Worcester daily spy., 1872-06-10
WORCESTER
MONDAY. JUNE 10. 1879.
Industry In the British Provinces.

Industry In the British Provinces.
Onr neiehbors Of the "Dominion" are study
inO the matter of industrial prosperity, and
attempting to devise means for promoting it
among themselves. There is no good reason
wby the people of the British provinces should
NOT engage in every kind of manufacturing
business and develop the natural resources of
that part of tho continent. They have not done
this, heretofore, because the industry of the
provinces has been held in a condition Of vas
salage to that Of Great Britain. Work and
wages could not be there what they are in the
United States, because their wares have been
manufactured in England and English manu-
faeturers have controlled their markets. A
movement is now on foot TO rescue the industry
of the Dominion" from this oppression; and,
necessarily. it is found that something like the
protective system is indispensable. A commit
tee of the Dominion parliament has addressed
fourteen questions 10 managers of the few
manufacturing establishments which Try to ex-
ist in the provinces, with a view TO such legis-
lation as may be necessary TO encourage manu-
featuring industry and induce capitalists to
introduce and promote il more extensively.
These questions are as follows
1. How manv establishments are there en-
gagged in the manufacture of your productions
in the county or city in which you carry on basi-
nessi
2. How long has each been in operation?
3. What amount of capital is invested in
that enterprise in your municipality, as nearly
as you can ascertain?
4. How many are employed In the aggregate
In those establishments?
8. Are you able successfully to compete
with foreign manufactured goods2 If not,
why?
6. Has the business In which you are engaged
been generally of a profitable character?
Z. Would an increased duty on goods, such
as you manufacture, have tendency 10 slim
ulate the investment Of capital iu your busi-
ness?
8. Would increased investment SO stimulate
the trade as to cause over production?
3. During what period has your business
been most prosperouSH
10. Doyou export any of your manufactures ?
To what country and with what results?
II. Is the demand for your manufactures
equal to your production or means OF produc-
tion?
12 From what country (if any are the goods
imported which compete with your manufac-
tures2
49,. How are the manufacturing interests af-
tected by the patent law? Is there any change
you would recommend US being desirable in the
said patent law2
IA. State any other facts within your knowl-
edge that may be Of service TO the committee
in relation to the business in which you are en-
gaged2
1t is not difficult TO understand what answers
the committee will get to the more important of
these questions. AT present, manufacturing in-
dustry can not prosper and become extensive,
in the provinces, because it cannot compete sue
cessfully with that of Great Britain, France, and
some other countries, where labor ID so largely
in condition of starving serfdom. We see on,
effect of this disastrous condition of labor in tn
provinces, in the fact that great numbers O
their people come for employment to the Unite,
States, where labor is protected. They can no
find profitable employment at home, just as on
people would be unable to find 1t here, SHOULD
our manufacturing industry be destroyed by fire.
trade.
The Dominion people understand that the,
need protective tariff. They may find som
difficulty in establishing a protective system, 5
far as concerns their present relations with Ell
gland; but they will doubtless find way
yindcate their right TO adopt any meagure the
welfare may require. At any rate, they talk {
tarl1i and they talk, also, of encouragin
manufactures by granting bounties, whicl
however, would be much less effective metho
orproviding for their difficulty. Canada has 6
ample supply of iron, and might, from her ov
resources, realize a prosperous and extcnsi
manufacture of iron, in every possible form b
this manufacture can not grow up and cxte
there without protection. At Ottawa, they Il
earnestly of tariff; and it is proposed, al
thata bonus of from five 10 ten dollars ton
given to manufacturers of railroad iron. II
something gained for the people of the provinc
10 have the question of protecting their hon
industry discussed with so much carnestnc
and intelligence. Good results will surely fc
low; and this movement will lead to the di
cnssion Of Other questions connected with Il
matter of colonial dependence on England.