PROTECTION LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8610, 27 September 1889, Page 3

PROTECTION LEAGUE.

The Council of the Protection League met on ! Wednesday night. Preient: Meßsrs W. Hutchison (president), W. Dickßon (secretary), J. Neil (treasurer), Gore, Swan, Seiby, Mantz, Hendersou, and Hunter. In connection with the holding of a conferencß of colonial Protection In Dunedin in January next—as agreed to at the last annual meeting of the general league at Christchurch—the counoil do not think it necessary for some time to come to fix the precise date of Bucb meeting, but it was resolved to communicate with the Protectionists of Victoria, so that any

of them visiting Dunedin about the time indicated, and taking an interest in the subject, may be asked to attend the conference. Further, the secretary waß requested to ascertain whether the commercial congress, which it is proposed to hold In Dunedin under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, will be open to one or more protectionist delegatos. It was resolved to put on record that the council is quite in sympathy with the Melbourne Chambßr of Commerce in the desirability of having one common tariff applicable to all the colonies, based on the principle of intercolonial freetrade and ex-colonial protection. A letter was read from Mr H. Holmes. North-East Valley, asking the assistance of tbe league in obtaining the remission of Customs duty on machinery he Is importing for the purpose of manufacturing merino cloth, whioh Mr Holmes says will be quite a new industry, aa no attempt at such manufacture has been made by any of the woollen mills in New Zealand, and cannot be attempted with their present machinery. Mr Holmss says his machinery cannot be made iu the colony, as it is patented, and hence his application to the league for its help in the matter of the tariff.—The council could only recommend Mr Holmes to bring his case before the Government.