THE TARIFF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2352, 8 November 1921, Page 3

THE TARIFF.

The Auckland Herald, referring to the tariff, says editorially: If any general eritieism ean he attempted, it. is that the tariff concedes too little to he, family man. Indeed, at sbme points it treats him with distinct harshness. The duty on perambulators, which was 20 to 30 per cent., now ranges from 20 to 35 per cent., and is still higher than that on motor cars. And perambulator fillings, which were free, are now subject to preferential duty. This is grotesque; There is a perambulator industry in the Dominion, lmt in 1920 nearly 0,000 go-carts and perambulators were imported. In any ease, the nation owes more to its babies Ilian to its perambulatormakers. A similar objection may be raised to the imposition of a duty on sugar of milk, an important constituent in infants’ iood, and it should not, lie waived out of consideration for a New Zealand industry which enjoys a considerable measure of natural protection. The preferential duty on infants’ and invalids' foods is to be deprecated for the same reason. Another tendency exhibited spasmodically in the tariff is the penalising of thrift. 'Why should a preferential duty be imposed on the bottles used for the home preservation of fruitf Why should sewing machines be removed from the free list, and why should union textiles pay duty if made into underwear in the home, but not otherwise? The reduction of the duty on silk and the increase in duty on several standard lines of a less luxurious character is an obvious anomaly. Finally it may he remarked that the increase in the duty on wheat and flour is contrary to public policy, and constitutes a protection which the Canterbury farmer does not require, and should not be conceded These are defects selected almost at random from a tariff which on the whole is sound and workmanlike. They suggest that if fhe House of Representatives sets Itself to examine the schedules critically a considerable number of amendments may be made which will improve the tariff ns an equitable instrument of taxation.