PROTECKSHUN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3551, 28 August 1879, Page 3

PROTECKSHUN.

TO THB BDITOB 0* THB STAB. Sib, — I was really so sorry that I had to go away for a day or two with my little Jim, as he's got the hooping cough that bad we thought a change would do him the world a£ood. So I couldn't write you a letter to put in yesterday's paper as I'd a mind to. My Jim says, Bays he, you must notia that powerful argyment in Eliza Jane's letter about the imported boots. Now, if they are so dratted bad as he says they are, they don't want no protecktin. People 'ill soon find out that for theiraelves, and 'ill buy the colonial make with' a great dealo' pleasure perwided they ain't forced to. I was just a readin a letter in Saturday's Star where it Bay that we hare a very heavy duty to pay on necceaary food, sich as tea and sugar, as high as 22 per sent. I don't know exactly how much that iq, bub it sounds high, and the man (for it can't be a woman) as writes it said that was as high agin as the duty is ' on luxury, and that's how it was in Victoria— ft fellow over there started a makin' sugar out o' beet root, and he raised a cry aa how lie could make it, but he'd have to be proteckted, as the sugar from home could always sell cheaper, and to suit this chap my house sugar as was 4|d, went up to s id, and! had to bur that nasty tasted yellow stuff, as>l never could abide the taste of. I give you a piece of a letter from a Melbourne " working man" taken from a newspaper aa was sent to me last week, and a very temporato one, very, Jim thinks it is :— . ] : "Will you kindly grant me space to express my ' unbounded indignation at the iniquitotis tariff bill. Major Smith gives »s his reason for increased taxation the fact , that . the country baa prospered under protection. Some classes have, undoubtedly prospered, while others, and particularly farmers and the labouring classes, have not only suffered, but in many respects have been oppressed, as everything they consume, use and wear, is taxed, while all the benefit they receive from tho protection they contribute to is very small indeed. In the name of common sense and justice, is it not time this class protection 1 was ended? Surely those industries that re-

quired protection may well hold their own after so many years of acknowledged pros* parity. In common with my neighbour selectors, we have to contend with bad seasons, lobs in stook, and other drawbacks, and now the ' working-man'a-friends ' are going to grind us to the utmost to protect still farther those who have prospered. If we fail to pay our rents we lose our selections, and often the toil of years, and if this unheard-of injustice is put upon us, there is nothing left for us bub to lose all and try to I escape from the land wherein we long strove to make a home, and seek a home where lees is said about, and more justice done, for the labouring classes." If that aint enough to open the eyes of the working man to wnat proteckshun is like to do for him, then the'll belike every other kind o' fool in laming by sad experyience. You flee, Mr Editor, I speaks a little warm like, cos I thought as ow my Jim ought to a knowd better than to support any sick a dratted thing, bub he's rightly punished, for we had to sell our bit of land and home and come out here, and if the working men don't look sharp we'll hev to do it agin, while the men as makes all the food and clothes 'ill be able to make their houses larger, and set up their carridges just as they pleases when they get their own prices for every thing as they sells. Yours, very truly, . MABY ANN.