IMPORTS FROM HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 33, 9 February 1933, Page 7

IMPORTS FROM HOME

REPLY TO OTAGO FARMERS

• MANUFACTURERS- VIEWS

Th- •■'foliowing statement has been issued by the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation:— . _he Otago Farmers' Union is reported .as having advocated a reduction of 25. per cent, in all Customs tariffs on imports from the United Kingdom- to : counteract the increase in rate of ■. ■ exchange.'- -In moving the resolution, Mr. James..Begg. said that this step was necessary in order to reduce farming costs. It is' a pity that responsible men should reveal themselves so ignorant of the facts or so reckless in disregarding them. Surely the Otago farmers should know that the existing tariff was expressly designed _o admit duty free 98 per cent, of British imports which are used in fanning. The raising of exchange will undoubtedly increase the cost of imports used for farming; but as those imports, are already free of Customs duty, the suggestion is absurd that duties should be reduced in order to reduce farming costs. Mr. Begg and the .Farmers ' Union would be wise to make sure that.tbey are not being used merely a 3 tools by importing and other middlemen's interests. New Zealand farmers and manufacturers should stand together as being alike producers, and not allow the propaganda of importers and middlemen to drive a wedge between them. _ The fact is that British manufacturers already enjoy in New Zealand more favourable conditions than in any other Dominion; and indeed the preference over- foreigners which British-manufacturers receive, in New Zealand is: greater than the-preference they receive'in-Britain itself.-' We understood* that at Ottawa* the' British delegates declared emphatically that they were abundantly satisfied with the treatment. already accorded to Britain by the New Zealand tariff, and they could not conscientiously ask for anything further except a few trifling readjustments. In view of these facts—(a) that farming costs are not affected by the tariff, and (b) that British exporters already enjoy such exceedingly favourable conditions in New Zealand—it is not fair or reasonable at the present time for farmers, who have themselves just received a bonus of 25 per cent., to launch an attack upon their fellow-producers, the manufacturers, who are struggling with difficulties almost equal to those of the farmers themselves.