THE GRAIN AND TIMBER DUTIES

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1614, 23 April 1879, Page 3

THE GRAIN AND TIMBER DUTIES

With reference to the proposal to reimpose the grain and timber duties repealed last session, the “ New Zealand Herald ” has the followingWe have noticed with regret that a cry has been raised in some quarters against the action of the Government and Assembly last year, in removing the duties from timber and breadstuffs. This was one of the actions for which the Government deserved credit, and not censure, because it was a liberal and sensible step in the right direction. The duties upon breadstuffs and on timber were, perhaps, as childish in our case as they could possibly be in the case of any people. Situated as New Zealand is, at a distance from any great grain-producing country, and still further from any country producing timber, it would bo no easy matter to find a colony in which loss excuse could be found for such imposts. If the possession of soil and climate which enables us to grow grain in vastly greater quantities per acre than either South Australia or California can do, added to our great distance from these countries, does not give our farmers sufficient inducement to grow grain, it would bo positively criminal to impose a tax on the mass of the population to bribe them to attempt its cultivation. And the case of timber is even worse. No part of the world ought to be able to compete with us on our shores in the matter of timber, and if any other part does so the fault must be our own, and will not be cured by giving a premium to ineompetency. But the truth is,that theory, “ It does not pay,” is a more parrot cry, without reason. Grain producing does pay, and will pay in this colony without any artificial aid, both in the North and South. Timbersawing pays handsomely, and will continue to do for years, so long as the necessary capital and the requisite intelligence are brought to bear upon the trade. And if our legislators are injudicious enough to impose import duties either on grain or timber they will do a gross injustice to the public who consume, and also to the farmers and bush-owners who do, or ought to, produce those articles at a price to defy competition, and yet at a profit to enrich themselves.