The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 11, 1901. THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 234, 11 October 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 11, 1901. THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Ix order to Lave a proper understanding of tho telegraphic nows with regard to the Federal tariff and its probable significance to Now Zealand it may be well to refer to the report of tho report of the .Royal Commission on Federation. This report, which is dated May doth of the present year, in dealing with the agricultural aspect of tho question stated that it was contondod that if New Zealand joined the Commonwealth the effect of inter-Stato free-trade would bo to increase the markets in Australia for the productions of this colony, and so induce au extension of agricultural industry in New Zealand. It is said that a large and profitable market for agricultural produce, especially oats, from New Zealand existed in Victoria prior to the imposition of protective duties, and that in consequence of those duties that market has boon practically closed. Whether or not the imposition of protective duties was the inducement which led Victorian farmers to extend the area under crop, certain it is that for some years past Victoria has been, and is now, able to grow all the oats

and other agricultural produce required for homo consumption, and to have a large surplus available for export. All the expert witnesses examined by the Commission in Australia agreed that, even under freetrade, New Zealand could not look to the States of the Commonwealth for a large permanent market fur agricultural and pastoral products, flat iu seasons of drought a valuablo market will, no doubt, always bo found thero. Now couth Wales has during the last ton years brought under crop for wheat uu additional area of over 1,000,000 acres of laud, and last season had a surplus of upwards of 0,000,000 bushels for export. Bariev fit for malting, and hops, are also successfully grown. In Victoria the production of wheat is carried on upon a large scale ; and, as to oats, although it is admitted that for some purposes the New Zealand oats are of a superior quality, and that the average yield iu New Zealand is larger and more certain, yet Victoria, except in time of drought, can supply all her own demands for oats, and havo a large quantity available for export. The Victorian returns for 1900-1 show that the area under crop for oats was 302,427 acres, and the yield 9,575,172 bushels, an average of 20 -12 bushels per acre. It is claimed that the oaten hay of Victoria is

superior to that of New Zealand. South Australia grows wheat largely and cheaply, and in Queensland barley fit for malting, and hops, are successfully grown. The evidence also proves that there are still large areas of land in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland suitable for extending agricultural operations, and that such operations can ho conducted with remunerative results. The Commissioners were informed that in Now youth Wales the whole cost per acre for producing wheat is on an average 15s ; in Victoria about IGs. This includes all charges, from preparing the land to completely harvesting the grain, which is stripped from the standing straw. The wages of agricultural labourers in Australia are much the same as in New Zealand, taking the average ; but it must be remembered that the system of cultivation in New Zealand is much more elaborate than in Australia, and is necessarily more expensive ; the yield per acre, however, is much larger. The evidence shows that maize can be profitable grown in the States of .New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In Queensland maize is generally used for horse-feed in lieu of oats. Potatoes can be grown successfully in several of the States of the Commonwealth, notably in Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales. The potatoes produced in Tasmania and New Zealand are preferred, being of superioi

quality, avid keeping better than those ! grown ia X. \v South Wales and A ieloria. Onions are grown in largo I quantities in most ii not iu all the Mates o£ the ■ onuuonwcalth. The | dairv industry is well developed, and | auuuallv expanding in Victoria, Now S nth Wales, Quoenslrnd, and South : Australia, each of these States having [ a considerable surplus of dairy pro- ; duee for exnort. During LS99, the i value ol' the butter export front \ie I torn reached the large total o j £ 1, ii.l 1,839 : and a Queensland witness j

before the Commission mentioned that j during the past year 50,000 cows were ! milked in one district close to the j border of that State, where a few : | years ago there were only a few milk- j . nig cows, and that a similar extension j !is ” taking place nearer Brisbane. , 1 Fruit of all the i-iuds grown iu New j Zealand can be profitably grown in , i the several States of the Common- ; wealth, as appears by the evidence i attached to this report. The fruit I grown iu Australia is ou the 1 whole as good, and cheaper, ' than that grown iu New Zealand.

The report further points out that 1 £470.000 of New Zealand exports in j 1900 cVeut to heavily protected colonies. and of the .£.‘020,908 worth sent j to Now South Wales, a considerable ! quantity represented goods for tran- j shipment. In the course of the Com- j missioners enquiries, it was shown | that full advantage had not been i taken of tho South African markets, , aud attention was drawn to a sigui- | iicant fact in connection with ship- ! meats of Now Zealand oats to Victoria that of the total amount of oats exported iu 1900 to that colony only | 320 centals were taken for consump- j tion in Victoria, the balance being j transhipped to other markets. There I were also large transhipments of New i Zealand potatoes to Manilla, via | Sydney. The telegrams from the South stato | that consternation exists iu commercial circles with regard to the tariff, but if the deductions of the Federation Oom- ; missioners are to be relied upon, it ! would appear that things are not so j dark as they are represented, aud that t they will in time right themselves.