TARIFF PROPAGANDA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22329, 1 August 1934, Page 4

TARIFF PROPAGANDA

TO TRK EDITOR. Slß,—The tariff propaganda taking place in Wellington caused me to reflect as follows:—Quite apart from the effects of the Great War, is pot the condition of the world to-day largely the result of man’s efforts to further sectional interest instead of the right course as proved by history—i.e., considering the interests of the people as a whole: If our parliamentarians were sincere they would study history and act so as to ovoid the mistakes which are evident to those who study. Let us look at American history for a while. When that country was growing in population, its industrial magnates saw great wealth coming to them provided they could have protection from outside competition. Whether or not this meant increased cost of living to millions who were not protected did not matter. Protection against other countries although its genesis was selfish, became, as a policy, elevated to a high plane in the minds of many. Protection, ists became so infatuated that they sincerely thought that they were national benefactors for the reason that they did give increased employment to many thousands. In the good that was being dona temporarily, the evil to others was ig-

nored, and the self-satisfaction of manufacturers made them blind to the dangers they were creating for themselves.. As pointed out, they sought protection; from competition from abroad and ignored the internal of their actions. While, with a growing population such as America hadr the day when production would exceed Consumption seemed far off, it was not so, for all conditions combined to work to that end. There was no restriction against internal competition* which, because of protection making manufacturing profitable, became keener and keener, workers In the protected industries were raised to a high standard of living out of balance withtheir fellow beings in unprotected spheres. Huge sums were expended in increasing the size of existing factories and in building new ones. Consequently overproduction became the order of the day. The promise of continued employment could not be fulfilled.- and the fall from high wages'and high living to unemployment was a greater thump than that experienced by English workmen who had not been carried to unreal wages out of balance with the rest of the community. The millions of money lying waste in empty factories and in unnecessarily large ones is the result of the stupidity of those rsponsible for the fiscal policy. Millions of people in America not in protected industries,have suffered, and are still suffering, for the benefit of the protected, while the cost of living makes life a misery for the now unemployed workmen. To-day Australia is suffering from the same wrong policy and factories are only half occupied. The unfortunate thing is that once a policy of protection is .'.undertaken and manufacturers spend money in buildings and equipment, they appear to think that they are public benefactors and that their aims are entirely altruistic. It is a blessing for Britain that her statesmen study cause and effect and have aims calculated to work out well for, and in the interests of, the ' people as a whole. ' 7 v. -;' I appeal to our legislators of all parties not to be carried away by the importunities of self-interest, but to take-a long view by studying history and to act in the interests of all, not for the day, but for the future. We are suffering to-day from causes, put into operation years ago, end so what we do to-dny will show in after years in good or -ill. : There is no doubt but that Americans would dearly like to call back many of the years that are past and re-write history by rectifying some of their many mistakes, but that cannot be done. The people must just work out their destiny. Their legislators acted wrongly and the people must suffer. —I am, etc., ■ , Vox POPULI.