My object in writing this little pamphlet is to furnish for the masses, on the eve of an important election, some information on the great question of Freetrade and Protection. In my humble opinion, there is no question of practical politice which can influence the future welfare of the Colony to such a momentous extent as this. There are numerous books by great thinkers on this subject, but the cost puts them out of the reach of all but the wealthy. I do not lay claim to depth of thought, or extensive information, but the views which I here put forth are the outcome of some years of life in the Colony with which I have thrown in my lot, and the desire to see it happy and prosperous is my aporogy for putting them before the public. Had I remained in England I might have continued to be an enthusiastic Freetrader, because I was an Englishman: I am a Protectionist in New Zealand, because I am a Colonist. I hope to make this clear to my readers later on.

In his introduction to "Freetrade and Protection," published in 1878, Professor Fawcett says: "Competent authorities have predicted that the leading political question in Australia for the next few years is not unlikely to be a keen struggle for supremacy between the advocates of Freetrade and Protection."

This has actually happened; Victoria has adopted Protection for her industries for twenty years, and we in New Zealand have now the advantage of the results of this policy, and of contrasting the position of Protectionist Victoria with Freetrade New South Wales.

It is to these two Colonies, and also to Canada, we should look for our lesson and for our guidance, since they are far more similarly conditioned to New Zealand than the thickly peopled islands of Great Britain.

I propose now to show what Freetrade and Protection can and will do for the Colony of New Zealand, and in a future pamphlet to set out what it has done already in Victoria and New South Wales.