PREFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1923, Page 4

PREFERENCE.

AIK AIASSEY’S VIEWS

WKChINGTON. August 20

The 1111 porinI preference issue was raised in the House to-dav by tho leader of the Opposition in an urgent question to ilie Prime .Minister. It was reasonable, said .Mr Will’ord, that as the Prime Minister was about to leave for the Imeprial Conference, be should make a .statement- to the House: as to what attitude he intended taking ii]) in reference to preference from the Homeland to this country. He wished to make the point that while New Zen. land gave preference to British goods, it had to ho iemomhered that British manufacturers of those goods were loaded with excessive taxation at Borne, which excessive taxation was | u- -.1 for the purpose of reducing tho | national debt of Great Britain. This was done to the extent of over 400 millions in 1921. and over 200 millions last year, by taxation which was passed on in the price of goods on which New Zealand gave preferential treatment With that in mind, lie felt there was clearly some obligation eu the part of the Homeland to give some form of j preference to the Dominion in return j The Prime Minister replied that the I Molt* e and country knew his attitude j on Imperial preference. This principle we- agreed to at the 1917 conference j on In's own motion. It was taken up] hy pie then Prime Minister of Britain j and was now law. ‘'That is the prill-j chile." lie continued. -'As n matter of; fuel, mi preference worth having has' been granted to New Zealand or Ans-j tfalia. Btefereme bits been given to ( yPui. wliere sugar is produced : lull not with tefereuec to the food pro-j ducts or raw materials of this country, i There are other ways of giving prefercnee. One is a proposal, about, which: both the leader of the Opposition and, i agree, that a subsidy should be) granted by ilie British and Colonial. (.Live;liments with the object of placing, us in a better to compete with our] competitors in the supply of foodstuffs a. 1,1 wen] to the British people. Something might lie done iu the way of reducing income tax on the interest of money loaned to the dominions, eomI> i*•(-d with that loaned to foreign countries. .It will all help. It is a cliflt- , .i!t subject. I am not going to increa e tin* difficulties of the British Covei iimeiit by staling plainly what is in my mind at present. M lie thought iI,- • t if 11 my wire not careful oil this snbje i there might be a repetition of vlmt happened to Mr Joseph Cham! erI in's p-.ee-:!*-. which weie wholly turned d -uu. I here was a very great deal of spade Work to be done before i y gni pi'*ioicm*o. ll,m. i. Hamm: Du you think : '*,.■ liriti !i people will agree to a tax oil I ’ ’.lr Miis-cy: 'I hey have agreed to tuxes i :i sugar ami tea. Tr.e Crime Minister added that lie wouid not say much mole on the suiii 1. (!|' all New Zealand's produce. <i> per cent, went to Britain, which did e- i ch-Tge a penny duty, lie knew ihe oie wer to that was that Britain i k t' .• same o'- from other count*; . and did mu cliarge them any ,mr . Il was with the object <1 getting over that, difficulty that he was ■■■• •ei-iiitu ihe subsidising of shipping, "if w e . an at range cheajicr freight. ’’ lie continue! 1 , •‘then we have all the pr. fcienre v.'e want." ,\ l.ala.nr moniker: What about j : ' 'hipping? Mr el a ,-\ : We mii't not forget; 1 1 av■. :e i dune inucli tu [iav feu* the ■ I. t.cii *1 V.c !,*:i:n* from the British Nave. .M, -t of ;!,*■ dominions are pej a red : * :!,* mcr t . for l liis than in the no,, and His mu t be done it the Kiit-