N.Z. PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6068, 26 October 1887, Page 4

N.Z. PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.

■ ■■ • — Annual Meeting. The third annual meeting of the New Zealand Protection Association was held last night in the Club-room of the Scotch I Btores.' There was a large attendance of j members, and the chair was occupied by Mr J. M. Douglas, the President. j Several new members were elected, and the Committee's annual report -was read. It detailed the operations of the Association during the year. The Treasurer reported the foUowing -.—Eeceipts, £26 15s 3d, and expenditure, £23 6s 3d, leaving a balance of £3 10a to credit. I -president's addeess. ! In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the President made the following address :— " Gentlemen,— lt is with pleasure I move the adoption of the report and balancesheet just read. The report, although brief, is a fair resume" of the principal work done during the past year. I must congratulate the Committee for their brevity, for a large amount of labour and patriotic working has been concentrated and expressed in a few words. The onerous duties so effectually done have been entirely of an honorary character. But it is to be hoped that some steps will be taken of a more substantial nature, so that the onerous duties of a Secretary shall be fulfilled and suitably acknowledged. The report shows that the Committee are practical economists, for they have dono an immense amount of work, and secured advantageous results for tho public welfare at the smallest limit of cost. This cannot be viewed in any other light than satisfactory. The Committee congratulate the Association upon the progress of Protection during the year; but I think the Committee are to be congratulated for the progress made, for it is mainly through their persistent and enthusiastic efforts from the starting of the first Protection Association in New Zealand. There are but a few members here who wero present at our first meeting, which was held at Warner's Hotel over three years ago. The first meeting was convened by myself on behalf of my shopmates, viz., Messrs Ehodes, Cahill, Foley, Ward, and Douglas. About 15 persons attended. Mr Pozzi was voted to the chair, and your humble servant explained the objects of the meeting, and of our determinations. From that timo to this, the efforts of the Committee have been continuously exorcised, through all seasons, through good or ill report, so as to secure a national protective policy. At first, we were frequently told that we were wasting our energies for no good purpose, and that we ought to be placed somewhere in safekeeping. My answer has generally been, ' You cannot annihilate the truth, although it can be suppressed for a time.' Therefore, wait patiently, and watch for the results. And a3 practical economists, tho members of the Committee are eminently fitted to continue in harness, so as to fully carry out the objects of the Association to a successful issue. The success that has hitherto attended the efforts of the Association in the past, shows that the members have had the objects at heart; and I hope they will continue their energies as they have done in the past, so as to secure a thorough national protective polioy and Government for the Colony of New Zealand, for a national patriotic protective policy is one that is self-reliant, self-supporting, and self-preserving. Such principles are the foundation of all national independence and national prosperity. Therefore, Protection is the wisest and best policy for. a young country to> adopt. Eminent statesmen and political economists corroborate this; for there is no question more deserving of public attention than the development of our pastoral, agricultural, mineral, manufacturing, and educational industries. There is no question that has a more real or living interest, and should receive the unprejudiced consideration of the community. For history proves that no nation has ever become great or civilised by confining itself mainly to pastoral pursuits. Our legislators and Governments in the past have given every assistance for the fostering and encouragement of the pastoral and agricultural interests. This we do not object to. But we claim for other industries the same opportunities for development, and we deem it an imperative duty for our legislators to encourage with equal justice all industries, so that the vast natural resources and latent wealth may be developed and utilised in promoting the prosperity and happiness of the people. For no nation can possibly become great that neglects or refuses to utilise the latent wealth of her minerals and her manufacturing resources. And although New Zealand has an area of land equal to Great Britain and Ireland, and with such an immense amount of latent that should be made active wealth, the cry of depression is still rampant throughout the country, and emplo*yment for our willing workers is decreasing, and tho suicidal cry of drastic retrenchment curses the prospects of labour and production. Such a state of things ought not to be. The ridiculous cry of drastic retrenchers to cut and prune to the very rootlets, would never have been dreamt of, had there been a protective policy established seven years ago. To further lower the wages of workmen in the present crisis, is a suicidal policy in every respect, and ought to be strenously resisted by the. people. Bvery country, where Protection has been tried, it has resulted in an enormous influx of material prosperity. The late Emperor, Napoleon IIL, found that France spent millions a year in the purchase of a cane sugar. By Protection he induced the growth of beet sugar, and now France exports to England more sugar than she purchased from outside her own borders. Germany, a few years ago, was scarcely heard of as a manufacturing nation. But now, through Bismarck's protective policy, our merchants can testify in all our cities of German manufactures. The United States adopted the most rigid Protection of any important nation on the globe. Yet, instead of being ruined, it ha 3 increased in prosperity, at a rate that has been unrivalled in the world's history. And it has been computed by Mulhall, the eminent statistician, that her wealth amounts to over £10,000,000,0000r £1,200,000,000 more than that of Great Britain. And the enemies of Protection are very fond of parading that thousands of working men in America are in a destitute condition ; but they seem to ignore the facts, and advices from England, that thousands of people are out of employment, and millions are in a pauperised condition. But the United States has a surplus revenue of £30,000,000 annually, a position never attained by her wealthy mother England. These are stern, undeniable faots. Canada, under her Freetrade regime, was distanced by her Protectionist neighbour in manufacturing, population, material progress, and in every department and development of human energy. But now, under a fiscal change, Canada is advancing by leaps and bounds. Victoria has also tided herself through tbe dangerous time that foUowed the gold period by affording work to her people, through protecting her manufactures, even though she was severely handicapped by having her coal from her sister Colony. Time does not permit me to dwell upon the other two planks of a Protection policy, viz. :— A Land and Income-tax versus Pro-perty-tax and a State Bank of Issue ; these planks will have to be well worked in the future. Our Protection plank is so wellknown, that it is needless for me to dwell further upon it, except to say that, we aro not a Taxation Society ; for we have condemned the taxation of the people, through the Customs, for revenue purposes, except when absolutely required to maintain our national prestige. Our objects being of an industrial character, we are desirous that practical encouragement should be given nationally, for tho development of all New Zealand industries. We/therefore, ask for a revision of the present Tariff. Such revision contemplates the remissions, as much as increased duties, ; so as to secure the freedom of our markets from undue competition with foreign manufacturers, and bonused consignments, which cause a chronic state of depression, and .commercial -glut.-. In - conclusion, . I

