The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-19
TUESDAY. MAY 10. 1891.
AdyantaKes of rrotectIon.

AuyahtAEcs VI IToffcNlons
The advantages of protection over
FREQ trade arc vividly set forth by tho
Boston Journal in a comparison of
two colonies OF Australia. Tho
colonies referred to are Victoria and
New South Wales. The first with ST.
900 square miles and population Of
1900 was sct of from New South
Wales, which remained territory OF
100000 square miles and population
OF 265, 900 not great countries ii Is true
SO fur as population goes but enough
TO illustrate the difference between
free trade and protection. Victoria
is the protected colony and New South
Vale the free trade colony but the lat
ter had fifty years the start for free
trade had been four times the area and
nearly four times the population Of
Victoria.
In resource and climate the two
colonies were about equal, but in
Victoria gold was subsequently, found,
and New South Wales had tho coal
supply. In the beginning Victoria
maintained an ad valorem tariff for
revenue, but the duties wore soon
made largely specific and avowedly
protective. The older and larger col
ony, on the other hand, followed the
example OF England and the idea of
our American Democrats in a tariff
for revenue only. After the lapse OF
twenty years or SO under the rival
policies we are able to discover some
suggestive results. Tho younger pro-
tective colony, which started with
only about one-fourth Of the area of
the older REQ trade colony, sand ione-
fourth of the population, now nearly
equals it in population and far exceeds
1t In wealth.
Victoria now has 1,lls,0o inhabitants
and New South Wales LIE, 600. Re-
turns made of amounts left by persons
dying, show that in 1883, the private
wealth of tho people OF Victoria exceed
ed that of the people of New South
Wales by sG9.oOo,oo0,
But here are the most remarkable
proofs OF the benefits of protection
While population is at a stand still III
the free trade colony manufactures
are also decreasing. There were one
hundred and seventy-one fewer estab.
lishments in New South Wales in 1S9i
than there were in 1889; eight hundred
and eight fewer hands were employed,
and the value of the plants had fallen
OF e342, 600. On the other hand, In tho
protective colony there were one hun,
dred and iifty-four more manufactur.
ing concerns In 1880 than In 1889; the
number OF hands had increased 2,9l0
and the value Of the plants E3746l5
And this development has taken plac,
In spite OF the fact that Victoria has I,
import its coal from its FREQ trad,
neighbor's territory.
But here Is another significant fact
which has wonderful bearing ON Tn
tnriif controversy in this country. New
South Wales imports an average of {
worth of woollens and apparel per yea
n head, though millions OF pounds u
fine wool are grown and exported
This is Just the way the free trade Dem
oerats want It hero.
The wages of unskillni labor in ia
two colonies are about tho same. bu
skilled mechanics receive about shl
ing day more in Victoria, while rent,
fuel, food. clothing, etc, do not ayei
age two per cent. higher 1t is sil
niflcant that the protecttonist party |
New South Wales came near capturin
the Colonial Government at the lat
election. 1t is not surprising that I'll
Intelligent people Of New South Walt
should desire TO rid themselves OF
policy that in the long run had prove
itself snare and dclusion. Tho Vi
toria delegates to the New Australia
Confederation are determined to mod,
their economic policy after the e;
ample OF the United States. whic
strange to say, yet has a large pari
shat clings to the policy OF New Soni
Wales
TuoffGu Peter EaVan saems