TRADE WITH U.S.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12613, 25 November 1926, Page 9

TRADE WITH U.S.

IS AMERICA FOREIGN? HIGH TARIFF WALL URGED DISCRETION THE BETTER PART In view of the action of the United States of America in substantially increasing the Customs duty on New Zealand dairy produce, a remit was presented to the Chambers of Commerce conference ‘ yesterday, urging that the Government should amend the Customs tariff on American manufactures to discourage their importation with the hope of securing better treatment for our exported produce.* Mr Victor Smith (Feilding) said in 1925 New Zealand bought goods from America valued at £8,885,000, while America purchased from us goods of a value of £4,349,000 —an adverse balance •of over £4,500,000. In spite of this, however, a heavy barrier was erected •against our chief export. Mr Thomas Quirke (Gisborne) said America was to us a foreign country, and all goods received from there should bear high duty. Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland) said that so much benzine and other commodities used by the farming community was imported from the United States—it was just a question whether New Zealand would be cutting off its nose to spite its face. Mr A. Hobson (Napier) saw little hope of improving the position, and said that any action as suggested would only raise the price of goods coming from America to New Zealand. The remit was rejected by the conference. TRADE RECIPROCITY The conference affirmed the necessity to New Zealand of the protection and maintenance of British trade routes, and urged the Government to provide for a more adequate contribution towards the cost of Empire naval defence. With a view to fostering sentiment in favour of British trade the conference expressed a desire that all goods coming from overseas should be marked with the name of the country of origin. * Much was said of tariff reductions, and a remit on the subject as submitted by Auckland suffered much alteration from the mover* of ’ various amendments. Some delegates desired the expression of a definite opinion upon preference for British trade, while others declared that the conference should leave the whole question alone. A motion calling for an immediate and substantia] reduction in the tariff, without prejudice however to the preferential arrangements in favour of British goods, was lost by 19 votes to 17. The Minister for Customs is to be urged to continue his efforts towards effecting a more satisfactory tariff arrangement between New Zealand and Australia.