OTAGO PROTECTIONIST LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8732, 19 February 1890, Page 6

OTAGO PROTECTIONIST LEAGUE.

The following was the anuual report presented at the general meeting of tho Otago Protectionist League, held on the 27th ult.: —

In this annual report your committed havo to nolo i\ yenr of quiet work, fa'lnco Protection was brought prominently to f.lie front in the eustomu duties of 1838 it lias not beeu considered expedient to press lor any further changes or modifications of the tariff, although in vurious directions it is still susceptible of improvement i>n tho lines of a protective policy. I'ublio opinion, however, lina been steadily maintained in our favour, and when the fitting time cornea the subject onu bo njraiu introduced with every pm-jpect of obtaining what is uecessary and desirable.

The prognostications ol tliotc opposed to Protection, iterated mid reiterated in our newspapers, in which the public were assured that the prices of colonial manufactures would be greatly enhanced by the present taiiff, have boen entirely iiilsillwl. Thesegoods »re not now higher iv prico than tfey were before the increased duties wera luid on.

Latterly the question in theEO colonies has entered Into a new phase, whiiih may bo stated a3 iutorcolo- • tinl Freetrndu aud t JrotfCtion from the outfido world. ThL'ie is a difference of opinion among Protectionists on this matter, imd it will probably lake some time before public opinion ia ripcj for its adjustment.

Your committee has met for business nt regular intervals during the year, and the discussion of v.irioiu matters bearing upon the ma.ll question bus been conducted in the most Irank and friendly manner.

In tiie beginning of the year ynnr committee Bent v circular to manufacturers and others interested in local industries, asking thorn to kindly answer a B»rios of questions touching the results of'tho present tariff bo far. Tho committee wore anxious to know if the increased duties had realised the anticipations formed of them by their advocates. The answers received, speaking in general terms, were all but unnulmuiuly favourable to the existing system, but an opinion was expressed that sufficient time had not elapsed to warrant any quite positive conclusions.

I As members are aware your league is vow affiliated with the Industrial Protection Lenguo of New Zealand, all the centres of population being thus banded together in one strong union, aud ready to take, joint action when occasion requires. It may bo hoped Mint tho advantages of this union will'bo demonstrated, during the general election of this year by tho several branches of this great league working intelligently to«eth°r to havo representatives ro~turned to Parliament both ready and able to maintain and extend a protective policy in the country. The annual meeting of tho general league was held nt Christchurch iv October last. Your branch hms ably represented by Messn) Swan and Mantz. Ihe balance sheet of Income and expenditure for the year, duly audited, is appended hereto; KLECTION OF OWICK-nEAItERS. The following officers were elected:—Presi-d-jnt, Mr Swan; vice-presidents, Messrs Helby and Dieted); secretary, Mr Kemuitz; treafinrsr, Mr- J. Neal. Committee: Messrs Lethaby, Mantz, 'Henry, Slesinger, Hunter, Wilkie, Merry, Woolet, and Henderson. A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring president fMr William Hutchison) was carried, a similar compliment was paid to the lato secretary (Mr Dicksou)and the proceedings closed.