UNITED STATES TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 4

UNITED STATES TARIFF.

, -THE CONCESSION TO NEW ZEALAND. EXPLANATION BY THE PREMIER. IDi Toleeraph.-Prcsa Association.! > Dunetiin, April T.\ The inclusion of New Zealand by , the United States of America in its application of the minimum tariff was iae subject of a brief interview by a "Times" reporter with the Prime Minister this evoning. ■ ■•. ' ; "The only important item of export from New Zealand to the United States which is subject to duty,": said Sir '"is'wool, aud duty upon that is 11 cents per lb., and that is the samp rate at which it will be under the minimum tariff. Supposing we had not been included in the minimum; tariff,' the United States would'discriminate against us. to the extent of an advaiice of 55 per cent., ,and it could do the same on all goods exported from New Zealand that are subject to duty in the United States. The fact is that, whilo the minimum tariff gives us no reduction upon the present rato of duty upon wool or upon any other dutiable articles that were : previously, at the minimum rate, it protects us from the increase just referred to. The quantity of wool imported into the United State's from New Zealand last year, irrespective of any that may have been purchased in London was:—Greasy, 4,259,8801b./weight, of the- value of £179,268. No benefit is obtained in respect of frco goods that are imported from Now Zealand into America by the minimum tariff. • The United State's Government cannot discriminate, and consequently if the minimum tariff had not been applied to New Zealand,, a discriminating increase, which could have been put upon wool, providing wo had been put upon maximum instead of minimum tariff, could not be. ■ levied against free articles exported from New Zealand to that country.. Last year wo exported free goods as follow:— Kauri, gum, 5127 tons, value £375,126; phormium, 400 tons, value £8351; phormium tow, 53 tons, value £301; and sheepskins, without wool, value £81,225. I quote these as an instance of the exportable articles that we send from New Zealand to America free, and which aro not affected by_ placing New Zealand under the minimum, tariff rate, an<l the same remark applies to all goods that have. been exported from New Zealand to America hitherto free, and equally in turn, whatever tho minimum tariff rate existing in America is all exportable goods from Now Zealand will go in at such minimum rate. Thorn can bo no discriminating in respect of tho 55 per cent, increased rato which would have beon tho case had wo not boon placed under tho minimum tariff. The minimum tariff keeps wool at tho minimum rate, which we had before, and all free goods that w© sent before remain free."