AMERICAN TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 5

AMERICAN TARIFF.

BRITISH PREFERENCE. A RETALIATORY PATENTS CLAUSE. WOOL DUTIES. (by TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COrTRIGET.) (llcc. March 19, 10.31 p.m.) London, March 19. The New York correspondent of tho "Standard" reports that tho Payno Tariff Bill includes provision for not applying tho maximum retaliatory rates in cases of preferential duties between tho British oolonies and tho Mother Country. Washington, March 18. The Payno Tariff Bill is intended for the readjustment of the Diriglcy tariff. It will, if passed, increase the revenue by eight to ten million pounds. It reduces the duties on third-class wools, admits iron ore, tallow, and hides duty free, and reduces tho duty oil solo leather by 15 per cent. Tho Bill contains a clause which is retaliatory for tho British patents legislation. EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND. BENEFITS FOR WOOL, HIDES, AND TALLOW. (by teleoram—l'RESS association.) Auckland, March 19. The opinion is expressed amongst Auckland exporters that, so far as can bo judged from the cabled reports, America's revised tariff will be more favourable to New Zealand than tho lato tariff. A prominent woollen merchant and hide exporter stated to a reporter to-day that the chief benefits to tlio trade of the Dominion would accrue from the reduction of the duty on third-class wool, and the admission free to tho United States of hides and tallow. Hitherto, lie said, American wool buyers had not been buying any but our first-class wools, because they could not afford to pay the duty of sd. per lb. upon any but tho best classes. With the reduction of the duty on third-class wool, the buyers from America were certain to come in for that quality. At! all the wool sales, he said, American buyers hitherto passed anything dingy, unskirted, or carrying dirt, and would not even valuo it. Regarding the removal of tho duty on hides, the same gentleman remarked that "this would mean an increase in their value here of probably Id. per lb. New Zealand, he said, could always beat Australia in respect to hides, ours not being anything like so thickly branded as the Australian hides. At present practically all the Auckland, Dunedin, ' Christchurcli, Timaru, and Oamaru hides, and a big proportion of those from Wellington, went to Melbourne. As regarded tallow, New Zealand had in the past exported very little, but the admission of tho same free would undoubtedly lead to exports of it to the States. Tho revision of the tariff in the three directions named must lie 'considered, therefore, to be of great benefit to New Zealand woolgrowers and exporters, to farmers, and to butchers. ANOTHER OPINION. The representative of another firm which oxports jargely to America, said that while the reduction of duty on third-class wools would Undoubtedly bo beneficial to New Zealand, it was a pity that wool of all classes was not to be admitted free, because a big trade could be dono between tho Dominion and America. Hitherto tho heavy duty on wool had compelled the American manufacturer to uso inferior material, practically only shoddy and cotton. The revised tariff should mean cheaper clothes for the poor man in the States.' lie was very glad to see that the duty on hides hod been taken off; this meant cheaper leather. As regarded the effect on New Zealand of the now tariff, this gentleman remarked that our chief exports wero wool, kauri gum, and hemp. Neither of. the last two wero apparently aflected, but tlto reduction on third-class wbol would be a benefit, and hides and tallow would probably be exported to a greater extent. Otherwise, tho revisions, so far as could be seen, did not .open ,up any fresh avenues, of trade for this country. ' On the whole, it was certainly a more favourable tariff than before. Kauri gum was not affected, being free of duty already, and the same thing applied to hemp. 11 connection with the cabled information that 20 per cent, ad valorem has been added to the regular rates in the caso of countries not giving the most favoured rates to the United Mates, the opinion was stated that this would not anect New Zealand, It was not thought that America could take exception to preference as between Great Britain and this Dominion seeing that the United States gives preferential rates to her own colonies. This particular clause, it is considered, has more to do with foreign countries. (Sincc the foregoing was . telegraphed, a London cablegram, bearing on British preference, has been received, and is printed above)