PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5035, 4 October 1926, Page 3

PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

“ DOMINION’S LIFE-BLOOD.” TARIFF NOT UNDERSTOOD. “My trip has brought home to me, very forcibly the fact that the successful marketing of our primary products represents the life-blood pf the Dominion,” said Mr G. H. Scott, president pf the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers and Agents, who returned last week from an extended tour of the Old Country, a,t a gathering given in his hopour .at Wellington,

Any fiscal policy or any change, he said, that would increase the cos.t of living or the cost of production wa'a# a blow aimed at the stability and the prosperity of the whole community. New Zealand had to compete with the world’s producers, both in regard to quality and price. It would be utteily impossible for thq country to compete, however, if .anything was done, to raise the cost Of production. It was the prime duty of the Government to s.ee, to it that its fiscal policy was in the interests pf the Dominion. Our traiff, he had discovered to his consternation, was not understood overseas. Over and over again people in the Midlands had pointed out to him that New Zealand’s high duty was a factor against England’s products, while New Zealand’s goods were allowed into England free. It seemed to him that some propaganda was very necessary indeed to let the people in Englund know that the idea of the Dominion’s tariff in first place was to bring in revenue, and in the second place it a should be pointed out that the Government, when framing the tariff, gave very substantial preference to England wherever possible.

Continuing, Mr Scott s,aid tha,t propaganda could do much to clear up the misunderstandings that existed at Home. It was the duty of the Prime Minister, the High Commissioner, and. in fact, everybody, to help in that direction. •

In proposing a vote of thanks .to Mr Scott Mr L. B. Beale, H.M. Trade Commissioner, said the speech he had listened to -was one of the. ablest he ha,d ever heard.