TARIFF COMMISSION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8293, 23 November 1906, Page 5

TARIFF COMMISSION.

Received November 22, 11.16 p.m. LONDON, November 22. The Tariff Commission has hnbmitted their report, and recommend for the removal of the disabilities of British egrioulture, a ohange of tbe fiscal policy combined with measures dealing with transport, en iar&ement. of the power of the Board of Agriculture, and looal taxation; also further facilities for land purchase. They do not recommend a wheat bounty but recommend sixpence per cwt duty on foreign wheat and threepence on colonial. They do not believw thip will aause any rise' iu the price of bread, and under no conceivable circumstances more than one-sixth of a Denny per quarter loaf. Equi valent duties with equivalent colonial prefeienoe ought to be imposed on maize, barley, oats, and rye. The Commission recommend a duty of fifteen pence per cwt on foreign fflour, with a substantially lower duty on coloniul flour, the exact rate being negotiated with tbe colonies, provided an advantage is finally allowed the United Kingdom's milling industry. They recommend an import duty of about tive per oent. ad valorem on meat and bacon, and consider that a concession of preierence to colonial bacon would be a very great advantage in connection with tbe arrangement of a preferential scheme. With a view of increasing British dairy produce they recommend that specific duties of five to ten per cent, he imposed on foreign butter, cheese, poultry, and eggs, and suggest a similar speaific duty on foreign garden produoe and hops. They consider that British agriculture has much to gain from an extended colonial market for British manufactures resulting in a system of iecipioaal preference. They re commend that substantial preference fcejgiven to the ODlonies in connection with duties on agricultural produoe, tbe exaot amount, exoapt on wheat, depending upon the value of the preference the colonies are willing to grant in return.