RECIPROCAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1849, 1 September 1906, Page 2

RECIPROCAL TARIFF.

VARIOUS OPINIONS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Sydney, August 81. The Daily Telegraph says the impropriety of submitting such important legislation as taking over the State debts and New Zealand and British reciprocity at this time, when the doors of Parliament are almost swinging to. is obvious, since reasonable opportunity cannot be given for thoughtful consideration. Under the New Zealand treaty, the tariff on New Zealand oats has been reduced, and so is the New Zealand duty on Australian sugar Those two sets of producers are benefited, but for every such two there arc dozens who arc comparatively disadvantaged, since they are not in the reciprocity schedule, and their market is not enlarged What-, over tends to make trade freer is welcome, but the effect of limited reciprocity all the same is to bring the penalties of protection more clearly into notice As it is, the matter is purely a commercial one, and Australian and New Zealand people are no more likely to come closer together because of reciprocity in a few duties than would they be to regard each other as I foreigners if the tariff's remained as undiscriminating as they were. The Herald says what Mr Deakin s. speech apparently meant was that he is seeking to make this small trading agreement with New Zealand a means of "ettin" in the thin end of the wedge of preferential trade on Mr Chamberlain s lines. The two matters, however, are quite distinct Mr Deakin is dreaming, but Mr Seddon had in view a coldly practical business-like bargain. The nature of that bargain is simple enough, in spite of Mr Deakin's attempts to obscure it. The fact of the matter is that the late drought forced us to acknowledge it possible that these Eastern States may find themselves short of fodder and other like commodities during the seasons of drought. For that reason, and taught by the high pnees we had to pay for New Zealand produce under Federal taxation, we are asked to make this agreement. In so far as it concerns these and reciprocal items of trade, it • remains to be seen whether the agriculturists of the Commonwealth, taxed heavily as they are at the Customs, 1 will consent to open their market to New I Zealand in order to satisfy Mr Deakin. Melbourne, August 31. | Under the tariff concessions to Britain, the duties on foreign goods have been raised five to ten per centum, and fixed duties three halfpence to a shining Mr Cook declared the Government had torn up the compact with the people for fiscal peace. It was a proposal to build a higher tariff wall round Australia There would be no response on the part of Britain. Wellington, last nighfi Interviews by Post reporters with promicent business men regarding the reoiprecal proposals show an absence ef approval cf the suggested revision. The general opinion is that New Zealand will have the worst of the bargain. Aackland, last night. _ A meeting of grain merchants unanimously passed the following resolution and sent it to the Premier and all looal members ' That this am ting expresses its strong disipproval at the reciprocity tariff proposals now before the House for the admittance of flour, oatmeal, and articles manufactured from cereals into New Zealand fr6e, as such aotioa will be disastrous to the milling industry, as well as to the farmers and labor interests connected therewith, while not benefittiDg the consumers at all, and that this meeting is Btrongly aversß to the proposals in the tariff referring to bay, chaff, and other products, which, if carried into effeot, will oripple the farming industry in this colony.” A representative meeting of gram merchants was held a- the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning to discuss the tariff proposals as ihey affected the grain industry. Mr J. B. MeFarlane, President of the Chamber of Commerce, presided, HeomtendM ill .t the Government proposals would be .lisastrous to the farming and mill'. g indu-tr.FS. and pointed out r.at if fl .ur was admitted free it would hp very probable that cheaply produaed flour from lodia would enter the colony. Be also rema.kfd that the carriage of grain and fl inr was muoh cheaper in Australia than in this colony, the differenca being about 5s per ton ovet one hundred muee. He said it would apell ruination for Southern Otago, especially ss it relies on grain growing. It was pointed out that bstween two and three hundred thousand tons of coal were used a year in connection with the milling industry, in carriage, milling, etc. Great stress was also placed on the damage that would be done to the farming c immunity by revision of the chaff duty. Much Australian chaff was sent over already in spite of ths j6l per ton duty. The tariff proposals affecting sugar and potatoes were also severely criticised.

Dunedin, last night. Loorl millers are indignant at the rc* ciprocity agteomeaf, which they say will shut up every mill in the eolooy.

POLITICIANS’ OPINIONS.

PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Reoeived 11 30 p.m., Angus. 31. Bydney, August 31. Mr Reid, interviewed, described Mr Deakin’s preference proposals as a halfhearted attempt to mix a little preference with a stronger dose of protection. A genuine, unconditional concession to the Mother Country on the part of the daughter States would be quite a different matter, and oue whioh must commend itsolf to everyone as a matter of patriot' ism. A genuine concession weald be to reduce the tariff and open the door a little wider.

Melbourne, August 31. Mr Watson, in en interview, said as a believer in preferential trade he welcomed Mr Daakin’s instalments of preference. As far as the propositions went they seemed to him an indication of the feeling Australia had on this important question. Fall concessions to other portions of the Empire oould only be realised when a reciprocal act is possible.

Received 10.12 p m., Augast 31. London, August 31. Mr Deakin cabled to tbo Daily Cbtoaiole that hia promise is something more than an offer. It is an overture, a suggestion of the possibilities of friendly negotiation. The Chronicle says that the offer amounts to very little while the protective wall remains so high.