-tender my warmest thanks to the officers and Committee, and members generally, for their valuable assistance and goodwill throughout, in fighting for the good cause which I had the honour to commence three years ago, an Association which is purely under a Protection banner." The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr B. S. Ward, and supported by Messr& L. Pozzi, J. J. Parker, Wheeler, and Bhodes, after which it was carried r Mm, con, EJ-ECTIOI-.- OF OFFICERS. The following wore elected as officers for the ensuing year .•— President, Mr J. W. Walker; Vice-Presidents, Messrs D. Shaw and Eden George; Hon Treasurer, Mr W. V. Bloor (re-elected) ; Hon Sec, Mr D. B ellhouse (re-elected) ; Committee, Messrs E. Pavitt, A. Crooks, J. Bowman, P. Foley, K. S. Ward, E. Ford, L. Pozzi, H. AtkinI son, C. L. Wheeler, J. Ehodea, J. Nott, I J. C. Hobson, H. Curlett, J. J. Parker, J. Barber, J. Fisher, G. Hyde, A. G. Howland, J. M. Douglas, J. Hickman. THE TABIFE. The following letter was received from Mr Andrews of Waikuku -. — " I should have been present at tho meeting this evening if there were any means of getting home after. Should like to have mado some proposals re Tariff as I hear some attempt is being made to put a duty on linen yards 5 if that is done it simply means closing every twine-making place in the Colony, merely for the purpose of shutting out an opponent to Manilla binder twine, which 19, I think, selfish to the last degreo. These gentlemen will no doubt be joined by the importers. I have no objection to their getting a duty placed on Manilla yarn or rope or any of ita nurtures with sissal and nativo flax. Shall be glad if the Association will guard against such unfair action as that I have referred to." A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers and Committee. The meeting was closed with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.