4 ROOT MATTERS IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



foreign manufactures. This is undoubted so far as the local 

 market is concerned. No one can affirm with reason that an 

 industry driven out does not correspondingly delimit the 

 demand upon the local 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 foreign markets. (2.) Transport himself and his 

 family to a country where his particular services are in 

 demand, or (3.) Starve or become dependent paupers sup- 

 ported 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 opportu- 

 nities 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 practicallv with the 

 distressed shoemaker. For this purpose we will take a 

 common incident in these colonies. 



A Deputation Prom the Shoemakers Driven out op 

 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 tbat 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 



