HIGH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1928, Page 4

HIGH TARIFF

CAPTAIN CO 1 .BECK’S ATTACK. WELLINGTON, A ray 16. A spirited, attack on protective tariffs was made b.v Captain Colbeck at the Industrial Conference to-day, his remarks being aroused by the statement made by Air. W. 11. P. Barber that protective tariffs did not increase tlio costs of production. “I have kept silent all through this discussion,” said Captain Colbeck; “from a. desire to avoid creating dissension between those on our side, and then Air Barber goes and makes a

statement like that. (Laughter). He says that increased protection does not increase costs. A pair of boots which cost 12s 8d to produce in England cannot he sold here at less than 31s lOd to allow a 10 per cent, profit. It is ridiculous to make .statements such as Air Barber’s when those are the facts. There is 20 per cent, added to the cost of importations and Air Barber asks you to continue this imposition. He asks ihe primary producers to go on paying this levy. Is there too much food in tlio country ? Is anyone overpaid ?” A voice: AVhat about flour ?

Captain Col hock : One of the curses of New Zealand is the tax mi foodstuffs. If I had my way 1 would abolish all Customs duties on foodstuffs. Why is it necessary to have a duty on wheat ? Because you have so raised the cost of producing it until ,the farmer cannot produce wheat without it-. Pigs are subsidised to enable the production of bacon. Soon you will have to subsidise butter, and then what will become of New Zealand? Is all the land in New Zealand cultivated ? Voices: No.

Captain Colbeck: Because it does not pay to do it. and that is because you have’ artificially increased the cost- of production. You have so artificially raised the costs as to step production. A’ou can get land in the Waikato at less than the cost of the improvements upon it. There is land round Rotorua you can get for nothing. A voice : AVhat good is it.

The Chairman CATr A. D. Thomson): Tlio question before, the conference-is unemployment. Captain Colbeck: The reason for unemployment to-day is because you cannot cultivate land. I give you this offer—the farmers of New Zealand will employ every unemployed man if artificial restrictions are barred.