TARIFF BARRIERS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 5

TARIFF BARRIERS

U.S.A.- FARMERS’ REQUEST.

(United Press Association—By Electno Telegraph—Copy right). NEW YORK, Jan. 24. Regarding tlio tariff the Western cattle raisers have also asked Congress for increased duties on meat. They contended that the cattle’ industry, though it is better off than it- was several years ago, was in a state of unrest ,due to the possibility of the present embargo! against Argentine cattle and meats being lifted. They argued that the tariff should be high enough to guard against any such contingency and to afford wider markets for American cattle and meat. They also urged that the tariff on the so-called “ljeeder” cattle should ho made three cents a,ml on “slaughter” or fat cattle, four cents, as compared with the existing rates of one and a-half cents. Request for increases on every other kind of -meat, swine, goats, eto. were also made. Retail merchants, particularly thosei dealing in frozen meats, appearing before the committee opposed the increases, stating that higher duties would bring a,further decline in tliei domestic meat consumption, and would lie ruinous to their business. They pointed out that the imports last year were less than one per cent of the consumption and that the price to-day were at a higher level than ever before. One group of cattle raisers advocated a six cent duty on green hides and sixteen cents on dry hides. Representative Strong urged that an American valuation he used in arriving at the tariff rates. DUTY ON N.Z. LAMB. , WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. Doctor S. W. McClure Bliss, of Idaho, representing the National "Woolgrowers’ Association, appearing before the House* of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to-day asked that the duty on lamb he increased from four cents! to seven cents per pound, in order to meet impending competition from New Zealand. Ho said that New Zealand had made a successful test shipment, and that she has a Committee, planning off the American market. Dr McClure indicated that the wool growers will ask for a revision of the wool tariff when the Committee reached that schedule.