FREETRADE AND PROTECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 14 December 1881, Page 2

FREETRADE AND PROTECTION.

The London Times of a recent date, .ays : — ' We hear a good deal said in many quarters as to the breakdown of our free commercial policy. It is attacked by persons who profess themselves the advovates of a greater freedom, but of a freedom which it is not within the power of tbis country to secure. We must look below the surface if we would see what it is that these over aealous free-traders are driving at. An imposition of duty on foreign corn comes in pretty generally as an essential part of their programme. It is not hard to judge in whose interest it is that a measure of this kind is proposed. A rise in the price of corn would mean a rise in the value of agricultural land in this country. The reot»receiving class would be the only gainers from it, and tbeir pains would be made at the expense of all other classes. But the interested supporters of a measure whieb is to have these results could do little by themselves. They must call in some other class to help them- If iber. -_:i.t_ a class in this country badly informed on facts and figures, ready to grumble with reason or without it. credulous, irrational, and indiffereut on principel to all other interests than its own, it will be in this that the allies of the new movement may be looked for with most hope. We do not say that the description we bave eiven is that of the British working man. We say only that he furnishes a good many examples of it, and that it is on his support that the anti-Free Trade more^ mr-nt most confidently relies. T<> working man knows that w»g«"s are hi»)i in Ihe United States, rui-i he is told. '\* & reason for it, 'but the Uni'.' <1 ;*-''•': ■*• "-:• protpcM'onisl. The conc'usi"u ■ 't' : ■■■•ji.-.", is e'oar, iio ].»u's two ■„-• ' ~ *; aether, and discovers t'u;it t.i;.y i ac five. The effect of cheap lan-l on tbo American labor mar 'ret is a lb -Utcr oi" which ho knows nothing. But tbis as ■ our own latest Consular reports show, is the one most important factor in tho whole calculation. Between a country circumstanced aa America is and a

— _ country circumstanced as England is there is oo comparison possible. France is an instance much more in point. France is protectionist, but with no such results to the working clssses a3 American protection admits. Wages in France are lower than they are in England ; the working hours are longer : and the general standard of comfort among the laboring classes is far below ih.t with which tbe English working" man would be content.'