The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1927. THE TARIFF.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1927. THE TARIFF.

Thk caution displayed by members of the Cabinet from the Prime Minister down, in making any policy announcement, with regard to the tariff, remarks a contemporary, lias been very pronounced, but apparently the Minister of Lands and Industries (Hon A. D. McLeod) did not share tlife rest of Cabinet’s view that reticence on the matter was necessary. On his recent trip to Melbourne, Mr McLeod made quite a lengthy pronouncement on the matter to the Mellionrne “Herald” as follows:—“1 am opposed to anything on the lines of a permanent Tariff Commission, such as you have in Australia.” he said, “because I am of opinion that such can he used to bolster' up inefficient businesses at the expense of the country. When a business begins to fall through inefficiency. it looks to the Government to pull it through, instead of looking at its own weaknesses and eradicating them. A tariff may alleviate the dis-tress-of such businesses. It can never keep them alive for long, and industry suffers through any such attempt. Our tariff changes, when they come, will not, I think make such difference to Australia. They will emphasise the principle of preference to Britain as against the foreigner. Already the hulk of our trade goes to Great Britain. Your tariff is hard on us in one or two particulars. You virtually prohibited the New Zealand export of hops to Australia. As a consequence the growing of hops has practically ceased with us. Last year 800 hales were stacked up. valueless. Similarly you forbade the import of potatoes on account of powdery scab. This disease is as old as the hills. We have been exporting our potatoes to you for 30 or 40 years, and scab had existed f°r

at least 30 years. There lias been careful supervision by the Agricultural Department, and there wore no complaints. Tile disease is as bail in Tasmania as in New Zealand. Australian trade lias an advantage of us, amounting to £27,000.090 since 1911. In that time wo have imported £04,000.009 from here, and have sent you £37.000.0. That, advantage Is growing dangerously near to a 50 per cent, adverse balance. It cannot be pern'll tied to go on. In self-defence we will have to put on higher duties to redress the balance unless Australia. Imeets us. There are 38,000 Australians living in New Zealand, and 48.000 New Zealanders living in Australia,'’ Mr McLeod pointed out, “and since both countries ought to he mutual holiday grounds there should he some deltniie way of fostering an understanding that already has snob genuine appreciation at its root.’.’ Mr McLeod has certainly stated the ease very plainly. It remains to lie seen what will he the outcome.