PROTECTING N.Z. INDUSTRIES.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 134, 27 May 1926, Page 5

PROTECTING N.Z. INDUSTRIES.

DUTIES ON FOOD STUFFS. Farmers’ Union Discussion. Discussion regarding- dutiable goods took place at the annual Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Auckland last week. A favourite remit urging calling off duties and embargoes on food stuffs and suggesting- substitution of subsidies was moved by Captain F. Colbeck, who stated that the only argument for duties was that the consumer remained in ignorance of what he paid. As usual, Captain Colbeck’s figures were illuminating showing a saving of £69,131 per annum on wheat alone Under subsidy, as against pro- ' teetive duty of 2s per bushel, over the average of a five year period. Captain H.-M. Rushworth (Bay of Islands), characterised the protective duties in this primary-producing country as “ sheer, blatant robbery,” the confiscation being up to twentyfive per cent. The remit was carried unanimously. The usual remit calling for the g-radual reduction of the high protective tariff was also carried. Captain Colbeck said it was an utter mistake to suppose that revenue suffered under free trade, the Old Country collecting- more under free trade than any other. He gave actual invoice figures showing added costs due to duties amounting to 41 per cent, and worked out the annual extra cost on three lines only at nearly £1,500,000, all of which was finally paid by the land. Sneakers emphasised that special pressure was being brought to bear on the Government to increase the

duties protecting local industries, and the need of farmers sticking together in this. Higher duties would bring the day of disaster more rapidly to the primary producer. There was no chance of an economic wage

under this system. Mr. Banks (Matamata) urged that Mr. Coates should be given the views of the conference before he went Home. New Zealand should penalise U.S.A: ears as against British, equivalent to the U.S.A. increase of 50 per cent in duty on butter. Practically everyone present expressed himself in accord with the remit: the only semi-dissentient note being that the conference should give mare time to ways and means of effective furtherance. Free trade with Britain, and, under reciprocity with the colonies, was looked upon 'as a way out. This was carried in another remit, speakers claiming that not even the manufacturers would be hurt as wages would come down with gradual reduction of duties, and consequently cost of living.