PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS—SECTION F. 147 
entrance to the remaining branches of active industries in 
proportion to the number of local industries actually driven out 
of existence by the influx of foreign manufactures. This is 
undoubted, so far as local market is concerned. No one can 
affirm, with reason, that an industry driven out does not 
correspondingly delimit the demand upon the Jocal market. 
Logically, therefore, the only direction in which our shoemaker 
could maintain his existence as a breadwinner would be—(1) to 
convert himself into a labourer in raw products, for which there 
is still a profitable demand in /oreign markets ; (2) transport 
himself and his family to a country where his particular services 
are in demand; or (3) starve or become dependant paupers, 
supported by the local State, already too heavily burdened by 
poor rates, etc. 
In theoretical discussion this case would be disposed of by 
wordy wrangling or special pleading, indictment of the capacity 
or lack of reasoning power of opponents, references to alleged 
harmonies of competition and to dogmas and general conclusions 
of various political economists of accepted authority. The usual 
ruts of controversy may afford ample opportunities for theorists 
to display literary skill, aided by the usual handy assortment of 
stock illustrations. But, instead of a literary sham-fight, let the 
theorist enter into the real difficulties by discussing the matter, 
practically, with the distressed shoemaker. For this purpose we 
will take a common incident in these colonies. 
A deputation from the shoemakers, driven out of employment 
by competition with cheap foreign manufactures. 
(Shoemaker) spokesman for deputation. 
(Theorist) representing the Government. 
Shoemaker : On behalf of myself and my distressed fellow- 
workmen and their families I have been asked to represent to the 
Government the terrible distress into which we have fallen by the 
influx of manufactures of boots and shoes from Europe, at such 
low prices that we have not only been knocked off employment 
by local manufacturers, who were unable to compete with foreign 
houses, but we find that, as individual workmen, with such high 
ruling rates in rent, clothing, and other necessaries, besides a 
high local taxation, we are unable to earn enough to maintain 
ourselves and families, even if we were able to get full employment 
at the foreign selling prices. 
Theorist: I sympathise deeply with your distress, but we 
cannot interfere with the laws of free interchange. You must, 
therefore, seek employment in some other way. 
Shoemaker : But we cannot turn our hands to another trade, 
and even if we tried, we would have to spend years as apprentices. 
Even in our own trade we had, as young men, to spend three or 
four years as apprentices, partly or wholly supported the while 
by our parents. Now we have no such help. On the contrary 
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