EDUCATION AND PROTECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7005, 29 July 1884, Page 3

EDUCATION AND PROTECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The interesting account recently given by the Ofcago Daily Times as to the course pursued in the education given by the United States, combining so admirably theory with practice, would be of still greater interest had we in New Zealand similar means for the employment of our youth after giving them a technical education, accompanied by training in the workshops. Unfortunately, however, not only are large numbers of our boys without employment, but the greater part of our factories are doing little or nothing, in consequence of money being sent out of this Colony to employ aliens, whilst our own workpeople are kept comparatively idle, and in many cases dependent upon charity for their daily bread. A short time since one of the New Zealand municipal bodies refused the local tenders for iron cylinders as too high, tha lowest being £360 (the next a little .higher), bo imported the articles at an invoice cost of £570, which, with charges amounting to £60, made a total of £6301 Had the United States pursued a similarly suicidal course, would they have been to-day rejoicing in a surplus of about £13,000,000, and a taxation scarcely felt, whilst the people of the Old Country are so heavily weighted in competition against them 1 Mr Randall stated, amidst the cheers of Congress, that " the old Confederation " relied on direct taxation, and it was a failure; the fathers of the Government sought refuge in a different system, and the result was a more perfect unian, in order to provide for the common defence and the general welfare. "The people had become accustomed to import duty, and it had proved to be the safest and best method of taxation. It caused no friction, or comparatively little." The result of this policy is thus stated in the New York Trade Journal".; "We sell to our Anglo-Saxon cousins far more than we buy from them, and we buy from alien nations far more than we sell to them. . , , The British Empire adjusts our adverse balances with non-purchasing countries and leaves a handsome surplus." The question for us in New Zealand to consider is, Are we to follow the policy which has built up the power of the United States and is now building up that of Germany and ether nations; or are we to follow England, which, notwithstanding her unrivalled advantages in coal, iron, and other deposits, and her enormous manufacturing capabilities, has 40,000 of her artisans thrown out of work in Manchester and its environs alone, through the flooding of the markets with cheap German and American goods.

Prosperity, as observed in the Otago Daily Times of to-day's date, is again dawning upon us, and the reduction in tho rates of discount and deposits will give a great stimulus to business.

Are we, like the Americans and Germans, to consider industrial pursuits as " a part of our resources," and the development of these resources as " a test of true statesmanship" or not? Are we, in fact, to develop our mineral and other industries, and thus provide ample employment for the numerous immigrants whom our vast food supplies would Bupport in comfort?—l am, &c,

July 26,

—Ia Sweden, it is said, there is a law taking away the right of suffrage from every man who has been drunk three times.

—When the Ijondon Missionary Herald of the British Baptists lately announced that the society had decided to send fourteen new missionaries to China the whole of the £2000 required was contributed by friends in Bristol.