ENCOURAGING BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81893, 23 November 1906, Page 3

ENCOURAGING BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

LATEST v CABLE NEWS I rains tUH IHOCUTIIM -BT IMCTHC MLBOIUPa.—COrtMORT.

REPORT OF TARIFF COMMiS BION. RADICAL CHANCES RECOM HENDEO. ABANDONMENT OF FREE TRADE. BUCOESTED DUTY ON FOREIGN PRODUCE. J WITH SUBSTANTIAL COLONIAL PREFERENCE. Received 2ind, 11.16 p.m. London, November 22. The Tariff Commission recommend for the removal of disabiities of British agriculture, ti change the fiscal policy, combined with measures dealing with transport, en argement of the powers of the Board of Agriculture, and local taxation; also further facilities for and purchase. They do not recommend a wheat bounty, but recommend sixpence pci cwt duty on foreign wheat, and threepence on colonial. The Commissioners do not believe this wduW cause any rise in the price of bread, and under no conceivable circumstances more than i-6th of a peany per quarter loaf. Equivalent duties, with equivalent Colonial preference, ougnt to be imposed on maize, barley, oats and rye. They recommend a duty of fifteen pence p* r cwt on foreign flour, wltn •4 substantially lower duty on Colonial flour, the exact rates being negotiated with the Co.onies, provided advantage is finally allowed the United Kingdom's milling industry. They recommend an import duty of about 5 per cent valorem on animals, meat, and bacon, and consider the concession of preference to Colonial bacon woud be of very great advantage in connection with the arrangement of a preferential scheme, especially vjith Canada. In view of an increase of British dairy produce, they recommend that specific duties of five to ten per cent b* imposed on foreign butter, cheese, poultry and eggs, and suggest a similar specific duty on foreign garden produ e and hops. The Commission consider that British agriculture has much to gain from an extended Colonial market for British manufactures, resulting from a system of reciprocal preference, and recommend that substantial preference be given the Colonies in connection with duties on agricultural ' produce, the exact amount, except on .wheat, depending upon the value in ' return for preference the Colonies ' .would be willing to grant. ' NEW CANADIAN TARIFF. / 2&KFEBEJSCE TO BfiITAJN RETAINED. I Ottawa, November 21. Mr Fielding, Minister of Finance, ■peaking at Montreal, said the new tariff would be ready for presentation by the first fortnight in the seision. It was unlikely it would satisfy extrem- ! ists, but would meet most people'." ' approval. It retained preference for J the Motherland, and contained dnties applicable to countries discriminating ' •gainst Canada, ,