UNITED STATES TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1922, Page 5

UNITED STATES TARIFF.

BIG INCREASE IN DUTIES. PRODUCE INCLUDED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Washington, April 11. The Finance Committee reported the Permanent Tariff Bill to the Senate. Wherever possible the dutiable values are based on the foreign value, or price at the time of exportation, the President being authorised to increase or decrease the duties to meet the changing conditions, also to meet tariff discrimination by other countries by proclaiming new additional tariffs against such countries, or excluding their products. Cattle duties are increased from onequarter cent to 1A cents, per lb; sheep and goats from one cent per lb to two dollars per head; fresh lamb from two cents to five cents per lb; mutton and goat from 1% to 2 i / 1} cents per lb. The latter provisions are aimed at Australian and New Zealand meat. The duty on wheat is increased five cents, to 30 cents per bushel. The wool schedule is based on the rate of 33 cents per lb on scoured wool and 10 per cent, on raw wool. Uncured hides are subject to a duty of two cents per lb, and dried four cents. The free list includes tin, pedar, mahogany, rosewood and lignum vitae. The administration expects to pass the tariff by July, hut a bitter fight in the Senate is expected over the foreign valuation plan. The wool schedule is also expected to create a heated debate.

MR. MASSEY’S VIEWS. Wellington, Last Night. Brief particulars of the new American tariff were discussed by the Prime Minister to-day. Mr. Massey remarked that the duty of about 33 cents on scoured wool, representing roughly half that amount on greasy wool, would be very heavy, but he did not think it possible for America to do without Australian and New Zealand wool. That meant the duty would have to be paid by the consumer in the long run. The duty on mutton and lamb was a heavy handicap on trade, but lip to the present very little New Zealand meat had been taken by the United States. Some large cargoes were sent over there some time ago. A proportion of that meat found its way back tq London eventually. The United States did not moke much demand for New Zealand mutton. It would be impossible to send lamb to one country and mutton to another. z The two must be marketed together.