THE TARIFF TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1922, Page 5

THE TARIFF TREATY.

OPINION IN NEW ZEALAND. A FAVORABLE RECEPTION. (By W*ire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The communications that have been reaching Ministers and members of the House with reference to the New ZealandAustralian tariff agreement suggest that the weight of opinion in commercial and manufacturing circles is decidedly favorable. The Minister of Customs has received a number of congratulatory comments and only one objection, which has come from a representative, of a small industry that has been left a 25 per cent, protection against. Australian goods. This repreesntative suggests that this protection is not adequate. It was anticipated that protests would come from some industries which benfited very substantially from the virtual exclusion of Australian goods when the Commonwealth was placed on New Zealand’s foreign tariff, but, as the Minister pointed out in the House last week, the Government never intended that the foreign tariff, imposed merely for the purposes of negotiation, should operate permanently against Australian goods. The larger manufacturers, as far as can be judged at present, have recognised this fact. The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. Downie Stewart) stated to-day that the tariff agreement did not propose any alteration of duty on wheat coming into New Zealand, and this duty remained at 2s per cental. “In the statement made by me to the House last Friday,” said the Minister, “I indicated through an error in my notes, that the duty was being reduced to Is 6d per cental. This, however, is not the case, and as the matter is of particular interest to wheatgrowers in Canterbury and Otago, I have taken an early opportunity of correcting the mistake.” BENEFITS PRIMARY PRODUCERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.. During the week-end members of Parliament have been receiving numerous representations from their constituents concerning the Australian tariff treaty. The general opinion among members appears to be that New Zealand has the better of the bargaining and that the treaty is favorable to the primary producers, but some objections are expected from manufacturers who have enjoyed freedom from Australian competition and do not relish losing it. WILL PROMOTE TRADE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, July 31. Mt. Massey Greene is of the opinion that, though the New Zealand tariff agreement was Horn of compromise, it Will Be UffefliT in promoting trade, especially in Australian wines. Previously the balance of trade was five to one in favor of Australia. The agreement established a principle which might be extended to other countries.