protection at ' present. Take boots for instance j | (one of the most important items to j i workers, and families) which, not- J withstanding the heavy duty of, I think, 40 per cent., are reported to j be 25 to 50 per cent, or more dearer m Wellington than m Sydney. Foi- j j lowing on the report says: "In face [ v of the high rents and rates' which i have to be' paid by manufacturers the articles which are capable of being made m the colony should have reasonable protection," What is reasonable protection? Is it not more than resonable now?*" The -discussion at the meeting was a genieral plea for more protection. Do riot the workers pay high rents and taxes ? Are they not entitled to a rise m wages if further protection is i granted ? It is all nonsense to say trade is, languishing for want of protection Look at the large palacelike business premises and • private residences recently and now being erected by those said-to-be hard-up manufacturers. Docs this show that business m any branch is languishing? Not much. It is the workers who suffer. For every. Is a day wages ha*ve gone up manufacturers and merchants have been obtaining pounds by wav of protection, and what the laborer has gained m wages he has had to pay back m taxation. Yet Liberal politicians will greet tlie worker with the expression, "We are of the people and for the people." This is a wrong scheme for taxation.— l am, &c, . COLONIST. Sept-ember 27, '06.