ENCOURAGING COLONIAL MANUFACTURES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3158, 20 September 1892, Page 3

ENCOURAGING COLONIAL MANUFACTURES.

[t is a curious circumstance, but, at the ane time, thoroughly illustrative of human uature, that whenever any gain is ;o be obtained by the sacrifice of political 3r other public principles, that .sacrifice is nearly always promptly made, and it tvould appear a* if our New Zealand Legislative intend to form no exception :o this rule. These remarks are called :ortk pfter a perusal of the report brought t»y the Legislative Council Committee on Volunteer Privileges, This states : — 'Thatthe capitation allowance would bo sufficient with economy for the purchase jf uniforms and ochernecessaries, if made jertain for three years, and if the duty on uniforms were remitted. The amount ot luty was a trifling matter to the revenue, Dut fell heavily on the officers of corps, who had to undertake the responsibility :or cost. The evidence is unanimous as to :he superiority '»f English-made uniforms, ivhich are cheaper, more durable, and of :etter fit than colonial made uniforms. I'he class from which the bulk of the volunteer forces is supplied, is less able to Dear expense than that from which the force wis formerly recruited, hence so nuch uioro responsibility falls upon the ifficyrs, as to tend seriously to diminish ,he number of candidates tor commissions. [ f . was suggested, that if large orders for mi forms wore sent Home, the cost would 3e materially reduced." Our readers will jbservc, that there is nothing' about en.•ouraging colonial industries, nothing vhatever about keeping the money in the jountry and providing employment 'or our own artisans, biu simply low to obtain tho best of a bargain. We pass by the disparaging ■eference to colonial made uniforms; nerely remarking, that it certainly does ;iot tally with the well known reputation if the goods manufactured and made up :>y the various woollen and clothing factories in the colony. The best evidence of which may be found iu the relatively higher prices that private consumers are willing to pay for them at ;he retail houses, as against imported ,'oods. But the fact remains—and it is particularly worthy of note ju9t now, ivhen so much political capital is being made out of the working man, and the obligations supposed to rest upon the ciovernment, of providing him with regular employment—that whenever any real, or financial saving can be made at his expense such as that recommended by the committee, the opportunity is embraced, regardless of well-understood political principles, or even of ordinary patriotism. We have never advocated " Protection" in these colums, and trust that we never shall ; for even its best friends have never been able to show us that it improves, in the least degree, the position of those who cluster about the lowest rungs of the ladder of life ; in short, those who need it most. But we certainly consider that our colonial industries are fairly entitled to our warmest sympathy and support. This is tile best form of protection that our manufactures and artisans can have. We shall be curious to learn the result of the committee's recommendation, but it would form a strange commentary upon those who style themselves the working- man's Government, if large sums of money were sent out of the country, for a class of goods which are liter illy grown and manufactured by ourselves.