TKANSACTlOiNS OF SECTION F. 761 



■because they are young communities, where, if anywhere. Protection is allowed 

 theoretically. 



Victoria and New South Wales are two of our colonies, starting ten years ago 

 with practically similar economic environments and opportunities. Victoria has 

 during that decade pursued a policy of Protection, and New South Wales one of 

 Pree Trade. The results are now matter of record. 



(b) The Details. — These I shall briefly sum up under three heads : — 



1. The development of maimfactures, as opposed to the production of ' Colonial 

 produce ' (of food and raw material), has been, on the whole, about equal, if we look 

 to employment of population and capital. If Protection has introduced some 

 manufactures. Free Trade has introduced others. 



2. In regard to the provision of revenue (the main argument), New South 

 Wales provides a far larger general revenue per head of population. And the 

 special revenue from customs duties has increased with the low tarifl', but has barely 

 maintained its level under the high tariff. The low tariff provides an equal amount 

 of revenue to the high tariff, though the population is smaller. 



3. In regard to //enerrt^ prosperity (industrial prosperity, social prosperity, the 

 gro^^'^h of trade, of the carrying trade, of the general wealth, and, above all, of 

 population), New South Wales has advanced with far greater rapidity thaa 

 Victoria. 



(e) General Results. — 1. In Victoria itself this record of what has actually 

 taken place will greatly increase the reactionary movement in favour of a lower 

 tariff. Signs of this are already apparent. 



2. In the British Empire generally these recorded results may stimulate local 

 Parliaments to maintain low tariff's, to the undoubted material benefit of every 

 industrial worker throughout the Empu-e. 



{d) A Hecommendation. — I would supplement my remarks with a statement of 

 the difficulties I encomitered in my researches from the different methods somc:- 

 times adopted in the otherwise most excellent statistical records of these two Colonies. 

 Uniformity in the method of registering statistical facts is of the utmost import- 

 ance to comparative investigations. It would be of the highest advantage to secure 

 for the future such uniformity, at all events, within the limits of the British 

 Empire. 



2. Report of the Committee for inquiring into the present appropriation of 

 Wages and Sources of Income, and considering hoio far it is consonant 

 with the Economic Progress of the People of the United Kingdom. — See 

 Reports, p. 272. 



3. On the Remedies proposed for Disputes ahout Wages. 

 By the Rev. W. H. Jemison, LL.B. 



The paper reviewed various remedies for wages disputes, including arbitration, 

 boards of conciliation, co-operation, and industrial partnership, the last-named of 

 which the writer described as the most hopeful, being very favourable to pro- 

 duction, and calculated to exercise a good influence on the workpeople, though 

 there might be difficulty in ascertaining the fixed wage and in the working of an 

 efficient check for measuring the claim of each workman to additional pay. The 

 plan might be helped by the adoption of a sliding scale, and, when need arises, by 

 reference to arbitration. 



The Depression in Agriculture ; its Effects and its Lessons. 

 By Henry F. Mooee. 



