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Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1927, Page 2

Tiif, revision of the tariff has been attempted with great care. According to the Ministerial statement the task was begun with quite a large objective, namely; (T) To reduce the cost of living and the cost ot production both in primary and secondary industries. (2) To assist local industries either by increasing tho protection already afforded to a certain number of such industries, or hv reducing the duty on the raw material, machinery, and plant used by them. (31 To encourage still further trade in goods produced in the British Empire. (4) To remove (he protection now afforded to the very limited number of what are regarded as uneconomic industries. (f>) To provide further negotiating power to secure new and increased markets for New Zealand products. Tho many virtues apparent in this programme is perhaps typical of the advertising methods of Reform, but it is doubtful if the resell will bo acceptable on all sides for the reason that the outcome of all the deliberations will be disappointing to many who were full of expectations as to probabilities. At the same time, it is not unlikely that the sudden appearance of the Raglan Election had some effect on tho final touches to the revision, the desire being, to remove all cause for attack as much as possible. 80 the revision is much in the nature of an all-round compromise. It. is frankly not a protective tarilT. Tt is intended to he revenue producing —lifting duties lightly and not aggressively. Secondary industries and primary producers alike were full of hope as regards general assistance through the tariff but they are without that aid. ami must filial along as best, they can. till relief comes in a less complex time. There has bren some advance in timber duties, but here again the amount is limited in such a way so as to lie only slightly helpful. Tho sawmillers will still require to look to other means for aid to balance the costs of production and trading to ensure any great advantage over the imported article. There will require to he some revision of transit charges affecting both rail and steamer freights, hut that means another longdrawn out fight, and there is not any guarantee of success. So the fight must go 011 without any certainty of a boom period recurring. It would come as a surprise to find so called luxuries escaping any rise. According to outside signs that was generally expected, and as if to invite the action, there was a great clearance in respect to certain commodities. Perhaps flic Government was content to receive tho windfall in that way, resolving to make any increase later when there would he less forewarning. The escapement of a petrol tax indicates that the policy of the Government on that point is still unsettled, though this is probably a controversial matter more than any other in regard to which Raglan had its effect. As matters stand there will lie much cross criticism, lint tho middle course taken by the Government disarms stringent critcism except as to tho general policy as to how far taxation should he reduced from a revenue point of view, consistent with obvious requirements.