PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1927, Page 4

PRESS COMMENTS.

No serious challenge will he ttiised to the maintenance of the established policy of reasonable protection tor efficient local industries; what is urgently sought is an assurance that tho Government will stead thistly maintain the protection of the primary industries by opposing any alterations of the tnrifr likely to be injurious to them. That is one aspect of the matter. Tho other is that the present tariff imposes a tremendous burden of taxation upon the community. It is already largely responsible for the high cost of production in the widest sense, and the high cost of living. Will the proposed revision he designed to relieve this condition by reducing, gr alxjlshing, duties on necessities that are collected solely for revenue purposes? In its election manifesto tho Government pledged itself to a policy of moderate protection and the exemption of necessities. Now tljit it has actually commenced the task of revision, its ideas on the subject, should be more precise, and there are strong reasons why they should be clearly stated by the Alinister of Customs.—“ New Zealand Her-

N'o doubt our constant borrowing, especially for public works, tends to promote importation, raid during the last few years we have seerf no decrease in that line. It seems that a country like ours, dependent largely on foreign markets, should maintain a I]dance of exports over imports. Bankers and business men have urged this upon tho country. Perhaps on tho present occasion tho fault is not entirely ours. But tho fact that the market can play such tricks with us should teach us caution.—“Hawke’s Bay Herald.”

The Dominions have a strong claim to reciprocal preferential treatment, and until that reciprocity is forthcoming the ideal of Empire-wide preference under existing conditions, is a onesided affair—the Dominions give everything and receive practically nothing; and all because of ancient shibboleths whic h the Conservatives of England are

loll! to sacrifice. The time must come, however, when Empire preference will he a reality, and when that time does arrive the industries of the whole Empire will experience an activity that has not existed for many years, and from that activity will come the l prosperity to which the Empire, by reason of its potentialities, is justly entitled.— “Poverty Ray Herald."

In a country so prolific in conferences on subjects big and small, it would not be. perhaps, expecting too much if we harboured a hope that those with the best knowledge of the state of the labour market, of the prospects of employment for the winter months, and of the people’s capacity to carry the burden, from the point of view, of national and individual resources. should meet, face the worst, and organise some scheme Lo combat it. And it would lie interesting, too, to hear what the Government has to say. after the prospective demand and supply of work has been examined, uncut a continuance of the present rate of assisted migration to this coun-try.-—Hnwera “ Star.”

If a merger of some of the factories of New Zealand won 1 arranged, and that does not seem to lie an insuperable difficulty, there would innnediate])v follow a very great reduction in operating charges. the uneconomic units could be eliminated, and the machinery and plant removed to I v here they would prove useful. The | surviving factories could specialise in I eroduetion, mass production would * i her pen costs, u"d it is not drawing | f.tir long how to suggest that it would ho possible even to work up an export trade in manufactures. A merger s r b ine may appear large, but if- is unite feasible, and is wnrtliy of (be ( ensiderntiou of those who control the industries of the country. The brewers set the example of a merger on a large scale, and the bonds of the New Zealand Breweries Company were readily taken up by the public. Our industrialists require a wider vision. and need to eonie away from the selusion of the tariff barrier.— Wanganui “ Herald.” There are. wo believe isolated eases in which a slight increase in the duty would provide the local manufacturer with a home market that would enable him to sell his goods without raising the price, and we understand that in one or two of these eases the niiumifheturei's concerned are willing to

give a specific guarantee. Snell industries ought to be helped. Generally. however, higher duties will mean only higher prices, and every •i----cre- in prices is an extra burden upon primary production. - - Christchurch “ Press.”